The pages relating to the news of the archaeological site of
"Clos de la Lombarde" are intended to allow our visitors to
see the current state of the remnants and to become
acquainted with the projects that are directly or indirectly
related to the site.
But
to
provide
a
better
understanding
of
the
problems
related
to
the
preservation
of
the
site
and
its
development,
it
seems
essential to explain in a few lines the legal situation.
The site of the "Clos de la Lombarde" consists of the parcels 353, 354, 355 and 356 referenced on the cadaster
of Narbonne sheet 000 AI 01.
The parcel 356, on which the excavations have taken place, is state property. The other parcels have been
acquired by the City of Narbonne.
The State granted the City of Narbonne a long-term lease of 99 years from 01 April 1979 until 31 March 2079.
By Order 042 of 29 November 2007, the archaeological remains of the "Clos de la Lombarde" site were
classified as Historic Monuments.
As a result, the site "classified as historical monuments cannot be destroyed or moved, even partially, nor be
the object of a work of restoration, repair or modification of any kind without authorization from the
administrative authority. " (Article L.621-9 paragraph 1 of the Heritage Code).
Paragraph 2 of Article L.621-9 of the same Code requires that authorized works be carried out under the
scientific and technical control of the State departments responsible for historic monuments.
Articles L.621-11 and L.621-12 of the Heritage Code clarify the procedures to avoid the degradation of the
protected buildings/sites if they are threatened with deterioration due to negligence or the lack of means of
their owners. But these provisions do not apply to monuments belonging to the State.
However, Article L.621-29-1 of the Heritage Code states that the owner or the landlord is responsible for the
conservation of the historic monument that belongs to him or is assigned to him. As regards the "Clos de la
Lombarde", the City of Narbonne is a landlord by virtue of the long-term lease it has been granted.
Finally article L.621-8 of the Heritage Code provides for the total or partial declassification of the historic
monument if it was destroyed or very badly damaged as a result of natural phenomena such as storms, floods,
earthquakes or demolished by acts of war or attacks.
Legal situation of the “Clos de la Lombarde”
