English - Office de tourisme Moustiers Sainte

MOUSTIERS SAINTE-MARIE
Discovering capital of ceramics
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CONTENTS
THE HERITAGE I AND TRADITION CENTRE
4
One of the prettiest villages in France
Its history
The village and its heritage
10
CERAMICS I ART AND CRAFTMANSHIP
The art of ceramics
Fabrication
12
THE REGION I NATURE AND LEISURE
Verdon Regional Natural Park
The verdon gorges
The lake of Sainte-Croix
The plateau of Valensole
Walks, hikes and sports
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THE HERITAGE
AND
AN
D TR
TRAD
ADIT
AD
ITIO
IT
ION
IO
N CE
CENT
NTRE
NT
RE
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One of the prettiest villages in France
S
welcome capacity of the municipality is important. In
addition to 750 camping spaces and a holiday camp,
130 hotel rooms in the village centre or the outskirts,
some twenty gîtes and bed and breakfast rooms and
more than 50 apartments, it is easy to discover the
local attractions beyond a quick passage. The various
services will satisfy all tastes and wallets.
ince 1981 Moustiers Sainte-Marie has been listed
as one of the prettiest villages in France. The
church, the village walls, the chapels, the aqueduct, the fountains, alliances of water and stone, the
pastel colours of the tiles and the travertine together
create a homogenous and living architectural whole.
The gentle quality of life of the place naturally incites
to respect, value, discover and protect it. Working the
land is the link between History and the village’s future.
As for shopping, artists’ and craftsmen’s stalls rub
shoulders with local services.
AUTHENTIC & LIVING
Some twenty restaurants will keep gourmets, lovers of
good food and refined gastronomy, brasserie food or
local cuisine happy.
Today,
Moustiers
has
approximately
700 residents. The core of its economy is focused on
tourism and the ceramics tradition. The authentic & lively
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Its history
T
he site of Moustiers has been inhabited since
ancient times, as witnessed by traces of human
presence uncovered in the region going back
30 000 years. But it is in the 5th century that occupancy
of the site of the current village truly begins: the monks
of the Lérins abbey move in the travertine caves and
create a monastery in the Vth century. This monasterial
presence gave its name to Moustiers (Monasterio in the
Middle Ages).
A PLACE
OF PILGRIMAGE
The chapel of Notre Dame
de Beauvoir, built on the
same spot as a Marial
temple already present in 470, indicates the persistent
sacred character of the village. It became an important
pilgrimage site over the centuries.
DEVELOPMENT IN TUNE
WITH THE LEAPS OF HISTORY
The Moor invasions of the Xth and XIth centuries
caused the residents of the region to hide in the caves
for protection. But it is in the XIIth and XIIIth centuries
that fortifications and houses are erected, while mills
are built on the Adou stream.
With the development of industries powered by
hydraulic energy in the XVIth century (tanning, paper
mills etc.) the village truly starts to bloom. But in the
early XVIIth century severe weather destroys the infrastructures and the village again loses a large part of its
population.
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THE DAWN MASS
On 8 September, day of the
Nativity of the Virgin, the
Dawn Mass (5 am) unites the
residents of Moustiers
and the surrounding villages,
who walk up the hill to the
sanctuary in procession, preceded by the Diane (Moustiers musical group). At the
return, a traditional local
breakfast is served on the
church square from 6 am.
When discovered at a turn of the
road, Moustiers evokes the landscape of a Provencal nativity scene:
The confined between two rock ledges, a star dominates the village from a great height… According to the
legend of Frédéric Mistral, the star is an ex-voto dedicated to the Virgin Mary, installed on the wishes of the
knight Blacas, a crusader who had been imprisoned by
the Sarrasins, and who had vowed that if he returned to
his village he would suspend a star and its chain there.
Other versions talk about love stories, the Three
Kings or Chivalry... Though many versions exist about
the origin of the star none have been verified to date.
mystery remains complete on the origin and meaning
of the star above Moustiers…
The size of the star, which originally had five points has
changed over time from 30 cm to 1.80. Today, the chain
is 135 m long, weighs 150 kg and the star covered in
gold leaf measures 1.25 m.
