Landscapes of Ansouis

Typical with two basins - one for washing and a second one for rinsing with the arrival of water, that had to be very clean. The clothes were soaked in the water by the women, then scrubbed with "soap of Marseille" known to be one of the best detergents, then it was roughly struck several times to the “battoir” to evacuate the dirt and the soap. Rinsing required twisting and bending the laundry before draining. Some women made it their profession: The washerwomen.

The village developed from the 10th century around the castle and the church (11th century) located at the top of a hillock. Positioned at a strategic intersection of old roads, Ansouis was the administrative and trading centre of a barony consisting of Cucuron, Sannes and Motte d'Aigues. Less influential (crisis of the 18th century), less populated (rural exodus of the19th century), the village has kept its dense urban form of the 16th century making it its charm and a rare and precious proof.

Named Elzéar Sabran who was born in Provence in 1285 and was married to Delphine (Dauphine) sign, which was destined to take orders. They lived their married life in asceticism and virginity. Elzear died September 27, 1325 and was canonized April 15, 1369. Delphine made vows of poverty and ended his life in Apt in the greatest destitution. The Church blessed and proclaimed the popular will, Ste. Ansouis always celebrates in September the Saints.

Sur les flancs de colline au sud d’Ansouis se dressent des fourrés de jeunes pin d'Alep. Ce type de peuplement très dense couvre de très grandes surfaces. Le passage d'un incendie mènerait à l'installation d'une garrigue. Sur la période 1985 - 2015, le nombre de départs de feux est plus important sur la partie sud du territoire. Ceci peut s'expliquer à la fois par une densité de population et une fréquentation plus élevée que sur les autres massifs, mais aussi par une influence méditerranéenne plus marquée avec une sécheresse estivale plus forte.

Towards the top of the hill, the rollers become increasingly abundant. They are in shape, size and colors and sign the existence of an ancient river. For one roller is a piece of rock torn from the mountains by erosion and transported to the bottom of a river or sea, using and is slowly rounding. The rollers of Ansouis have very different origins, and sometimes far as the Alps, brought to this place by a paleo-Durance flowing out there 8 million years.

In the distance, you observe the Grand Luberon, whose birth is related to the Pyrenees, about 40 million years ago. Subsequently, the formation of the Alps enhanced the relief, and erosion shaped it. All this, leads to its present structure: A vast asymmetric vault fold, straddling towards the south. This southern flank, eroded by erosion, gave shape to its small hills that can be seen before the Grand Luberon, from Cucuron to Peypin-d'Aigues.

In Provençal "pati" means "grazing", a ground assigned to the herds. An ancient pastoral activity surely gave its name to the place. Indeed, these natural areas often host flocks. They are still present in other areas. When the land is wooded, the help of animals grazing under the trees, thinning, pruning of the lower branches and brushing, reduces the risk of fire.

When strong wind is blowing, the fire can spread to 10 km/h! The very dry nature, even in winter, can quickly ignite. Looking around, you can easily observe arrangements to prevent the spread of fire: DFCI (defense against forest fires) tanks, fairly wide tracks for the passage of fire trucks and clearings of both sides of these tracks. During the summer season, it is important to learn about the rules of access to the forest massifs (for more information, contact: 08 84 17 8000

Behind the vines of the Pays d'Aigues, stands the Cap de Serre which overlooks Lourmarin at the far left of the landscape. Below, the valley of Lourmarin separates the Grand Luberon to the east of the Petit Luberon to the west. The highest point of the Grand Luberon, the Mourre Nègre, is 1,125m high and overlooks Cucuron. That of the Petit Luberon, the Mourre de Cairas, situated above Mérindol, culminates at 727m. This natural barrier protects Ansouis from the mistral!

The sweetness of the mountainous area, the multitude of rivers and springs and the fertility of the land ensure Ansouis unquestionable benefits for agriculture. Cereals, vineyards, orchards, meadows and varied agricultural fields cover more than three quarters of the total area, or about 1,322 ha. Some of the vineyards of Ansouis are classified AOC Luberon and the Winery Vinicole des Coteaux, created in 1925, now includes 67 vineyards for a surface of 450 ha.

The church of Ansouis has been featured in two cult films of Claude Berri, "Jean de Florette" and "Manon of the Spring" (1986). The scenes of preaching to the Christmas Mass and Manon wedding were all shot in the church. The scenes outside the church happen in Vaugines, at 7 km from Ansouis.

The council of the community of Ansouis held its sittings in the house of the brotherhood of the Holy Spirit from 1540. After the dissolution of the Brotherhood, the house became communal property and turned into City Hall and oven. above the belfry were built, crowned with a forged iron bell tower, which houses the clock and was probably built between the late sixteenth century. and early seventeenth century. This town hall was replaced by the former town hall on an unknown date between 1793 and 1836.

This house was the seat of the City Council in the fifteenth century. and sixteenth century. The lower part has openings hanger topped with moldings which one can think of a window of shop. Indeed, the ground floor housed the grain silos, oven, stalls with meat and fish that were intended, if the village office, to supply the inhabitants who sought refuge in the castle .

The castle, built in the Middle Ages on top of a rocky outcrop, was a vantage point. Four towers and a central tower, it has a strong fortification system. In the seventeenth century., Peace reigning again in Provence, the castle is transformed into pleasure residence. Occupied for nearly 1000 years by the Sabran family, the new owners since 2008 continues the restoration and the castle open to visitors.

Difficult to date this building, it's probably not earlier than the end of the twelfth century. It consists of a three-row nave and an arched transverse vessel broken barrel. various sculptural elements One notices. This church, probably built in the days when the village knew its maximum population, was not enlarged thereafter and suffered only a few minor alterations.

There remains only the location of the Grand Portal on the current road. The forged iron cross reinstalled by the parish in 1951 symbolizes this ancient village entrance. The spiral ramp, used today, is modern. Presumably built west of the old, it rests on the north side of the tower. Little Portal, in the street of the same name, is the only door still nowadays state.