Discovery and history

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History

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LE VAL POPULATION 4,200

Situated at the crossroads between both ancient and modern from the Aurelian Roman way to the Paris Nice route, its geographical location makes it an ideal spot for a visit, if only for a few hours or even a few days in the calm and serene countryside during a visit to Provence. Walking in the steps of centuries of history to the sound of the water flowing through the same ancestral paths in its fountains, to the chiming of the hourly bells from the church bell tower.

HERE PROVENCE STILL LIVES

Le Val, a long narrow valley enclosed by two chains of hills covered in pines and evergreens. In the centre, a delicately crafted Bell Tower is attached to an impressive clock tower, surrounded by a mosaic of tiled roofs ranging from tones of soft pink to brown ochre.

A winding lane of greenery from the banks of the river and its calming influence. A patchwork of vineyards, Olive groves and gardens, highlighted by country houses with faded facades.

Such is the landscape that welcomes you to Le Val.

A BIT OF HISTORY
2500 YEARS BC

It is the age of copper and man lived at the foot of sunlit vertical rocks at a place called « Les Essartenes » a wall of painted rocks and rock carvings. Excavations are under way.

1000 – 200 YEARS BC

The Ligurian people occupy this same region, Celts from the north mix with them…They establish a camp, a Celto-Ligurium Castrum (fortress) at the Paracol. Several Dolmens on the borders of Le Val mark the burial sites.

150 BC – 300 AD

The Romans occupy Provence. Tombstones, mosaics and urns have been found at various points in the commune, testimonies of the existence of Roman dwellings.

IV au IX CENTURY

The Invaders passed through: Visigoths and Ostrogoths. The inhabitants take refuge again in Paracol, especially during the period when bands of Saracen pillagers ravaged Provence.

X to XII CENTURY

Guillame, Count of Provence, frees Provence from the Saracens and divides the land among his knights. The Chateaurenard family receives the lands of Le Val, Paracol, Correns etc
In 979 Countess Mathil of Chateaurenard donates the lands of Paracol, where there are two churches: Notre Dame de Paracol and St Blaise as well as Le Val, to the Abbey of Montmajour. Her daughter Balde has the church of Le Val built in 1068 and around the priory (which is now the current Presbytery) and the church. The village grew, surrounded by ramparts of which two gates still remain: The Clock Tower, the Tithe Gate and some houses with Romanesque windows and an old open Tower.

From 1149 the Religious Order of Montmajour granted municipal rights to the inhabitants of Le Val which then became a commune governed by two consuls elected each year on Saint Blaise day on the 3rd of February.

XIII TO XVII CENTURY

little by little le Val bursts out of its corset of walls. The church is enlarged several times, Flour and Oil mills are built on the Place du Vallat (Place Louis Fournier) where the waters of the Treje Rai (thirteen springs) have been brought by a canal which still feeds the many fountains that give this village its fresh and cheerful character.
The Invasion by the Troups of Charles V, then those of the Duke of Savoy, the Wars of Religion devasted Le Val. To add to this there was also the plague from time to time.
A Consul of Le Val in 1595 tried to put an end to the extortions of the Duke of Epernon who , to defeat the Protestants, did not hesitate to plunder the lands of the Catholics. While delivering wheat , the Consul Debergue blew up the Hotel where the Duke was staying and he was left straddling a beam covered in burns. Calm returns and prosperity with it.

The wheels of the mills start turning again, Cloth Merchants open, Tanneries and a Rusco mill (where oak bark is stripped and crushed for tanning hides of leather)
The hall that had been built opposite the clock is demolished, its stone pillars today support the framework which was enlarged to receive a beautiful classic portal in 1564. In 1664 the Chapel Notre Dame de Pitie is adorned with stunning Renaissance walls enlightened with a variety of seashells.

In 1734 the Clock Tower was given a magnificent Bell Tower (Campanile) made of wrought iron.

XVIII TO XIX CENTURY

The Revolution strikes, the Consuls became Mayors and local history becomes national history….The end of the 19th century sees a burst of expansion. In 1886 The Town Hall and the Schools were built at the end of the old fairground. The two wars of 1914 and 1945 mark their passage with the lists of deaths on the battle fields of honour… It is also the period when Bauxite mines are exploited giving a soon to be change of course.
From 1975 Le Val started growing, housing estates and residences in the countryside. The urban population is increasing but the Agricultural population is decreasing…changing times in the economy.

What about tomorrow? The south of France is preparing for tomorrow with a new industry: Tourism

Le Val is trying to keep up by the renovation of the Old Oil mill, creation of an Open Air Theatre, the opening of five Museums, the renovation and extension of the Town Hall in 1986 and one hundred years after its construction, a creation of a new school.
Other projects are taking shape. Through the course of the centuries, Le Val will regain its breath and the generation of the second millennium will be worthy of those who preceded it.

FOREST, WATER, BIODIVERSITY

Communal Forest Management, the Riverside Owners Guide:

Water is part of a Nations common heritage. Its protection, enhancement and development of this source with the respect of natural balance, is in everyone’s general interest.

ENVIRONMENT CODE

Our rivers are living , dynamic sources with great ecological value. They constitute fundamental elements of our living environment, their good condition and proper functioning is essential for our territory.

With this guide, lets work to preserve all the aquatic areas of our region, our villages and towns and most of all, our jolly Ribeirotte.

USE OF BONFIRES AND GREEN WASTE

Cleaning green areas and cutting hedges etc is the most effective measure against the natural risks of forest fires. The self protection of those in charge of cleaning scrubland and gardens is enforced by the local Mayor by a Prefectural Decree OLD (Obligation Legales de Debroussaillement) Legal Clearing Obligations. It is preferable that large work is carried out in autumn and winter so that the annual maintenance work can be carried out in the spring. This work should not be done in the summer for the following reasons: the risk of causing fire with the work and the other is that the work should already done before a fire commences. However there is still time in June to finalise the clearing work to respect the OLD. The Association of Communal Forests of the Var (COFOR ALEC 83) has produced 5 videos to raise awareness among those in charge of the importance of clearing land, with the visual assistance of professionals and with thanks to the financial support of the DDTM83 and of the Southern Region of the Department of the Var.