Villecroze

Villecroze ( Provençal Vilacroza or Vilocrozo ) is a commune with 1275 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) in the Var department in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur.

Geography

Villecroze located 22 km north- west of Draguignan, 20 km south of the Gorges du Verdon and 7 km southeast of Aups at an average altitude of 350 m on the southern slopes of the Alpes de Provence. The wooded with oaks and pines in the foothills north of the village Villecroze protects against the effects of the Mistral.

The place is known for its tuff cliffs that are crossed by numerous caves with up to 7 m high halls and an underground lake.

History

At several places in the area prove Neolithic finds a settlement in prehistoric times. In Gallo -Roman times was located further down the level on the Via Julia Fréjus by Riez a settlement. There built in a valley, a veteran of the Roman legion a villa that was destroyed during the Sarazenensturms.

In the 11th century Villecroze was under the rule of the Castellane family and the abbey of Saint -Victor in Marseille, which established a Benedictine monastery here. Around the time from 1150 to 1155 gave the Lords of Salernes, Entrecasteaux, tour and tour Flayosc the Knights Templar, the goods Ruou, Salgues and Salguettes. In Ruou a Templar Coming, which included 1195 14 monks arose. The goods of the Order finally fell to the Maltese, who shared the local rule with the family Castellane to the French Revolution.

Culture and sights

The space dominated by the Campanile on the former castle tower, old town center of Villecroze has retained a medieval character with narrow streets and arcades.

The present parish church of Notre- Dame-de- Pitié built in the 18th century. The former, by a cemetery surrounded Romanesque parish church of the same name was built in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 13th century. It is available as Inscrit Monument Historique under special preservation.

In the evaluated also as Inscrit Monument Historique Chapelle Saint -Victor of the 12th century every year the concerts of the patron Anne Gruner Schlumberger ( 1904-1993 ), a daughter of Conrad Schlumberger, launched international music academy take to the virtuoso traveling around the world.

Population

Community in the Var
Place in Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur

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