If you're tempted to go astray in Sauzet, ancient maxims carved underneath windows will bring you back to your senses. “Weak will, long repentance.1564” says one.
The old village is a maze of narrow streets opening out into the Courtine, a square up the hill, near the residence where the Dauphin, the future King Louis XI, stayed. As he was returning to Sauzet after a hunting party in the Saou forest, he almost drowned while crossing the Roubion at Charols.
Without really noticing, you pass two surrounding walls as you walk up, the second belonging to the chateau. This was built around 985 and was already ruined in the 17th century. A few decorative elements still embellish its old walls, such as chevron patterns painted in red and white and two stone sinks on the north side.
Opposite is the Saint Lambert church, whose construction began around 1100. It was substantially restored after the religious wars of the late 16th century and the year 1672 is carved on the keystone of the entrance arch.
To leave the village you have the choice of three gates through the fortified walls, although other more recent openings now exist. The wall is known as the “vingtain” (meaning a twentieth), after the tax of a twentieth of residents' income raised for maintenance of the structure.
The Portail Blanc (White Gate), near two bakers' shops, is the starting point of a historic walking tour, whose signposts you will probably already have noticed dotted around the old streets. The tour is set out on a village plan near this gateway. Curious visitors will turn back to find out more and lose themselves in the maze that is Sauzet.
Sauzet
Code postal
: 26740
Mairie : 04 75 46 72 22
Fax : 04 75 46 14 55 Lundi au vendredi - 9h à
12h
et samedi 9h à 12h Courriel
- Site
Nom
Provençal Sauzè
Histoire : De Salicetto
(1173) Sauzei (1187)
Du latin salix : saule
Habitants :2 047
Altitude : 160
m
Latitude : 44N.36.11
Longitude : 4E.49.10
Pratique marché : samedi
Rendez-vous annuels
Dernier dimanche de juillet :
Foire à l'ail
3e week-end de septembre :
Fête de Saint-Lambert
et vide-grenier le dimanche
Culture
31 associations - Chorale
Deux compagnies théâtrales Théâtre Inattendu
Valentine Compagnie Centre musical
Sports et loisirs
Boules - Judo - Tennis
créé par l'amicale omnisports
Sauzet-Valdaine
Yoga - Danse
CLSM "L'Arc-en-ciel"
