| 100 years ago, Alcida was a thriving village. A large Church, a cummunity center and a presbytary was built. Then community farmed and raised families, today it is a dying village. |
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The first couple who got married in the Church
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Today farms are pratically non-existent. The population, down to about 400 persons, is aging, while the youngs have moved to larger centers. The Church borrows a Catholic priest from the neighbouring town for Sunday mass and the presbytary has been converted into two apartments. A lone cemetary behind the church remembers those who first got married here, lived, thrived and passed away.
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| Favourite spots: |
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The Community center. Once in a while it is used for bingos or square dancing
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An overgrown playground hidden with apple trees, wild flowers and grass holds silent children laughter and the rotten wooden frames of the buildings that once stood. The playground was where the children got together for the organised summer activities. There once was a wooden fort and a small baseball field. The community also had scouts and brownies meetings. (They were called the 4Hs) The playground has stopped being about 15 years ago.
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| What's really great: |
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The abandoned playground. See the old baseball field structure?
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At the other side of the village is a river where children waded and swam. Now there were summer cabins built and closed roads.
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| Sights: |
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The old road to the playground bordered with overgrown wild flowers.
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The community once had a post office, a general store, a primary school and even a wood mill. Which one can't even find a trace of its existence now.
The fields that were once used for farming are now being used for replanting trees. In 20 years, the farms and field will be thick forests.
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| Accommodations: |
There are not hotels or camping sites here. The closest would be situated in the closest town called Petit Rocher.
You'll probably ask yourself what there is to see, to do in this community. You can make a little detour from your itinerary to see the great amount of wild flowers growing freely. And I hope that when you do take the time to stop in Alcida that there are still a few fields and houses left instead of only tree plantations.
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| Nightlife: |
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Same as the accomodations, there are no clubs or pubs, not even a convenient store. The village of Alcida is now a road, out of the way, of about 3km long.
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| Hangouts: |
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Church of St Nazaire d'Alcida and Dauversiere
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Published on Monday August 23th, 2004
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Publish on Facebook
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Wed, Feb 14 2007 - 09:17 PM
 by travler
| I've never heard of this place. I'm glad you educated me. |
Tue, Aug 24 2004 - 04:26 PM
 by bineba
Dear Vicki-Krista,
thanks for reminding us that the world doesn't just consist of travel destinations, but also of communities that struggle to survive, even in the 1st world. It does remind me a lot of the little village in Germany where I was born. The two stores it had are closed, the post office is gone and so has the saw-mill that employed a lot of people and of the numerous pubs only one has survived. Luckily, distances in Germany aren't so big, so people are now commuting, but still living in the village.
The photos of the wildflowers are really nice.
all the best
Sabine
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Mon, Aug 23 2004 - 09:04 PM
by ravinderkumarsi
hii kris,
sad to read abt the village ,but it is reality that some villages are facing such crises as more and more people are moving towards city for good job prospects.
ravi |
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