Entrevaux
Encyclopedia
Entrevaux is a commune
in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
department in southeastern France
.
and Puget-Théniers
that runs alongside the gorge of the river Var
, the mediaeval walled town lies in the shadow of a mountaintop citadel.
s and the razing of the old town of Glandèves, the more defensible site of mediaeval Entrevaux was founded in the 11th century on the rocky spur in an angle of the river; the oldest recorded name is Interrivos and dates from 1040.
Between 1481 and 1487, Provence
became a part of France.
In 1536, Entrevaux fell to the troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
, betrayed by its lord Jacques Glandeves; half the population was massacred (coll.). The remaining population staged an uprising, cutting the throat of the governor, and offered the town to the French Dauphin, King François I
. In recognition of this, Entrevaux was given the Charter of Avignon and declared a royal town of France and its inhabitants exempt from taxation (Le Monti).
In the 16th century, the old cathedral of Glandèves was finally abandoned as the official bishop's seat and a new cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, constructed in Entrevaux.
In 1658 a bridge guarded by towers and a portcullis
was constructed over the Var; this is the modern Porte Royale. In 1690 the military architect Vauban
drew up plans to further fortify the town, due to its strategic position guarding the valley of the Var and on the border with Savoy
. Although not completed in full, the citadel perched high above the town was strengthened, particularly on the more accessible side closest to the hilltops, and a protected walyway constructed up the side of the mountain from the town. Two small forts were provided toprotect the town, and its two main gates - now called the Porte d'Italie and the Porte de France - strengthened.
Entrevaux was briefly besieged in June 1707 by the Savoyards under Chevalier Blaignac, but resisted and was relieved by the French forces.
The citadel was last used during World War I
as a prison for German officers.
on the weekend closest to 24 June, and an annual medieval festival on the weekend closest to 15 August (Le Monti). It houses a motorcycle
museum with a working collection of early, mostly European models. Outside the city walls, a working 19th century oil mill is still in production and can be visited.
The cathedral houses a large painting of the Assumption of the Virgin
by Mimaust, from 1647, and has an organ by Jean Eustache
dating to 1717.
to Digne-les-Bains
run by the Chemins de Fer de Provence. In summer, a restored 19th century steam train runs between Annot
and Puget-Théniers
.
), and honey
.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence is a French department in the south of France, it was formerly part of the province of Provence.- History :Nord-de-Provence was one of the 83 original departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
department in southeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography
Set on both sides of the narrow road between AnnotAnnot
Annot is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.-Geography:It is situated on the banks of the Vaïre river which flows right through the centre of town. It is located 15 km west of Entrevaux.The city is located in a...
and Puget-Théniers
Puget-Théniers
Puget-Théniers is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Population:-External links:* & ....
that runs alongside the gorge of the river Var
Var River
The Var is a river located in the southeast of France. The name Var originates from the Ligurian word for waterway.The Var flows through the Alpes-Maritimes département for most of its length, with a short stretch in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence département...
, the mediaeval walled town lies in the shadow of a mountaintop citadel.
History
Following incursions of SaracenSaracen
Saracen was a term used by the ancient Romans to refer to a people who lived in desert areas in and around the Roman province of Arabia, and who were distinguished from Arabs. In Europe during the Middle Ages the term was expanded to include Arabs, and then all who professed the religion of Islam...
s and the razing of the old town of Glandèves, the more defensible site of mediaeval Entrevaux was founded in the 11th century on the rocky spur in an angle of the river; the oldest recorded name is Interrivos and dates from 1040.
Between 1481 and 1487, Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
became a part of France.
In 1536, Entrevaux fell to the troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, betrayed by its lord Jacques Glandeves; half the population was massacred (coll.). The remaining population staged an uprising, cutting the throat of the governor, and offered the town to the French Dauphin, King François I
Francis I of France
Francis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
. In recognition of this, Entrevaux was given the Charter of Avignon and declared a royal town of France and its inhabitants exempt from taxation (Le Monti).
In the 16th century, the old cathedral of Glandèves was finally abandoned as the official bishop's seat and a new cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, constructed in Entrevaux.
In 1658 a bridge guarded by towers and a portcullis
Portcullis
A portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
was constructed over the Var; this is the modern Porte Royale. In 1690 the military architect Vauban
Vauban
Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban , commonly referred to as Vauban, was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age, famed for his skill in both designing fortifications and breaking through them...
drew up plans to further fortify the town, due to its strategic position guarding the valley of the Var and on the border with Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
. Although not completed in full, the citadel perched high above the town was strengthened, particularly on the more accessible side closest to the hilltops, and a protected walyway constructed up the side of the mountain from the town. Two small forts were provided toprotect the town, and its two main gates - now called the Porte d'Italie and the Porte de France - strengthened.
Entrevaux was briefly besieged in June 1707 by the Savoyards under Chevalier Blaignac, but resisted and was relieved by the French forces.
The citadel was last used during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a prison for German officers.
Sights
Entrevaux features a pilgrimage of St JohnJohn the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...
on the weekend closest to 24 June, and an annual medieval festival on the weekend closest to 15 August (Le Monti). It houses a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
museum with a working collection of early, mostly European models. Outside the city walls, a working 19th century oil mill is still in production and can be visited.
The cathedral houses a large painting of the Assumption of the Virgin
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
by Mimaust, from 1647, and has an organ by Jean Eustache
Jean Eustache
Jean Eustache was a French filmmaker. During his short career, he completed numerous shorts, in addition to a pair of highly regarded features, of which the first, The Mother and the Whore, is considered a key work of post-Nouvelle Vague French cinema.In his obituary for Eustache, the influential...
dating to 1717.
Population
Transportation
Entrevaux may be reached by the mountain train from NiceNice
Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of...
to Digne-les-Bains
Digne-les-Bains
Digne-les-Bains or simply and historically Digne is a commune of France, capital of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department.-History:...
run by the Chemins de Fer de Provence. In summer, a restored 19th century steam train runs between Annot
Annot
Annot is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France in the region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.-Geography:It is situated on the banks of the Vaïre river which flows right through the centre of town. It is located 15 km west of Entrevaux.The city is located in a...
and Puget-Théniers
Puget-Théniers
Puget-Théniers is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.-Population:-External links:* & ....
.
Cuisine
Regional culinary specialities include Secca de boeuf (dried beef, served in wafer-thin slices) ,pain d'épice (gingerbreadGingerbread
Gingerbread is a term used to describe a variety of sweet food products, which can range from a soft, moist loaf cake to something close to a ginger biscuit. What they have in common are the predominant flavors of ginger and a tendency to use honey or molasses rather than just sugar...
), and honey
Honey
Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced by honey bees is the one most commonly referred to and is the type of honey collected by beekeepers and consumed by humans...
.