THE LEGEND
OF THE STAR
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The village and its heritage
TREASURE HUNT
For children from 5 to 12 years
old Discover the village and its
heritage step by step. Warning,
you will need to pay attention to
details to find the answers! On
sale at the Tourism Office.
Listed as a historic monument in 1913, the church
proudly carries its old Lombard bell tower, one of the
most beautiful in Provence.
Dating from the XIIth century, it was one of the three
moving bell towers in Europe. The Romanesque nave
of the same era is divided in five spans with corbelled
vaults.
Pierre de Pratis, commendatory prior, ordered the
church to be enlarged in 1336 ; the axis of the nave was
not respected.
THE CHURCH
The current altar is a IVth century sarcophagus in white
marble that depicts the Red Sea crossing.
GUIDED TOUR
OF THE VILLAGE
In french
Group bookings
SUMMER GUIDED
TOURS July - august
every Tuesday and
every Thursday
After climbing
the 262 steps.
(356 in the past)
of a stone stairway on the flank of the hill, you reach
the chapel that overlooks the village. The small chapel
was built in the late XIIth century on the vestiges of a
Marial temple erected in the Vth century. A successful
combination of the Romanesque and Gothic periods, it
originally comprised two spans with corbelled vaults,
corresponding with a part of the current nave, the two
other spans and the Gothic choir were added in 1536,
date engraved on the triumphant arch.
The Chapel Notre-Dame de Beauvoir was listed as a
historic monument in 1921.
THE CHAPEL
NOTRE-DAME DE BEAUVOIR
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SAINTE-ANNE
CHAPEL
This little chapel was built in the
XVIth century with stones from
nearby walls and towers. The
village cemetery was added later.
protected itself behind walls like many other medieval
villages.
Like in any other typical
Provencal village, the narrow
streets of Moustiers are equipped with drinking water
fountains where men and animals sought refreshment.
The small squares have magnificent wash-houses
where the washerwomen used to go in the past.
THE FOUNTAINS
THE AQUEDUCT This vestige today only serves
as a testimony to the irrigation
systems and spans the Adou from where it used to
supply water from the spring to the mills located lower.
THE WALLS
The cliffs on which the village was
built and those that dominate
formed a natural line of defence, but Moustiers also
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CERAMICS
ART
AR
T & CR
CRAF
CRAFTMANSHIP
AFTMAN
AF
ANSH
AN
SHIP
SH
IP
The art of ceramics
The art of ceramics has considerably
evolved in Moustiers since the Middle
Ages. At the time, only objects in varnished clay were
produced, in the natural colours of green and brown.
The art flourished thanks to Pierre Clérissy, who was
initiated in the secret of white enamel (tinned ceramics)
by an Italian monk visiting the Monastery of the Communauté de Lérins in 1668. As Louis XIV had ordered all
the gold and silver tableware to be melted to restore
the royal treasure, Moustiers ceramics acquired high
notoriety at the European courts. The fashion of china
and English ceramics put a stop to two centuries of
uninterrupted activity. In 1927, Marcel Provence heats
up an oven in the village with the purpose of restoring
its image of a great ceramics centre worldwide. Today,
there are some twenty workshops and a museum that
perpetuate and renew this traditional craft for the greatest pleasure of the visitors.
GUIDED TOUR
OF THE VILLAGE +
CERAMICS MUSEUM in
french, group bookings
HISTORY
The Museum was created in 1929
by the Académie de Moustiers,
that grouped Marcel Provence and
other ceramics fanatics. The museum has five rooms
where more than four hundred items are exhibited,
ranging from the first Cobalt blue monochrome decors
of the XVIIth century to all types of contemporary multicoloured creations - whose gloss is due to the ‘petit feu’
discovered in 1760 by the Ferrat brothers. There is also
an assortment of items in clay (enamelled tiles, canalisa- tions). A film on the history of Moustiers ceramics
and the various stages of production is shown on site.
THE CERAMICS
MUSEUM
TIMETABLE : 1 April-31 October : 10am-12.30pm / 2pm-6pm (except
Tuesday). July-August : every day until 7pm and free on Tuesday.
1 November- 31 mars : 2 pm-5pm weekends and school holidays.
Closed in January
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Craftsmanship
FAÏENCE (from Faenza, Italy).
Soft, porous ceramic glazed with
a tin based enamel.
