Gonfaron

Gonfaron is a common French, located in the department of the Var and the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure.

The commune is especially known for the legend of the flying ass. This legend binds the village to St.Quinis its Patron saint. Besides the vault which overhangs the village bears the name of Vault of St Quinis. Mention of " Ass volant" is included so much in signs of store than of the names of local associations.

The commune is also known for the Village of the tortoises, seat of SOPTOM (and Protection Observation station of the Tortoises of the Moors) and centers study and of conservation of the Tortue of Hermann, who is in this commune and drains many tourists.

Geography

Gonfaron is a village of the Center VAr, Membre of the " community of common the Heart of the VAr-Plain of Maures". The village is leant with the hill of the Rocket (to approximately 200 Mr. of altitude). It is nested with the foot of the solid mass of the Moors whose Northern face and the culminating peaks (Notre-Dame of the Angels and Sauvette) dominate the region. Gonfaron has a surface of 4.042 ha. Currently the " part; village" built on the hill is composed of small streets and lanes intersected with staircases or porches which lead inevitably towards the vault St Quinis. The low part surrounds the main road and the place of the victory. It is there that is located the majority of the trade and animation.

Around and more in the south, there are initially " quartiers" residences surrounded by gardens. Further, in the campaigns, of new allotments build themselves to the foot of the solid mass of the Moors.

History

the legend of the ass stealing

The festival of the flying ass celebrates in April. In end-of-day, the ass built with this ocasion is flaring. In the course of time, several versions of the legend its born! But the most famous legend is this one: The village is surmounted by a vault bearing the name of its Patron saint: Quinis saint. The tradition wanted that the inhabitants meet for a procession towards the vault, it was thus required of the inhabitants to clean the streets by which would pass the procession. In 1645, “grumpy” Gonfaronnais refused, one never knew why, refused to make this work of cleanliness and exclaimed simplment: “So Holy Quinis finds the passage too dirty, it will have to only jump over! ”. According to some it added some désobligeants remarks. The municipality made proceed of authority to necessary work. The festival took place in the joy and good mood, but the incident however remained in the report of the inhabitants… A few times afterwards, the viel man returning from the countryside on his ass, descended the slopes from Carnaraute (local name of the mountain which dominates Gonfaron in north. However its animal, irritated by the horseflies, suddenly took a precipitated form. So much so that quitant its way, it made a flight planed with the top of the ravine while its piteous rider was projected harshly on the ground. Known at once, its mishap made the rized joy and of all the country, and each one to exclaim: “It is well made, Saint Quinis punished it, its ass stole ”.

life of Saint Quinis

Quinis saint, owner of Gonfaron, were born in Vaison the Roman (Vaucluse) about the year 500.On named it " QUENIN" or " QUINIDIUS" (in Latin). His/her parents were Christian, very pious and his/her father occupied an important station with the Municipality. His/her mother was dawning one a pilgrimage in Arles and there, she heard a voice announcing to him that she would have a son who would be bishop and do many conversions of sinners and miracles. Quinis was baptized with its birth and was raised in the Christian religion by very good Masters. Very good pupil, it learned in class: grammar, Latin, calculation, music. When it was larger, the bishop of Vaison sent it to supplement his instruction with the monastery of the Islands of Lerins (islands opposite Cannes), which always exists. The monks held a very known and very good school to with it where one trained scientists, priests and even of the bishops.

QUINIS thus left and passed by Avignon, Brignoles, Besse, Gonfaron. It crossed the cities and the campaigns, setting in the peasants or in the inns. He preached the Gospel of JESUS with charity and softness with the people whom he came across. He spoke to the plowmen, to the vine growers, with the shepherds, with the loggers and taught them charity and the love of god. He advised to them to give up the pagan worships, inherited the Romans.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

Principal monuments:

the tower of the clock (1850) is surmounted by a bell-tower.
the church " Immaculate Conception" , devoted in 1865.
the vault St Quinis. Rebuilt several times, the current date of 1849
the war memorial.

The Place of the Victoire is particularly vast.

Personalities related to the commune

It would be unjust not to quote Henri JULIEN born in 1927 and who as worthy son of a line of cartwrights, created in 1968 mark AGS " Car Gonfaronnaise Sportive". This mark took part in innumerable competitions in FF, FR/E, FIII, FII, F3000, and even FI. until the beginning of the year 1990. It is on its initiative that the Circuit of the VAr was founded which always currently exists (2007). He is also holder of the world records of the hour of Racer 500 the 9/3/1997 at the speed of 222.557 km/h. in collaboration with his/her friend Bernard BOYER.

Lucien FIR TREE, painter and sculptor arrived at Gonfaron at the 6 months age. Very young person it will make sculpture its trade. Foreman of the French Marbles, it directs 32 workmen; attached to the museum of Louvres under better workman of France, it restores: The large gallery of Louvre with its team of specialists with regard to the marble-mason's yard, and the house of Flora. Operations manager by the Ministry for the Culture, it works in the foreign museums He visits careers and selects marbles for the future restorations. But the holidays invariably bring back it to Gonfaron… and there always remained deeply attached to its village where he currently saw (2007).

Bernard DEVAUX, former journalist, naturalist, professionally reconverted into the years 1980 in the study and the protection of the wild animal more symbolic system of the nature of the Solid mass of the Moors: the Tortoise of Hermann. The intense tourist activity of the Village of the Tortoises which it founded with the accesses of the commune is a major economic source for the area and one of the most important world contributions to the study of the tortoises in their natural environment.

Gonfaron is also a village where hunting takes a considerable place; let us not forget to quote a hunter except par, which learned rudiments from the trades to all the current practitioners; Fernand BRIANO. 1904, its birth, he was cork levor, whose museum of the cork of Gonfaron devotes an insert to him, then voluntary fireman where he applies glorieusement against fires, system currently prohibits, and all its life it trains the young people with hunting, passion whom it practiced up to 90 years. He left us in 1997 at the 92 years age, but he will be always present in the heart and the life of Gonfaronnais

See too

Common of the VAr
Center of protection of the tortoises of Senegal (conceived on the model of that of Gonfaron)

External bonds

Gonfaron, village of the heart of the VAr
Site of Julien Babilon - Photographer living with Gonfaron
Gonfaron on the site of the national geographical Institute
Gonfaron on the site of INSEE
Gonfaron on the site of Quid
Localization of Gonfaron on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Gonfaron on Mapquest

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