Le Beausset
Le Bandol is a commune with 9092 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the Var department in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur.
Geography
Le Bandol is located about 10 km northwest of Toulon in a world characterized by vineyards and pine forests bottomed out in the south of the Massif de la Sainte -Baume. Dating from the Cretaceous rocks are rich in fossils.
History
In the 12th century found the first evidence for the then Balcetum and Baucetum mentioned place. The etymology of the name is unclear and may be both Provencal and Latin origin. Until the place to the early 19th century received its present name against the will of the then mayor of not clarified reasons, he was called Le Bausset. Le Beausset was a fief of the Baux family and later the viscounts and the bishops of Marseilles.
The old village ( Beausset -Vieux ), which was built around a fort, which was from the Middle Ages up to the Huguenot wars to the scene of numerous armed conflicts was, in 1506 deserted by its inhabitants, who moved into the below location level. In 1615 the population of Cardinal Richelieu asked for the destruction of the château.
The battalion of citizen militia from Le Beausset took an active part in the French Revolution, when in 1793, the army of Napoleon Bonaparte during the siege and recapture of Toulon was staying there.
Personalities
- Jean- Étienne -Marie Portalis (* 1746, † 1807), French statesman, jurist and legal philosopher, was born in Le Bandol.
- Yannick Dalmas ( born 1961 ), French race car driver, was born in Le Bandol.
Economy
In addition to the cultivation of vines, olives and fruit poultry farming is an important factor of regional agriculture. The wines are produced in Le Beausset both independent wineries as well as a wine-maker and include partially to the AOC Côtes de Provence and Bandol.
In the south of Bandol Le Val d' Aren ( Sandtal ) located quarry, which extends for several kilometers across the territory of three municipalities Le Castellet, Bandol and Le Évenos is recovered sand.