Saint-Julien (Var)

Saint- Julien, also Saint -Julien -le- Montagnier ( Provence Sant -Julien- lou- Mountagnié or Sant - Julian -lo- Montanhièr ) is a commune with 2161 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the Var department in the region Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur.

Geography

The small Provencal village of Saint -Julien is located high on a hill, as the isolated rises nearly 300 meters above the level of high Provence. The successive rocky plateaus are covered with a shrub -like, thin vegetation. The municipality is located in the Regional Natural Park Verdon.

History

Archaeological investigations have demonstrated for the Cave of Pignolets a prehistoric settlement. Other tracks occupy settlements in the Celtic- Ligurian time in Gourdane. In Gallo - Roman times, people lived in Malaurie, Sainte -Anne, Saint- Julien and the important Roman stronghold Saint- Plume.

In the Middle Ages, Saint -Julien was first mentioned in 1182 as Sanctus Julian Montanarius. As other name of the place soon Saint- Julien- le- Montagnier and later Saint- Julien- la -Montagne be used. The first documented "Lord" of Saint -Julien was a woman: Laure de Saint- Julien, who was known for her beauty and was sung by Troubadour Foulquet de Marseille. As a result, the rule was successively in the counts of Marseille, Arnaud de Triano, and the families of Castellane and Forbin. The now completely ruined castle was built by the Knights Templar.

Population

As in many communities of the department of the population of the community has grown substantially since the early 1960s to the present. Reason for this development alone is a continuing strong inflow mainly from other parts of France, as the birth rate over the whole period was negative.

Culture and sights

• The architecture of the registered as Inscrit Monument Historique Romanesque church of Saint Trinité is characteristic of churches in the Haute Provence: A highly -drawn nave with a barrel vault arches supported by a roof and an apse. The wooden main altar of the church dates from the 17th century and is gold plated. The choir is illuminated by a lantern in the shape of a square rock.
• From the village there is a beautiful view of the surroundings. A city gate and the remains of the former fortifications are the last remnants of the former fortress.