See also: the Community of the Arch

The Communautés of the Arch were founded in 1948 by Lanza del Vasto on the model of the Ashram S of Gandhi in India, in the line of the pacifist feeling and the movement for the Non-violence of post-war period. They had a certain influence in the formation of the reciprocating motion of the years 1950 to 1980 which is one of the roots of the Altermondialisme.

The movement was born in Paris where sympathizers of Lanza met in its apartment. Then a first rural community was created in 1948 in Tournier, commune of Genétouze, Charente-Maritime. With very flexible rules of admission, much the curious ones came to settle. The disagreements between the participants created conflicts, and Lanza had to dissolve this community in 1952. A new Foundation is born then with Bollène, in the Vaucluse in the middle of the years 1950. In 1962, the community settles in the field of noble Borie in the Top Languedoc.

The fight of the peasants of the Larzac against the extension of the military camp marks a new turning in the movement. A squatte small group a farm bought by the army with the localities Truels.

Years 1970 and 1980 see an important extension of the movement with the creation of new communities to Bonnecombe, in the Aveyron, in the Tarn-et-Garonne, with Saint-Antoine-the Abbaye in Isere, Spain and Italy, and even in Quebec.

During the years 1990, several communities are closed following the disaffection of the members and with internal conflicts.