Maurice, a rooster with a loud voice, has won a place in the history of France, although he did not live to see the final victory in the battle between traditional country sights, sounds and smells and the senses of newcomers.
A new law, passed by the National Assembly and the Senate, aims to preserve “the sensory heritage of the countryside.” The complaints have gone on for many years, but the struggle that led to the law began three years ago when Maurice (below) annoyed new neighbors, who sued his owner.
Eventually, an appeals court affirmed Maurice’s right to crow, but the case got enough attention to move the venue to the legislature. In the meantime, last summer, Maurice died at age 6, and has been replaced by Maurice II, also with a strong voice.
In the words of Joël Giraud, the minister responsible for rural affairs, “Life in the countryside means accepting some nuisances… Our rural territories are not just sceneries, they are also sounds, smells, activities and practices that are part of our heritage. New country dwellers aren’t always used to it.”
