THE STE BAUME
The massif of theSte Baume - Mazaugues - Rougiers - Nans les Pins
Plan d'aups Ste Baume - St Zacharie - St Maximin la Ste Baume - Pourcieux
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The massif of the Ste Baume
A rocky bar 12 Km long which peaks at more than 1000 metres in height , between the Var and the Bouche
du Rhône , such appears the massif of Ste Baume (Name of origin "Baoumo" which means "Grot") .
This mountain , born in the secondary , is a real water tower for the region , the source various river . On the rocky
crest walks the GR98 , with a stopping place in St Pilon's peak where is a small chapel and a wiewpopint indicator .
If the hillside the south is influenced by the sea , the hillside north , colder , is covered with a forrest of 120 Ha
which shelters a very rich flora and fauna (Beeches , Hollies , Lime tree , Maples , Yews - Black peaks , S
parrowhawks , Owlets , Tits).
It is also on the hillside the North where is nested , in the forest , Marie Madeleine's grot , stage on Compostelle's
pilgrimage and the main piece of which can welcome 1000 persons .
Many discoveries and strolls has to do in the massif , from various villages or from hostlery situated on the RD80 .
PROTECT OUR FORREST ATTENTION IN THE FIRES
Mazaugues
And so yours stroll in Ste
Baume begun in the East with Mazaugues's village . Being
lived since paleolithic
average , then in the prehistory (As testify of it the grots of the gorges
of Caramy) ; The village took its
development in the middle age on the headland of Clastre , around its
castle and around the church of Annonciade
( Ruins of the XI° - XVI° centuries on the GR99) .
The current village shelters among these alleys , the museum of
the ice , the mill with oil of the XIX° century , a
bell tower of 1783 and a fountain of 1777 . To note the church of the
XIX° century which contains a triptych ,
classified , of the XVI° century .
Insteads of the extraction of the bauxic , Mazaugues is a pleasant
and quiet village today .
Rougiers
The current village is situated in a plain , where been supposed to be the way Aurélienne in time romans . In
the church St Sebastien you can admire a big and magnificent picture paint of 1615 "Martyr of St Sebastien" . In
the main street you will a beautiful window scluptured Renaissance , the tower of the clock and its "Campanile"
of the XVIII° deserve also their interests .
But it is on the hill St Jean that hides a site classifed in ancient memorials , it is the place where were the castle
and the village strengthened , built at the time of the barbaric invasions ; Excavations show numerous testimonies
of the life of the middle age .
Before throwing you in this stroll and many of the others on the forested tracks , as the fountain Roman of
Guillandiére , make so a pause for four oaks , who is a small reserve of water divided for the picnic .
Nans Les pins
Inhabitants : 3200 - Postal code : 83 860
Tourist information office : 04.94.78.95.91
At feet of the Massif of the Ste Baume , in 430 metres in height in green hills , nests Nans les Pins . It is a place
of departure priviliged for numerous rides (GR9 and GR9A , road of Roys , sources of Huveaune) and for
a botanical path , to discover .
In the village you can visit , the chapel of the Misericorde built by penitent white in 1623 , the church which
contains an altar of Carolingian time . Outside of the village , perched on a hill , are the ruins of the feudal castle
of the XII° century .
To note a national competition of harnesses , at the end of may - the beginning of June and for the amateurs a golf .
Plan d'Aups la Ste Baume
Inhabitants : 361 - Postal code : 83 640
Tourist information office : 04.42.62.57.57
Built as height as 700 metres on the North side of the Massif of the Ste Baume , it is here that the main rivers
of neighborhood take their sources . In 242 before J.C Romans legions , which prolonged the way Aurélienne ,
did a place of holiday resort of it and set up a temple dedicated to the goddesses defenders of waters .
In the village , the church St Jacques le Majeur dates the XI° century , is of Romanic style and shelters a
wooden Calvary of the XV° century . The presbytery dates it of the XVIII° century .
Outside the village it is the Massif of the Ste Baume , that is described at the head of this page , with its forest ,
the grot Marie madeleine , the hostlery (Together of building of the convent of the order of the Dominicans)
and of numerous rides .
St Zacharie
Inhabitants : 3224 - Postal code : 83 640
Tourist information office : 04.42.32.63.28
Situated at the edge of Huveaune , on the limit of the department of the Bouches du Rhône , St Zacharie
benefits from a micro climate of the most pleasant , where murmur ten fountains ans six bounds fountains .
The church St Jean Baptiste dates of X° century with successive additions until the XVII° century , among
which an unfinished bell tower of the XV° . The city hall shelters an altar dedicated to Jupiter and on the road
of Marseille one can visit park of castle of Moulin Blanc (XIX° century) , when the naturalist Gaston de
Saporta planted trees of the whole world .
To note the fair in potteries , first week of June , the origin of which goes back up to the industrial past of
the village with its exploitations of clay for the pottery , but also the tileries and the brickyards .
For a stroll coolness , do not forget a majestic site , source's of Nayes .
St Maximin la Ste Baume
Inhabitants : 9594 - Postal code : 83 470
Tourist information office : 04.94.59.84.59
In a wine plain , lined by the Massif of the Ste Baume , the mountain Aurélien and the mountain of St Victoire ,
is St Maximin , city of origin Roman-Christian with whom the history was marked by Marie madeleine's life ,
whose relics were discovered in 1280 in a crypt of the IV° century .
The royal basilica (1295) , the bigger Gothic building of Provence , in a lenght 72.6 metres , its big nave
counts 9 bay of joists and rise at 29 metres. It shelters crypts Gallo-Roman of the IV° century , sarcophaguses
(Ste Marie Madeleine/St Maximin/St Sidoine/Ste Marcelle and Sidoine) and an organ of the XVIII° century .
It is the third tomb of the Christendom .
The royal convent of the Dominicans with its cloister , its monumental hall and its garden date the XII-XV° century .
In the south of the basilica is the medieval district , with a porch of the XIII° century , it falls on to the ancient
medieval Jewish district with very beautiful arcade .
This city , in the rich historic past , merit to do a stage of it in your stroll .
Pourcieux
Inhabitants : 921 - Postal code : 83 470
Tourist information office : 04.94.78.02.05
Irrigated by the Arc , situated at feet of the mountain Aurélien ( 875 metres - Ride and point of view in the summit
to be discovered ) , Pourcieux is a peaceful village , the resources of which result from the wine growing .
Passage of the way Aurélienne , the vestiges Romans remain , notably a military landmark . In the village the church
St Victor was built in the XIII° century in the place of tombs of the middle age and the ancient prioress , already
quoted in 1079 ; the scullery dates 1768 and opposite you can recognize a ancient dovecote .
With that of the mountain Aurélien , numerous strolls can be made in the municipal wood and on the botanical path .
