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Home > Discover the Alpes de Haute-Provence > Towns, small towns and typical villages > Moustiers Sainte Marie
Moustiers Sainte Marie
Town of arts and faience in the Verdon | TOURIST INFORMATION |
Lists of SELF-CATERING GITES in the district
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 MORE ABOUT THIS "VILLAGE DE CARACTERE"Locted where the imposing Gorges du Verdon and the Route de la Lavande which crosses the Valensole plateau meet, at the entrance to the Grand Canyon and the immense lake of Sainte-Croix, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a village perched high up on a cliffside, reminds the visitor of a crib.
Listed among the « Plus Beaux Villages de France » and « Village et Cité de Caractère », the village has a long history going back 30.000 years as the hunting scenes engraved in the rock of the Plateau de Ségriès show.
As early as Vth century, the caves in tuff stone sheltered monks from the Abbey of Lérins who founded a Monastery, hence the name Moustiers. An important pilgrimage centre in XIIIth century, the town became specialized in faïence in XVIIth century and reached the height of fame in XIXth century when it had a population of around 5.000 inhabitants: 17 mills downstream of the Adou spring bear witness to an important industrial activity at the time.
With its 20.000 olive-trees which give it its green or silvery tone according to the season, Moustiers, home of the Verdon Natural Regional Park, is nowadays synonymous with a gentle life and it is not surprising that the great chef Alain Ducasse has chosen this authentic land, seduced by its wealth of specialities, truffles, olive oil or lavender honey…
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HISTORY | Between two spurs of rock, the famous star hanging on a 227 metre long chain has been shining for centuries. Legened has it that a knight, Blacas, made prisoner by the Sarracens during a crusade, vowed that, if he returned to his country, he would string a chain between the two rocks on which would hang a silver star. But in 1565, nobody could remember who had put it there...
The present star measures 1.15 m. Buffeted by the wind, it often has to be replaced, about twice a century... But Moustiers became famous all over the world for its faïence as early as 12th and 13th century. Its beauty, appreciated by the Kings and Queens of Europe and by the great names in the world, justifies its fame.
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HERITAGE |
- Chapelle Notre-Dame de Beauvoir : built in XIIth century on a berm at 830 m where in 470 AD there had been a temple dedicated to the worship of the Virgin.
- Chemin des Oratoires : a cobbled stairway 262 steps which climbs up the hill and crosses the bridge of Notre-Dame. Seven oratories replace the fourteen Stations of the Cross in 1860.
- Church : listed Historical Monument in 1913, both Romanesque and Gothic, one of the most beautiful examples of religious buildings in Provence.
- Chapel of Sainte-Anne : XVIIth century.
- Porte du Riou or Porte de Nord : XVth century Gate.
- Aqueduct : supplied the hydro-electric plant with water.
- Old town : ramparts, fountains, cobbled streets.
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WORTH A VISIT |
- Museum of Faience : showing the most beautiful pieces of faience from XVIIth century to today. Open all year round, every day in July and August (entrance free on Tuesdays), every day except Tuesday from 1st April to 31st October, week-ends and school holidays from 1st November to 31st December. Tel. 04.92.74.61.64.
- Visits of faience workshops.
- Maison du Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon. Tel. 04.92.74.68.00.
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MAIN EVENTS |
- Market : Friday morning.
- Evening crafts market : Tuesday in July and August.
- Fête de la Diane : from 31st August to 8th September.
- Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) : mid-September.
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A 2 200 HA LAKE | Finished in 1973, the artificial lake of Sainte-Croix is the second biggest in France with a surface area of 2.200 ha. Like the other Verdon lakes, it has three vocations: producing electricity, supplying drinking and agricultural water, and lastly welcoming a great number of holiday-makers attracted by its blue waters and its many nautical activities.
A stone's throw from the village, the first beaches and their turquoise waters: a marked itinerary shows you the way on foot or on a mountain-bike.
- Base nautique de la Cadeno : 4 km away, nautical equipment rental and sailing lessons. Tel. 04.92.74.60.85.
- Base nautique de l’Etoile : 6 km away, at the Galetas bridge. Enter the heart of the Grand Canyon or explore the secret creeks of the lake of Sainte-Croix by canoe, kayal or pedalo. Tel. 04.92.75.75.75. or 04.92.70.22.48.
- Club nautique des Salles-sur-Verdon : sailing club 13 km away, nautical sports all year round (dinghy, schooner, catamaran, windsurfer, canoe, kayak, rowing and sailing).
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ACTIVITES |
- Paragliding club : the Mont-Denier site, which hosted the French and World Championships. Tel. 04.92.74.69.77. www.verdon-passion.com
- Canyoning, climbing, mountain-biking : Verdon Passion. Tel. 04.92.74.69.77.
- VTT Verdon : mountain-bike rental, guided hikes, mountain-bike and multiple activity stays. Tel. 04.92.74.68.83. Portable 06.11.53.34.48. 04 92 74 69 77
- Library : Web access. Tel. 04.92.74.64.68.
- Association Artistique de Moustiers : pottery, drawing, water-colour. La Fabrique. Tel. 06.79.90.13.23.
- Crea Langues : language courses. Monastère de Ségriès. Tel. 04.92.77.74.58.
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VILLAGES AROUND |
- La Palud-sur-Verdon : in the heart of a unique territory, the Gorges du Verdon, one of the most famous sites in the world for climbing and outdoor activities, but also nature and heritage trails organized by a new tool, the Maison des Gorges du Verdon. Tel. 04.92.77.32.02.
- Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon : this charming Provencal village built on a rocky spur overlooking the lake of the same name, which is 14 km long and 2 km wide, and means happy holidays for families with its nicely equipped beaches and many nautical activities.
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FOR THE FAMILY |
- Day care centre. Tel. 04.92.74.60.91.
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THE STAR OF MOUSTIERS | According to a legend transcribed by Frédéric Mistral, during the Sarracen invasions in Xth century, the Knight of Blacas was captured and made prisoner in the East. The object of his prayers was to come home safe and sound to the village and, if his wish were granted, he would hang a votive offering (thanks to the Virgin) between the two rocks high above the town: the famous star which continues to watch over the inhabitants of Moustiers.
The star shing today in the Moustiers sky is fifty years old and the fact that it is gilt is due to an unfortunate accident around ten years ago: worn by the elements, the chain broke suddenly and the star was found some hours later, battered but still whole in the bottom of the ravine. It was gilded and rehung a month later during a big celebration…
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A TOWN FAMOUS FOR ITS FAIENCE | If ceramics have always had an important place in Moustiers, they soared in XVIIth century thanks to Pierre Clerissy, the depository of the secret of faience. Louis XIV ordained three edicts during his reign to raise funds for the state treasury and finance his war campaigns: he had all the court's gold, silver and silver gilt tableware melted and replaced by Moustiers faience.
The « finest production in the realm » continued to develop until early XIXth century before progressively declining. It was only in 1927 that the production of faïence was revived in Moustiers thanks to the efforts of Marcel Provence. The tradition is carried on today in around twenty workshops scattered around the village…
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OTHER INFORMATION |
- Altitude : 630 m.
- Population : 720 inhabitants.
- To get here :
- by road : A 51 motorway Vinon-sur-Verdon exit then D 952 via Gréoux-les-Bains and Riez or A 8 motorway from Draguignan, Aups, Les Salles. Coaches. Tel. 04.42.54.72.82.
- by train : Manosque SNCF station.
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