Saint-Chamas

Saint- Chamas is a municipality in the southern French département Bouches -du -Rhône in the Provence -Alpes- Côte d' Azur in Provence. It has 7774 inhabitants (1 January 2011).

Geography

Saint- Chamas is located on the northern tip of the marsh, 20 km south of Salon- de -Provence and 50 km northwest of Marseille in miramas. The highest point in the city is Le Verdon with a height of 121 meters.

History

Archaeological exploration of the rock shelters found that the area of Saint- Chamas has been inhabited since the Paleolithic Age. During the Iron Age, the area was inhabited by the Ligurians, who erected there an oppidum, and later by the Celts. The Romans built in the 1st century BC, the Pont Flavien, a triumphal bridge over the Touloubre.

Saint- Chamas is by Sanctus Amantius ( Aman ), bishop of Rodez, named in his honor in the 7th century a chapel was built. The settlement was originally built on the limestone hills Baou, from which one can the marsh and the surrounding area overlooking well and was easy to defend.

In the 17th century a modern city arose: the old settlement on the Baou was too tight. It was abandoned when the new Perthuis and au Delà district emerged. A town hall was built and the harbor was extended. The church of Saint -Léger was built in 1660-1668, the bell tower was not finished until 1740. Today the Church of the Saint Anne Altarpiece houses from the 16th century. 1690 was the Royal Gunpowder Mill La Poudrerie built on the initiative of Louis XIV, which was long the most important industries of the city. It was closed in 1974.

During the French Revolution, the city was several years called Port- Chamas. The district, which developed at the town hall and the harbor were connected by a tunnel la Goule, but coincided in 1863. Today Saint- Chamas is a tourist destination that has preserved its heritage and the appearance of a medieval village.

Bell tower on the Pont de l' Horloge at the marketplace