Her name is Jessica Forde.
She sent us these images and this text which touched us: so here they are!
JJN
One day, not long ago, I settled on the Puig Petit. The small mountain borders the village of Coustouges (Costoja) located at an altitude of 827 meters in the Haut Vallespir and is part of the Eastern Pyrenees in the very south of France. It is less than 1 km as the crow flies from the border with Spain, or rather with Southern Catalonia. It is therefore a mid-mountain border village that has always been crossed by diverse populations and conquering armies… A passage for traders between Barcelona and Perpignan, one of the strongholds of the Trabucayres (smugglers) and so at times a “lawless” area. Coustouges and its precious Romanesque church from the 11th and 12th centuries is located 5 km from Saint Laurent de Cerdans, the capital of the espadrilles where were manufactured 10% of French shoes during the 19th century. The inhabitants of Coustouges worked “at the factory”, in Coustouges as well as in Saint Laurent de Cerdans and traveled on foot or by bicycle. The region, a large producer of iron, also had many forges. And then times and needs of society changed and the Haut Vallespir became a deserted area. It was there that I found myself welcomed by the inhabitants of the tiny village who do not exceed a hundred yearly.
I wanted to meet those who are today the soul of this magical place; the Elders of Coustouges. I thank them for having been willing to open their doors to me and through my photographer’s eyes to open them for you.
Jessica Forde
Jessica Forde : Les Anciens de Coustouges
Coustouges – Prats de Mollo la Preste
