Montmeyan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Montmeyan is a French commune located in the "Département" of Var, Region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, and is part of the Verdon’s Regional Natural Park. The name of Montmeyan in ancient Occitan language is "Mount-Meyan" or "Montmejan".

1 Geography
2 History
3 Major attractions
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Montmeyan is a perched village, close to the Verdon’s Grand Canyon and the Sainte-Croix Lake, with a population of 530 permanent residents, a surface of 3943 hectares. The village is 504m alt and dominates the plain which offers to the glances its vines but also its fields of cereals, lavenders and olive trees. The Charlemagne’s tower, the fortifications and the very old houses from the 12th century with decaying arcades encircling the narrow lanes give to Montmeyan its medieval character. The village seems to climb with the attack of the castle which was drawn up at the top of the piton where stand the church Notre-Dame-du-Plan, the Priory of the Knights Hospitalers and the chapel Saint-Esprit.

[edit] History

In the archives of the 12th century, Montmeyan is called "Locus de Monte Mejano" then "Montis Medrani" ("mount of the middle"). Its coat of arms is “Gules (red), a three turrets castle, Or (gold), on a mount, Argent (silver), with a cross pattee, Gules (red)”. This envied seigneurie (seigneurial system with landlord) has belonged successively to the Order of the Temple (Knights Templar), the Order of Malta (Knights of the Hospital), the landlords of Castellane and the landlords of Grimaldi until the French Revolution.

[edit] Major attractions

Medieval village with fortifications, Tower of Charlemagne and ancient stone built houses from the 12th century with vaulted passages and supporting arches.
Church of Notre-Dame-du-Plan from the 12th century (Romanesque architecture), with modifications from the 18th century.
Priory of the Knights Hospitalers, close to the church.
Chapel of Saint-Esprit, on the top of the village, used to be the workshop of the sculptor Victor Nicolas.
Medieval half-troglodyte watch-out tower on a rock piton, Le Castellas, close to La Roquette farm.
Castle of l’Eouvière”, South of the village, with camping facilities.
Farm with fortifications and two turrets in Notre-Dame area.