The Pic de Bugarach (Pech de Bugarach) is the highest summit in the Corbieres mountains in the French Midi. It is on the western part of the mountain that you will find the commune of Bugarach, which is the location of a doomsday cult that is awaiting the arrival of aliens who they believe will become their salvation. In this article, you will learn about why people have been interested in the mountain.
Many admire the geology of the Pic de Bugarach, as the top layer actually contains rock that is older than the bottom layers. Because of this, some people refer to the terrain as an ‘upside-down mountain.’ Since the mountain possesses an odd-looking geology, many New Age believers feel that the mountain contains aliens living in a spacecraft. The locals call these people “esoterics.” The group of people also believes that the end of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar will cause a form of apocalypse to occur. The belief is that on December 21, 2012, the aliens supposedly living in the mountain will come out of hiding to save them. Some feel that they will be taken to a new civilization.
To prepare for this day, some members of the group have started to live on or near the mountain. There are also reports that state that up to 100,000 people may plan a trip to the site before the apocalypse date. According to the mayor of the nearest town, more than 20,000 visitors have come to the region between January and July in 2011 , a great increase over the past years. There are also reports that strange rituals have been taking place. The increased activity has alarmed a French parliamentary committee because they fear the esoterics may plan a mass suicide or other significant action close to the December date.
The history of Pic de Bugarach is long and interesting since rock samples taken from the peak proved older than parts measured at lower elevations. The reason for the varying rock layers is an eruption that occurred at the peak of the 1,230-meter mountain, which actually flipped rock upside down before it crashed back down on the base of the mountain. The mountain is so well known that it is thought to have influenced Jules Verne when he wrote “Journey to the Center of the Earth.” Steven Spielberg may have been inspired to create “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” using the mountain as a resource.
New Age believers have expressed that a new world is coming, where the cycle of suffering is supposed to end in 2012. Some see Bugarach as one of the major chakras of the earth. It is seen as a place where the energies of the future can be embraced.