Community of the Ark

The Community of the Ark is a small spiritual commune in southern France that was founded in 1948 by Lanza del Vasto.

Lanza del Vasto was a non-violence activist and disciple of Mahatma Gandhi.

[1] During the 1970s, many of the communards, under the leadership of del Vasto, took a leading role in the civil disobedience campaign resisting the proposed extension of the military base on the Larzac plateau.

[citation needed] In the 1970s, the community spread to several locations, including Italy, Spain and Quebec.

In the 1990s, some communities were closed due to conflicts and lack of new members.