Camps-la-Source

Camps- la-Source is a commune with 1751 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Var department in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur.

Geography

Camps- la-Source is located 5 km south-west of Brignoles at the foot of the rocky slopes of the 591 m high Saint- Quinis. Here arises among many other small sources of the river Val de Camps, a tributary of the Caramy which gave its name to the community.

History

Below the village show remains of a Gallo- Roman villa and an enclosed source of the ancient settlement of the area.

In the 6th century, the Holy Quenin moved back to his hermitage in the later named after him, wild rocky landscape before he was appointed Bishop of Vaison -la -Romaine 556.

In the Middle Ages Camps- la-Source was first mentioned in 1012 in Camis and a little later in the year 1060 as the de Camps. For a long time then led to the place the name of Camps- les- Brignoles. He was under the rule of the nearby Abbey of La Celle.

In the 18th century there were in the church thirty Filzhutfabriken. The operation of the last was adjusted until the mid-20th century.

Culture and sights

The place on the hillside above a the wine- plane has retained some of its original characteristics. Narrow streets and tall houses with beautifully designed wooden or stone lintels dot the village. At the source are partially walled arcades dating from the 19th century. The former factory gate in the medieval style is the last remnant of the formerly flourishing production of felt.

• The parish church of Notre -Dame Cathedral and its tower was built in the classical style and rebuilt several times.
• The church of Saint -Clair from 1525 has a Gothic vault.
• In addition to the upstream mountain hermitage Saint- Quinis are the ruins of buildings that were built in 1646 by the Trinitarians. Vo here there is a beautiful panorama over the plain to the north.
• On the way to Saint- Quinis are the ruined chapel of Saint- Martin and the Chapel of Saint -Sébastien.

Museums

The former wine cellars of the wine cooperative was recently acquired by the municipality and converted into a wine museum.

Economy

The numerous sources and the abundance of water related were for a long time the base of the main economic activities. In addition to the grain and wine growing and animal husbandry were once the felt and felt hats as well as the production of mineral water from the French producers of mineral water Vittel important economic factors. Meanwhile, tourism has become, along with agriculture the main source of the town.