The Varenne Prize rewards the ghosts of Brovès, the series by Var-matin journalist Anaïs Grand

Of Brovès, only a few ruined houses remain. And rare memories in the memories of the last to have known the small village of Haut-Var.

In 1974, it was wiped off the map. For the purposes of creating the Canjuers military camp, the largest in Europe, the inhabitants were expelled. With the stroke of an eraser, the administration made the commune disappear, the civil registry of which was transferred to Seillans, 30km further south. “On their identity papers, the children of the village have seen their place of birth change: the indication “born in Brovès” has been replaced by “born in Seillans””says Anaïs Grand, journalist at Var-morning.

Few archives

For six months, on the sidelines of her daily reports in the Draguignan region where she is stationed for your newspaper, the 25-year-old young woman wanted to trace the thread of this forgotten and poorly documented story. “In the archives, there is not much that tells what Brovès was, how people lived there and how the village disappeared”continues Anaïs. Few photos, no films, rare press articles which mainly mentioned the future military camp… it was therefore on the trail of the last inhabitants that the journalist set off, helped in her approach by the association of Elders and Friends by Brovès.

“Some were delighted to finally be able to say what had been on their hearts for 50 years; others have had difficulty confiding as the wound is still open”says the reporter.

His 16-page series on Brovès, published this summer in the Draguignan-Brignoles edition of Var-morningand on our website has just been rewarded. The Varenne Foundation awarded him its 2024 prize this Tuesday in the “young journalist” category. Since 1989, this competition has recognized the work of seven journalists every year.

“I am very honored to receive this award. Above all, I am very proud to work in a newspaper where it is possible to cover this type of subject, over a long period of time, where our role as journalists has its full meaning.”analyzes Anaïs Grand.

Which lives up to its name.