Round ware such as pitchers
and vases is thrown on a
potter’s wheel. A lump of clay is centred on the wheel
and shaped by the potter. Ornamental and other
elements such as handles are subsequently glued with
a clay slurry.
Flat ware such as plates is moulded by pressing a slab
of clay over a plaster mould.
Complex shapes can be obtained by pouring a clay
slurry, or slip into a plaster cast.
SHAPING
The white enamel that is the hallmark of the faïence of Moustiers
is essential in waterproofing tableware. After firing, the
biscuit is dipped in a milky bath of suspended silica, tin
and oxides, laying a delicate powdery coat.
GLAZING
With a selection of coloured oxides,
the craftsman paints the decoration
over the powdery enamel. A second firing will fuse the
decoration and the enamel to the biscuit.
DECORATION
Faïence requires two firings. The shaped
ware is fired a first time to obtain a
biscuit. A second firing follows the decoration process.
Once fuelled with wood, today’s kilns are electric.
FIRING
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THE REGION
NATU
NA
TURE
TU
RE A
AND
ND LLEI
EISU
EI
SURE
SU
RE
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The Verdon Regional Natural Park
Moustiers
Sainte-Marie
Lac de
Castillon
Castellane
Valensole
La Paludsur-Verdon
Lac de
Sainte-Croix
WATER COLOUR
The green colour of the Verdon is due
to the fluoride and the micro-algae it
contains: it is probably the origin of its
name , from the Latin viridum, «green
place». The turquoise colour of the lake
of Sainte-Croix, in turn, is due to its clayey
bottom.
Plateau de Valensole
Collines du Haut Var
S
Lac de Sainte-Croix
Basses gorges
Lacs et montagnes
Artuby
Gorges du Verdon
The missions of the park are to enable these natural
and human treasures to live in harmony and balance,
while preserving them and making them known to
the general public. The Park assists the institutional
partners in land planning projects, development, environmental education and valorisation of heritages. The
maison du Parc, located in the municipality of Moustiers, is an exceptional source of information on the
activities and treasures of the Verdon.
From Moustiers, you can easily discover the picturesque landscapes of the plateau de Valensole, besides
the lake of Sainte-Croix and the Verdon gorges, but also
the Préalpes or the plains and hills between Canjuers
and l’Artuby.
traddling the departments of the Var and the Alps
of Haute Provence, the Verdon Regional Natural
Park stretches over more than 180,000 hectares.
Created in 1997, distributed over 46 municipalities
(including Moustiers, at the centre of the park), it groups
seven great landscapes: the plateau of Valensole, lakes
and mountains of the Verdon, the lower gorges of the
Verdon, the lake of Sainte-Croix, the Artuby, the Verdon
gorges and the hills of the Haut Var. This diversity of
ecosystems gives the park a rich and varied patrimony:
vultures, bats, mountain goats, roebucks and endemic
flora. The typical land has contributed to the shaping of
landscapes and humans.
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<
Baignade surveillée
Digne
Vincel
The verdon gorges
Moustiers
Sainte-Marie
Location nautique
École de voile
Vénascle
Petit Lac
La Cadeno
D952
M
This spectacular canyon
results from the limestone
erosion of the plateaus of
Haute Provence by the Verdon river that springs near
the col d’Allos, in the massif of the Trois Évêchés. The
50 km long canyons stretches from Castellane to the
lake of Sainte-Croix, and reaches 700 metres in depth
in places.
A UNIQUE NATURAL
SITE IN EUROPE
5 km - 3 h - moyen
D957
D23
>
D71
Route
des crêtes
La Maline
Sentier
Blanc-Martel
14 km - 6 h - difficile
Les Cavaliers
D71
Aups
Draguignan
Sentier
de l’Imbut
<
10 km - 5 h - très difficile
The canyons presents
many sports opportunities. From hiking paths of
all levels that follow the river banks to nautical or air
sports, everyone will discover the pleasure of surpassing themselves here. When looking at the sky, you
could see a griffon vulture or a lappet-faced vulture
soar above your head… You can also drive through the
gorges by car, by following the Route des Crêtes or the
Corniche Sublime road. They are built in such a way
that they enable frequent stops at the scenic viewpoints
which provide exceptional views.
