The Fight of Larzac was held by peasants against the extension of a military camp that lasted a decade, from 1971 to 1981 and ended with the victory of the peasants when the President of the Republic, François Mitterrand decided to give up the project. Its account makes a historical and significant example.   

The opposition was organized around 103 peasants opposed to the expropriation of their lands to widen the military camp from 3,000 to 17,000 hectares, which would affect dozens of communes and a sixth out of the 100,000 hectares of the Causse du  Larzac total. In 1973, between 60,000 and 100,000 people of different social groups converged towards Larzac to support the peasants and to form a heteroclite movement that would deliver a  “war of attrition” to the public authorities. They are in the midst of what will be later known as the French other world movement. The review Gardarèm lo Larzac (we will keep Larzac in local dialect) which appears regularly since 1975 is its symbol. The movement will also contribute to popularize the Lanza del Vasto's figure, founder of the Arch communities, who was inspired by the Christian spirituality of non-violence and civil disobedience.

During the conflict, 3,500 militants and sympathizers bought 6,180 parcels of the lands aimed by expropriations complicating in so far the process, because each owner should legally sign his agreement. The organization of resistance gave itself a formal office and two rules were always complied with during ten years, and which are: only the peasants and inhabitants of the place have power of decision in the assemblies and the decision making is done by consensus. The Larzac everywhere leitmotif was translated into slogans such as sheep, no guns and wheat makes live, weapons cause death. Jean-Paul Sartre, two years before his death, send a letter of support: “I greet you peasants of Larzac and I greet your fight for justice, freedom, and for peace”. Local referendums were organized and hundreds of voluntary workers spend their vacations on the plateau to renew the infrastructures such as telephone, routes transportation, and buildings.  Lastly François Mitterrand,  President of the Republic, on May 10th 1981 states that the project of extension of the military camp of Larzac was abandoned.

Not only was it a peasants' victory who preserved their lands, but it was a serious blow to the bargaining of land. A logic of speculation had occurred: rich politicians had bought land in Larzac thinking that thanks to expropriation, they were going to multiply by 10 their value. The return to normality was not easy. All finished when a batch of 6,300 hectares became a land unit with agricultural vocation whose legal tools for management were assumed by the peasants. The lands in any case had never ceased being cultivated during the fight. A victory but also an example.