Cuges-the-pines

Cuges-the-Pines is a common French, located in the department of the Rhone delta and the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure. Its inhabitants is called Cugeois.

Geography

In the middle of the Massive of the Holy-Balsam, Cuges is located in a Poljé, i.e. in a great depression Karstique: starting from favorable structural conditions, synclinal position, faults, the erosion of limestones hollowed out a depression. The basin is endoreic: the rivers coming from the close solid masses - and in particular of the solid mass of the Holy-Balsam - are lost there in Ponor S, points or zones of absorption. Their water re-appears close to Cassis, in the Exurgence S of Bestouan and of Port-Miou.

The village is traditionally a village of semi-slope, leant with the hill, in order to save the maximum of cultivable grounds. More and more since the years 1970-1980, especially in the West, the soil is built for main homes of périurbains working with Gémenos, Aubagne or Marseilles.

History

As of the Neolithic era, the territory of Cuges was inhabited. During these remote times, the plain was covered with water, thus constituting a lake. That Ci it is gradually drained.

At the 16th century, the heart of the village was rebuilt around the castle of Glandevès, situation which remained the same one until our days even if the village developed further in the plain. The economic activity of Cuges-The-Pines evolved/moved with time. The culture of the saffron with 14th and 15th centuries, to the 19th culture of capers, give a world famous to this small village. Until the middle of the 20th century the exploitation of hills (sawmills, faggots for the baker's ovens Marseilles, etc) and until our days the vine growing, the cereal and fodder cultures as well as the craft industry of leather, show at which point the economic activities of the commune are primarily related to are ground corner. Today, the amusement park Ok Corral and an important source of development for the commune.

Cuges-The-pines was a place of required passage for the travellers going to Italy. Many were the personalities which remained in our village. - At the 13th century, it is known as that St Antoine de Padoue, famous Saint, stopped in Cuges struck by the Black Death. It made miracles then by curing certain inhabitants of the village. Since, the inhabitants dedicate to him an enthusiastic passion and a relic of a piece of its cranium and preserved in the Vault of the village overhanging the commune. Today still, of the pilgrims go there to request. - On August 1st, 1794 our Monfray Mayor who celebrates the marriage of Julie Clary with Joseph Bonaparte, older brother of Napoleon, which will become King and Queen of Naples, then of Spain of 1808 to 1813. - In 1839 Victor Hugo, and its mistress Juliette Drouet carry out a meal pantagruelic in one of the inns. Following what, it made writes a splendid text on the village in its “notebook of voyages”. - At the 19th century, celebrates it brigand, Gaspard de Besse, held to ransom the rich person travellers in the Collar of the Angel, on the road of Cuges. The legend wants that it buried its treasure some share in the commune. It is not rare besides nowadays, to cross hunters of treasures equipped with their metal detectors in the middle of the plain.

Today the Saint Eloi remains the only traditional festival which federates all the inhabitants of the village around the horse. Proceeding generally at the beginning of August, the festival organizes one of the more important procession of horses of the Mouths of the Rhone.

Located a few kilometres from Marseilles, very early the townsmen spent the holidays there to calm and the good air. One of the prides of Cuges-The-Pines these last years is without any doubt turning in its hills of most of films of Claude Berri: Jean de Florette and Manon of the Sources. Films which could highlight the beauty of the landscapes of the commune. On this subject, the common tent to today allure besides the tourists thanks to his very strong potential " nature" joining together the exceptional landscapes of safeguarded Provence. The occasions of randonnés and of stroll are very numerous.

Administration

Cuges is member of the Communauté of agglomeration Garlaban-Huveaune-Holy-Balsam (GHB) founded in 1992.

Demography

Places and monuments

The vault St Antoine overhangs the village and offers a unspoilable view on the plain. The rise is a little hard but the panorama remains with " to cut the souffle". From the Vault, the many ones stroll pedestrian are possible (except days of high winds because of the risk of forest fires). The church of the village, entirely renovated, is also a place to be visited. In the center of the village, with the foot of the clock, opposite the old Town hall, the " is; Moussue" fountain; celebrate to be invaded foams and plants in any kind. Just opposite that Ci, the visitor will be able to admire an authentic laundrette cut in the rock. The Castle of Glandèves, former lords of Cuges, lost its ostentation of antan. Nevertheless its contours can still be distinguished (in particular a tower). Residences, the Post office and a Bar occupy from now on the places. The pediment of the old co-operative and easily locatable just beside the church. For the amateurs of stroll, the plain remains a place impossible to circumvent. To the feet of the Vault, the garden of the city offers a corner of shade and rest. Lastly, beside that Ci, a zone reserved with the camp-sites bus joining together all the services necessary to those Ci are with the availability of the tourists in love with nature or quite simply with calm with Provence. From this place, the many ones stroll are also possible.

Personalities related to the commune

Christelle Maurin, writer, Price of the Quay of the Goldsmiths 2006.
Claude Gubler, doctor of François Mitterrand.
Philippe Grimbert, Writer, Goncourt Price of the high-school pupils 2004 or 2005

See too

Common of the Rhone delta

External bonds

Official site of Cuges-the-Pines
Cuges-the-Pines on the site of the national geographical Institute
Cuges-the-Pines on the site of INSEE
Cuges-the-Pines on the site of Quid
Localization of Cuges-the-Pines on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Cuges-the-Pines on Mapquest

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