L'Hospitalet, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
L' Hospitalet is a commune of the department of Alpes- de -Haute -Provence, Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur. Administratively, it is assigned to the Canton Banon and the district Forcalquier.
Geography
The small mountain village is a scattered settlement with 89 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011). It lies at the foot of the mountain massif Montagne de Lure 40 km west of Digne- les- Bains and can only be reached from the south either of Saumane or Lardiers on the forked road department D12.
The municipality also includes the hamlet of Les Girons, Champ de l' Amant and Les Anglars, and the mountain peaks Le Narreteau ( 1,486 m) and the Col Saint -Vincent.
The climate is Mediterranean, but the village is very much exposed to the Mistral.
Economy
The few families in the community to live mainly from tourism and the production of lavender oil, Banon Cheese and Honey ( Miel de Provence). In addition, sheep rearing ( Agneau de Sisteron AOC ) is operated.
History
The village with the Latin name Castrum de Hospitalariis (also Hotpitalatum ) was built around the year 1200 on the initiative of the Hospitaller Order of Malta, also called " Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem " called. Two -year figures are mentioned as the founding date in ancient sources: 1160 and 1250, with the former being more likely. If so, then L' Hospitalet goes back to the friars of Manosque. Middle of the 13th century founded the Order of Malta on site as well as a parish in Lardiers a leper colony. The temporal power exercised by the Lords of Simiane who already had the fief of Saumane from. The town remained insignificant. End of the 15th century there were in L' Hospitalet only two taxable households ( feu fiscaux ) and maybe ten inhabitants.
In modern times, the community was able to ransom himself and became independent. During the French Revolution the inhabitants founded spot a " political club of the Jacobins ." In those days, 225 residents and residents in L' Hospitalet. From the mid-19th century, this number declined steadily.
Eight residents of the village fell in the First World War. In the 1960s, the Supreme Command of the Force de frappe began above L' Hospitalet on the Plateau d' Albion with the establishment of their command posts, but the work was stopped again after a budget cut a few years. Today you can see it only a big gaping hole on the western slope of the Gardette to lead a runway.
Coat of arms
Blazon: In Schildkopf to green a golden pile; golden sign foot in a green Wyvern (also Viper, French Guivre called ).
Demographics
Attractions
The parish church of Saint -Jean -Baptiste ( John the Baptist ') is mainly from the 13th century. In the ruins of the 12th century and still originate from the first church that was built by the Knights of St. John. Those with a hemispherical vault ( cul -de -four ) covered apse is lit by four small windows and closed to the outside directly with the straight facade wall from ( chevet plat ). The nave provided with loopholes is einjochig. The choir houses a side chapel in the north. The hired bell tower dates from the 17th century. In the 19th century, the building was restored.