Quinson

Quinson ( Quinçon in Of Provence traditional and Quinsoun 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 Quinsonnais.

Geography

Located on the course of the the Verdon, between water reserves of Holy-Cross and of the Esparron-on-Verdon, the site of Quinson is characterized by an alluvial plain of modest size, enclosed between high rock faces (the village is dominated by the plate of Valensole in direction of the north and, on the other hand, by the cataclinal one which marks the septentrional limit the top Var.

The commune of Quinson belongs to the Regional natural park of the Verdon.

Etymology

Quinson is the name of the Pinson in Provençal whose bird is present on its weapons. Its name would come in fact from that from Quintius , rich Gallo-Roman owner.

History

The origins of a human settlement near Quinson are in the low gorges of the Verdon, where several caves (or “balsams”) revealed occupied rock shelters there is more than 400.000 years: among these prehistoric sites, it is necessary to mention the “Balsam Good”, announced for submission to the prehistorians in December 1946 and excavated 1957 with 1968 by Henry de Lumley, then, in 1988 - 1998 under the direction of Jean Gagnepain and Claire Gaillard ( source: site of the Museum of Prehistory in Quinson)

The Man thus populated quite naturally, probably as of the end of Paleolithic, banks of the Verdon in the south of the current village. Nevertheless, as of the age of iron and as in many places in the vicinity, a defensive site, located in height, was preferred with a habitat on the banks of the river. The reason is certainly the multiplication of hoop nets related to a greater hierarchisation of the companies towards the end of the Bronze Age.

Being Quinson even, the original village, indeed, is located in edge of the plate, in the North-West of the current village. Its ruins - essentially medieval - are still visible with the remainders of a barred Oppidum. This last is gone back to nearly 3000 years and the site was probably permanently occupied until the Roman conquest of the Narbonnaise, date on which at least a rich person exploitation - or villa - Roman was established in the plain. If no archaeological index makes it possible to know how could be completed the occupation of the oppidum, it is perhaps because the latter, contrary to other fortresses, did not know violent end.

In any case, the natural rampart consisted the height of this first habitat again served - probably initially of place of refuge - towards the end of the Roman period . During the Early middle ages, it also constituted the site of the first medieval village.

The establishment of the current village in the “plain” thus constitutes a new episode in the history of Quinson, dated as for him from the end from the Moyen-âge. At the end of XVe century, indeed, the queen Yolande d' Aragon, regent of Provence, allowed the villagers to be established close to the cultures in the plain and to set up walls. These last, openings of two doors and defended by seven turns, are still in good state: they had the role to defend important trade route between the Alps and Provence which skirted the Verdon then (current road of Montmeyan), but also to control the right of toll, taken for the crossing of a bridge on the river.

During the Revolution, the village, extremely of approximately 1100 inhabitants, took without hesitation the party of the Republic.

At the XIXe century, Quinson knew the end of its prosperity: the construction of the railways more in the south contributed to isolate it from the main roads of communication.

The disaffection of the way which had ensured its richness and the consequences of the second Industrial revolution involved the rural migration of the population until during the Années 1970: in 1950, the village, indeed, counted nothing any more but 250 inhabitants. Finally, the construction of the stoppings on the Verdon by Électricité de France and the creation of their lakes of reserve allow since a new rise of this preserved site, rise related to the country holidays

Quinson today

Approximately cash 350 inhabitants, the village is famous today for its sites of climbing. The nautical base of Quinson is also the point of loading for which wants to explore the low gorges of the Verdon in direction of Esparron: the hiring of kayaks, canoes or boats with electrical motor became an important activity there. Upstream of Quinson, the access to the river is barred at the beginning of the throats of Baudinard by the stopping of Électricité de France.

Among the reception facilities, in addition to several camp-sites, it is necessary to quote a hotel, a lodging of stage, several rooms of hosts and 4 restaurants.

Lastly, more recently, Quinson was selected like the site of important a Musée of Prehistory . Its modern architecture, with the gray concrete curves which slice on the bottom of an important natural stone retaining wall, is due to English Norman Foster. The realization of the project began in 1992. The museography as for it was carried out by Bruno Chambietto. To finally note the existence of a reconstituted prehistoric village and guided visits allowing to discover the Good cave of the Balsam.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

the Museum of prehistory

Personalities related to the commune

See too

the Verdon (river)
Common of Alp-of-High-Provence

External bonds

Official site of the town hall of Quinson
institutional Site of the '' Musée of Prehistory ''
Site of the hotel with restaurant '' Relais Notre-Dame ''
Quinson on the site of the national geographical Institute
Quinson on the site of INSEE
Quinson on the site of Quid
Localization of Quinson on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Quinson on Mapquest
Low Gorges of the Verdon

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