The village of Grazac saw its school closed in 1992 with only 14 pupils. But with the neighbouring junior schools all oversubscribed with children from families working in Toulouse it was decided to build a new school in the village.
Now it is about to open with 70 children taking their places in a brand new building, with three classes. The cost of 1.4 million euros was more than Grazac's annual budget, the village having only 600 inhabitants, but the maire hopes the presence of so many children will provide a boost to the village life and the school also includes a leisure facility open to all.
The two schools featured in these stories illustrate just how rural communities are losing population to those nearer to the big cities, such as Toulouse. La ville rose is judged in a poll this week to be the third best place in France to work, behind Bordeaux and Nantes.
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