A VERSATILE
SPORTS AREA
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>
D952
Route de
la corniche
sublime
Bauduen
DISTANCES
oustiers Sainte-Marie is located at the
entrance of the gorges du Verdon, one of the
deepest canyons in Europe. That geographical
location is a major tourist attraction for the village. A
magnificent and wild landscape characterised by its
preserved nature and green waters.
Aiguines
Lac de
Sainte-Croix
D111
Moustiers-La Palud : 20 km
Moustiers-Castellane : 45 km
Moustiers-Aiguines : 15 km
Aiguines-Trigance : 34 km
La Palud-Route des crêtes :
20 km (loop)
Sentier des La Paludsur-Verdon
pêcheurs
Couloir
Samson
>
Sainte-Croixsur-Verdon
Barrage de
Sainte-Croix
Point Sublime
Col de l’Olivier
Les Sallessur-Verdon
<
Quinson
Rougon
L’Étoile
Pont du Galetas
A51
<
Riez-Manosque
Gréoux-les-Bains
Aix-Marseille
Pont de
l’Artuby
eillée
Castellane
Rougon
oir
Samson
Grasse
Nice
<
D952
The lake of Sainte-Croix
Pont de Soleils
Trigance
Pont de
l’Artuby
SOME HISTORY
The project of flooding the
Salles valley by the creation
of a lake on the Verdon river dates back to Georges
Clémenceau, in 1908. But it was only implemented
by Électricité De France in 1968. Initially the lake was
supposed to engulf the villages of Salles sur Verdon,
Bauduen and to make Sainte- Croix du Verdon inhabitable. The artificial lake was finally created in 1973,
following the construction of the Sainte-Croix dam. The
villages of Sainte-Croix and Bauduen were ultimately
saved and Les Salles rebuilt sheltered from the water.
AT PRESENT
The third largest lake of France
stretches over a surface of 2 200
hectares (10 km long and 2 km wide). The dam, built at
the entrance of the gorges, near Baudinard, holds back
760 million cubic metres of water and generates more
than 150 million kWh per year. Supplying power to the
adjacent cities. It also is a major tourist attraction and
a perfect space for swimming, boating (only electric or
sailing boats), windsurfing, catamaran, pedalo or canoe
and kayak.
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The plateau of Valensole
<
D953
D907
Digneles-Bains
Saint-Jurs
Brunet
Le Grand
Logisson
D8
Naverre
Puimoisson
Vincel
Moustiers
Sainte-Marie
D56
D15
D952
Valensole
D953
D952
D6
Roumoules
D6
Gorges
du Verdon
Riez
LUCIEN MÉREL
Bel Air
Gréoux< les-Bains
<
Sentier VTT
Les lavandes
D8
D957
15 km - 1h30 - moyen
D952
Lac de
Sainte-Croix
Allemagneen-Provence
A REMARKABLE SITE
LUCIEN MÉREL
At 590 m elevation, the
village of Valensole
has given its name to the whole plateau. Nicknamed
« the region’s granary », the 800 km2 plateau is mainly
dedicated to the cultivation of lavender and grain.
It changes in look with the seasons; the snowy peaks
and the blooming almond trees of March are replaced
in July with the changing purple of lavender and the
golden wheat. In November, the ochre of the furrowed
land contrasts with the pure blue winter skies.
Lavender, just like its aromatic cousins savory, thyme
and rosemary, belongs to the mint
family (labiatae). They are a bee favourite (melliferous plants) as the delicious honey they
produce demonstrates. It comes in different varieties
such as Lavandula angustifolia (true lavender) providing
better quality essential oil and Lavandula intermedia, or
lavandin, the most commonly grown for its productivity.
LAVENDER
USE OF LAVENDER
Lavender is used in the production of Marseille soap ; the
bees transform it into honey. It
is also distilled for its scent or
its therapeutic properties.
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Walks, hikes
and sports
DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT A GUIDE
Detailed maps of the itineraries on
sale at the Tourism Office.
Whatever your sports expectations, Moustiers and its
region offer numerous possibilities: hiking, climbing,
rafting, canyoning, kayak, mountain biking, horse riding
or paragliding.
