Montagnac-Montpezat

Montagnac-Montpezat ( Montanhac E Montpesat in Of Provence according to the traditional Standard and Mountagna-Mountpesat according to the Standard mistralienne) is a common French, located in the department of the Alp-of-High-Provence and the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure.

Its inhabitants is called Montagnacais. This common was created on January 1st 1974 starting from the meeting of the preexistent communes of Montpezat and Montagnac-the-Truffles.

Geography

Its territory, whose surface is of 3418 hectares and whose altitude lies between 394 and 653 meters, is delimited in the south by the middle price of the the Verdon on the level of the throats of Baudinard, in limit with the department of the Var (83). It extends to north to the commune of Germany-in-Provence and to the valley from the Colostre. It includes/understands two distant centers of settlement of approximately four kilometers: historical villages of Montagnac and Montpezat, two common partners.

According to the census of 1999, the commune of Montagnac-Montpezat counted 321 inhabitants (source then: INSEE). Following the example majority of the villages around, Montagnac-Montpezat knows a considerable increase in its population in summer, because of important seasonal tourism related to the attraction of the Gorges of the Verdon.

Montagnac-Montpezat belongs to the Regional natural park of the Verdon and of the canton of communes of Riez.

Sites and accessibility

Because of their distinct history until in 1974, it is appropriate to separately consider the sites of the villages of Montagnac and Montpezat.

Montpezat is located in dominant position on a nipple, with cliffside consisted the edge of the Plateau of Valensole. It thus overhangs the depression created by the valley of the the Verdon on the level of the throats of Baudinard and occupied, since the Années 1970, by water of the artificial reserve of Quinson.

Montagnac is located at the north of this village, with équidistance of the line which makes the edge of the Plateau of Valensole. It occupies the top of a hill there dominating the hollow of a depression.

So the territory of the recent commune of Montagnac-Montpezat joins together various ecosystems: it is formed partly of the plate of Valensole (plains of Giraud and Pubeauclaire) and of the gorges of the Verdon (Jump of the Goat).

A secondary road connects the village of Germany-in-Provence to Montagnac: D111; while following this one beyond the village of Montagnac on nearly two kilometers, it is then necessary to again fork and follow D211 on two kilometers to join Montpezat.

History

Montagnac

The village of Montagnac , named “Montagnac-the-Truffles” of 1815 until in 1940, has its origin at the latest with the Moyen-âge (at the 11th century).

During this period, Montagnac was probably in the beginning a castrum , which its name evokes. It successively belonged to the bishops of Laugh, with the families of Simiane and Pontevès. During the wars of religion, its place-strong (which were in the west of the current village) was shaven by Lavalette.

Famous at the 19th century for its Truffle S, the village was also known for its wood turners, of which is today in activity.

In particular because of its proximity with Germany-in-Provence (on the main roads of access to the Gorges of the Verdon by north), Montagnac is today the most dynamic center of the commune: the increase in its population is mainly dependant on the installation of néo-rural whose place of activity can be located at Aix-en-Provence or on Manosque.

The town hall is located in the middle of the village, vis-a-vis the church Saint-Pierre-be-Bonds, of Romance style rustic.

; Demographic data:

The following data come from the site Territoires and population, two centuries of evolution; villages of Cassini to the communes of today of the School of the High Studies in Social sciences.

To note:

  • 1914 - 1918: surmortality related to the Great War
  • 1974 Montpezat association

Montpezat

Montpezat , whose hillock (nipple) dominated formerly a loop formed by the course of the Verdon upstream of Quinson, is quoted for the first time at the writing in 1138.

The accesses of the site nevertheless were populated as of the Bronze Age, as showed it the vestiges invented in the shelters - under - rock with the localities the “Cave Walled” and the “Shelter of the Captain”. During the Gallo-Roman period, other vestiges testify to the existence of a sanctuary on the plate. Latin inscriptions are present on a wall of the Saint-Saturnin farm.

The village was the possession of the bishops of Laugh (at 1234 to 1631) and of Vintimille (of 1271 to 1700). Tested by the constant reduction in its population related to the rural migration as of the end of the 19th century, it was almost emptied of its inhabitants during the Années 1950. In 1965, Montpezat counted thus nothing any more but seven inhabitants.

Also, it was joined together with the commune of Montagnac in 1974, before the proximity of the lake of Retenue of Quinson (the stopping was put out of water in 1975, during the hydro-electric installation of the river by EDF) does not transform it into second home and vacation resort.

To benefit from the proximity of the new water level and success from the Lake from Holy-Cross, an important tourist complex was built in south-east in bottom of the old village during the Années 1980. This complex initially was a site of the “Club the Mediterranean” before becoming a “vacation village” VVF, offering 174 residences, of the courses of tennis and a swimming pool.

If it “wastes” the site somewhat when one approaches it since the south, the complex nevertheless is masked when one gains the village since north (while coming from Montagnac) or since south-west (while coming from the Saint-Laurent-of-Verdon).

The ruins of the medieval castle, transformed into residence, overhang the village: they are dated partly from XIIe, XIVe, XVIIe and XVIIIe centuries.

The Montpezat toponym, of the Latin pensare : to weigh, at the participle, could preserve the memory of the right of toll originally associated with this fortress. Nevertheless another etymology was advanced: Montpezat would draw its name from Latin Mons will petra , i.e. “stone mount”. For this reason, it should be noted that the upper part of the hill on which the village is makes up of a conglomerate of rollers and clay (Poudingue).

The castle of Montpezat forms today part of a private property located beside the restored church. The latter, of Romance style, is placed under the protection of holy Julien.

; Demographic data:

The following data come from the site Territoires and population, two centuries of evolution; villages of Cassini to the communes of today of the School of the high studies in social sciences.

Administration

Demography

Relate to the Montagnac-Montpezat commune in its entirety

Places and monuments

Personalities related to the commune

Local life

  • Festival of Montagnac: July 25th

  • Festival of Montpezat: Saint-Julien, at the beginning of August

In the vicinity

the following distances are given since Montpezat.

See too

External bonds

  • History of Montpezat in Provence by Rene Caussignac (personal site)
  • Montpezat in Provence (personal site)
  • Town hall of Montagnac-Montpezat
  • Regional natural park of the Verdon
  • Montagnac-Montpezat on the site of the national geographical Institute
  • Montagnac-Montpezat on the site of INSEE
  • Montagnac-Montpezat on the site of Quid
  • Localization of Montagnac-Montpezat on a chart of France and communes bordering
  • Plane on Montagnac-Montpezat on Mapquest

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