Mérindol
Mérindol is a commune with 1969 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Vaucluse department in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur.
Geography
Mérindol located 18 kilometers southeast of Cavaillon and 15 kilometers northeast of Salon-de -Provence. The municipality is situated on the Durance. and is part of the Regional Natural Park of Luberon.
History
The old village was located on a slope steep. Years ago, some 450 settlers began to leave it and settled right on the Durance. The place was very strongly influenced by the Waldensian movement, which had established itself in 1545 in Lyon. The religious minority, which stood for a break with the past traditions of the Church was persecuted. Since the preaching in the cities was too dangerous, the Waldenses retreated to rural regions in France and Italy. The lords of Provence, which was sparsely populated at that time, like immigrants took on who could manage their land. Therefore, the Waldenses could retire among others by mérindol. 1530 Jean de Roma became the new Inquisitor of Apt. Under his rule, the Waldenses were oppressed and murdered, which in turn led to acts of revenge. 1540, certain of the " adoption of mérindol " that all who would found guilty of heresy guilty should be burned alive. In just one week eleven villages of the Luberon were devastated, two to three thousand people are killed, including a dozen in mérindol. The majority of the population was able to escape to Switzerland.
Culture and sights
- Old castle with Waldensian monument
- Age village (founded in 1225 )
- Bell tower of the Protestant Church in 1682 destroyed
- Catholic church of Sainte -Anne (1756 )
- Lavoir at the entrance
- Olive oil press from the 16th century
Twinning
- Oetisheim, Baden- Württemberg