SENTIER DES PÊCHEURS (FISHERS’ PATH)
5 km - level difference 350 m - 3 h - average
WALKS
AND HIKES
A pleasant loop on the banks of the Verdon river embellished by beautiful passages through the wood
The site is remarkable for the
range of its signposted paths
network. From a little afternoon
walk in the heights of the village to more ambitious expeditions to the mountain tops, where the panorama stretches
to the snowy peaks of the Alps, there are numerous paths
for everyone. The Verdon Gorges are a paradise for nature
and walking fans.
A FEW IDEAS
Park your car at the Col de l’Olivier car park (9 km on the D952
dir. Castellane) and take the trail on the left that descends to
the Verdon river (yellow trail marks). At the junction take right
and follow the river for approximately 3 km and then climb to
the Saint-Maurin field. From there, follow the path beneath the
departmental road to the car park.
TOUR OF THE VILLAGE VIA LES CLAUX
To safely explore the Verdon gorges and the Moustier
region and get to know the region, you can choose to be
accompanied by a guide. Information from the Tourism
Office of Moustiers.
2 km - 40 minutes - easy
Clau in Provencal means key. This hill and its thousands
of olive trees are the symbolic representation of the
keys of this extraordinary region.
Leave the village through the Riou portal, cross the little stone bridge
and follow the path posted « Tour du Village », with orange trail marks,
which crosses the hill of les Claux and returns to the foot of the village.
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MOUNTAIN
BIKING
LES LAVANDES
15 km - 100 m height difference
1h30 - average
A bike trail for the whole family, which runs along the
small rural paths and roads through a landscape rich
in scents and colours.
WATERSPORTS
Penetrate the heart of the Grand
Canyon, or explore the secret
creeks of the lake of Sainte-Croix by canoë, kayak and
pedalling boat. Learn windsurfing, sailing a catamaran
or, simply, swim in the turquoise waters of the lake.
Rental of nautical equipment and electric boats.
Start on the road to Ste-Croix, on the plateau 4 km after Moustiers
at the junction with the GR. Yellow ffc signposting.
Enjoy guided trips or simple mountain bike rental.
Whether you’re a novice or experienced, you will not
forget the beauty of our circuits.
Canyoning, aquarando and whitewater
swimming are popular in Moustiers
and in the gorges with certified guides and instructors.
Swimming, jumping, abseiling and hiking surrounded
by rocks sculpted by secular erosion.
CANYONING
Explore the Verdon gorges, the
lavender of the plateaus and the
region of the lake of Sainte-Croix on horseback. Horseriding fans can even ride through the region for several days.
HORSERIDING
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Descending the streams and rapids of the Verdon
by raft, hydrospeed, canoë-raft and air boat.
ADVENTURE ROUTES
ON THE CLIFFS
Initiation and perfectioning in the prettiest sites of the Verdon. For 6 year olds
and up, from easy crags to technical multi-pich routes
for seasoned climbers, strong sensations guaranteed !
ADVENTURE ROUTES
IN THE WOODS
RAFTING
Abseiling, zip-lines and
crossings over the abyss.
You will test your balance
and your resistance to effort and discover unforgettable
sensations.
CLIMBING
Climb up to the top of
the trees, measure your
audacity and agility and
observe the world from above.
PARAGLIDING
Learn to fly ! Discover the fabulous
landscape from up high in the sky :
Verdon, Mercantour, Mont-Ventoux, Sainte-Victoire,
Montagne de Lure, Luberon and Écrins parade in front
of our eyes.
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TOURIST OFFICE OPENING HOURS
9h30 10h00
12h00 12h30
13h30 14h00
17h00 17h30 18h00 19h00
January | February | December
March | October | November
April | May | June | September
July | August
WE closed
12h30 - 14h00
OFFICE DE TOURISME Maison de Lucie
Place de l’église - 04360 Moustiers Sainte-Marie
Tél. : +33 (0)4 92 74 67 84 - info@moustiers.fr
www.moustiers.fr
Conception graphique : Magenta Numérique / Audrey Voydeville - Crédits photographiques : Office de tourisme de Moustiers Sainte-Marie, Stéphane Brabant, Lucien
Mérel http://lumerphoto.romandie.com, Richard Reverte, Martin Scheel, Audrey Voydeville, Jérôme Wilm, Fotolia. Document non contractuel, informations susceptibles
de modifications. Édition 2013.
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Imprimerie de Haute-Provence - Tél. 04 92 79 97 17