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SIGHTSEEING IN THE TOWN OF SAULT
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The Castle - The Ramparts (2)
Only a few traces remain of the feudal castle of SAULT and the town ramparts, the most important being in the Place du Château, la rue du Club, La Barbane and les Gaches.
There were three gates : Royale, des Aires and Sainte Anne. Till the Revolution the imposing castle had a high protecting wall with round towers defending the corners, which were reduced in 1793. There were two entrances, one of which was in the rue du Club. The towers bore the names Chambre Verte, Archives, Armes and la Clochette. Note the well-preserved cannon gun in the S.W. section. Certains parts of the former vast castle are still to be found in private houses.
SAULT municipal Museum
Founded in 1859 by Henri CHRESTIAN, the Sault Museum became town property in 1863, under the direction of its founder, a member of the Académie de Vaucluse. It contains prehistoric, Gallo-Roman, medieval, mineralogical and Egyptian exhibits, paintings, by local painter Evariste de Valernes, weapons, and a library with a parchment on the Vale of Sault, a Diderot Encyclopedia and ancient books.
Open July and August from 15h to 18h daily except Sundays.
For other dates or group visits contact the Mairie de SAULT, tel. 04.90.64.02.30
The parish SAULT church, Historic Monument (2)
The parish church classed as an Historic Monument under its original name "Notre Dame de la Tour", previously known as Saint Sauveur, subsequently the Transfiguration, is a composite building. In the 12th. C it was a priory of Saint André of Villeneuve-lez-Avignon.
The Romanesque nave, composed of three bays, has a broken semi-circular vault, supported by double arches based on slightly twisted high columns with capitals having roughly carved leaves and by ample supporting double arches built at intervals in the side walls. It dates from the very end of the 12th. C or the early 13th., showing work of careful detail, lit by an oculus in the facade and by two full-arched windows on the south side. The Sanctuary, extremely ornate, is made up of three radial chapels, put up in the 14th. C, but heavily reworked at the time of this extension (stems bearing human faces). Dating from this same extension are the west door and a bell tower, which was destroyed at the end of the Middle Ages.
The north ambulatory was achieved in the 19th. C by piercing a way from the Romanesque nave to the two chapels built in 1450 and 1610. The bell tower above the first bay of the nave, was erected in Romanesque style in dressed stone brought from the quarries near Aurel, as recently as 1624..
(2) From "Provence Romane", Zodiaque Edition (vol.2) by Guy BARRUOL, and in "Dictionnaire des Communes de Vaucluse" by Robert BAILLY.
Church of Saint Jean de Sault
The hamlet of Saint Jean de Sault, formerly Saint Jean de Durfort (named after the defensive tower sold in the 13th. C by Isnard d'Entrevennes, and of which a section of wall is extant) has a 17th. C church named after Saint Jean Baptiste. A small chapel of the same period, and recently restored, which is situated near the Sarraud crossroads, bears the name of the same saint.
Chapel of Verdolier
In the hamlet of Verdolier, the pretty chapel of Sainte Rose with its bell tower, was built on classical lines in 1712 and named after Saint Louis. It was promoted to parish church in 1844 and was recently restored.
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The Lavender Garden
A collection of 160 varieties of "Lavandula", recognised at national level by the Conservatoire Français des Collections Végétales Spécialisées. Can be visited during the flowering season, from the end of June to the beginning of September. Tel. (33) 04.90.64.13.08
Maison de l'Environnement et de la Chasse
- Nature Discovery Centre -
One of its purposes is to promote the discovery and a better knowledge of the environment and natural heritage of Sault country and Mont Ventoux. A large part of its activities involves discovery, awareness and learning about the environment. It arranges permanent and temporary exhibitions, talks, walks, educational and sporting activities, theme days and longer stays, and days for learning and training.
Open daily 10h - 12h / 14h - 18h except Mondays.
July and August : daily 10h - 12h / 15h - 19h except Mondays.
For more details or .
Informations : Rosette ROUX, tel. (33) 04.90.64.13.96.
The old town
In the picturesque narrow streets of the old town, visitors will come across houses dating from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the 18th. C. Some examples are a fine arched doorway from the time of Louis XIII, and the front door of the former town residence of La Broussière. |
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