Description :
This programme, broadcast by Radio Pais as part of the European project Rede Tramontana (Réseau Tramontana in French and Tramontana Network in English), co-financed by the European Union, presents a conversation with Jean Larzac, a priest, writer and major figure in the defence of the Occitan language and culture. The episode explores his personal journey, his relationship with the Occitan language, and the experiences that shaped his religious, intellectual and cultural commitments. Through his memories, the listener discovers a life marked by transmission, literature, social engagement and attachment to the territories where Occitan has been spoken for generations.
Jean Larzac explains how his vocation as a priest developed alongside his awareness of language and cultural identity. He recalls his childhood in an Occitan-speaking environment, his education in the seminary of Montpellier, and the way in which his religious mission became connected with the defence of a living language and the recognition of local cultures. He reflects on the role of history, the contradictions of social movements, and the importance of preserving linguistic diversity as part of a broader human heritage.
The programme also highlights Jean Larzac’s political and social reflections, particularly his commitment to equality, solidarity and the sharing of cultural knowledge. He discusses Occitanism, social struggles and the links between language, territory and collective memory. His testimony offers a personal perspective on the challenges faced by minority languages and on the importance of oral transmission, literature and cultural action in keeping a linguistic heritage alive.