Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Castellane

Heading north through the mountains on our way to the Gorge du Verdon. Passing through Castellane, where I could not enter the public bath some years ago, as I had only a bermuda-style bathing trunks. The "superintendent" of the bath did not like my trunks at all.

Heading north through the mountains on our way to the Gorge du Verdon. Passing through Castellane, where I could not enter the public bath some years ago, as I had only a bermuda-style bathing trunks. The "superintendent" of the bath did not like my trunks at all.

Saint-Thyrse is located near the hamlet Robion. It was erected within the 11th/12th century - and is very mysterious, as it is not really clear by whom it was built. It may have been the church of a kind of friary. A church "Saint Thyrse" is mentioned in the papers of Cluny in 909, but it is not clear, where this church was. A Maltese cross on the building may connect it to the Knights Templar, but there is no written proof about in their documents. In the 18th century, it served as a parish church for Robion for a while and later was used as a cemetery chapel. The cemetery still exists around the church. It was locked due to a "risk of collapse", that is what I thought, but when I pushed the door, it was open. So I could enter the nave. There was even a "guest book." I did not dare to enter the tower, as I had seen the cracks in the wall outside. Looked like this ladder leaned at the entrance already for centuries.

Saint-Thyrse is located near the hamlet Robion. It was erected within the 11th/12th century - and is very mysterious, as it is not really clear by whom it was built. It may have been the church of a kind of friary. A church "Saint Thyrse" is mentioned in the papers of Cluny in 909, but it is not clear, where this church was. A Maltese cross on the building may connect it to the Knights Templar, but there is no written proof about in their documents. In the 18th century, it served as a parish church for Robion for a while and later was used as a cemetery chapel. The cemetery still exists around the church. It was locked due to a "risk of collapse", that is what I thought, but when I pushed the door, it was open. So I could enter the nave. There was even a "guest book." Facing East to the apse and the altar.

Saint-Thyrse is located near the hamlet Robion. It was erected within the 11th/12th century - and is very mysterious, as it is not really clear by whom it was built. It may have been the church of a kind of friary. A church "Saint Thyrse" is mentioned in the papers of Cluny in 909, but it is not clear, where this church was. A Maltese cross on the building may connect it to the Knights Templar, but there is no written proof about in their documents. In the 18th century, it served as a parish church for Robion for a while and later was used as a cemetery chapel. The cemetery still exists around the church. It was locked due to a "risk of collapse", that is what I thought, but when I pushed the door, it was open. So I could enter the nave. There was even a "guest book." I found this carving - but I have no clue what it stands for.

Saint-Thyrse is located near the hamlet Robion. It was erected within the 11th/12th century - and is very mysterious, as it is not really clear by whom it was built. It may have been the church of a kind of friary. A church "Saint Thyrse" is mentioned in the papers of Cluny in 909, but it is not clear, where this church was. A Maltese cross on the building may connect it to the Knights Templar, but there is no written proof about in their documents. In the 18th century, it served as a parish church for Robion for a while and later was used as a cemetery chapel. The cemetery still exists around the church. It was locked due to a "risk of collapse", that is what I thought, but when I pushed the door, it was open. So I could enter the nave. There was even a "guest book."

Saint-Thyrse is located near the hamlet Robion. It was erected within the 11th/12th century - and is very mysterious, as it is not really clear by whom it was built. It may have been the church of a kind of friary. A church "Saint Thyrse" is mentioned in the papers of Cluny in 909, but it is not clear, where this church was. A Maltese cross on the building may connect it to the Knights Templar, but there is no written proof about in their documents. In the 18th century, it served as a parish church for Robion for a while and later was used as a cemetery chapel. The cemetery still exists around the church. It was locked due to a "risk of collapse", but by now renovation is underway, though it looks like the tower is moving.

Saint-Thyrse is located near the hamlet Robion. It was erected within the 11th/12th century - and is very mysterious, as it is not really clear by whom it was built. It may have been the church of a kind of friary. A church "Saint Thyrse" is mentioned in the papers of Cluny in 909, but it is not clear, where this church was. A Maltese cross on the building may connect it to the Knights Templar, but there is no written proof about in their documents. In the 18th century, it served as a parish church for Robion for a while and later was used as a cemetery chapel. The cemetery still exists around the church. It was locked due to a "risk of collapse", but by now renovation is underway.

From the 11th century on, people left the safe site on the rock and moved down to the valley of the Verdon river, where a fortified town was built. Two centuries later the settlement on the rock was given up completely and all inhabitants of Catsellande lived inside the town walls, that had more than 10 gates. Saint Victor, erected in the 12th/13th century, was originally the seat of a priory of Saint-Victor Abbey in Marseille. From 1442 on this was the parish church of Castellane. As the parish grew the church had to be enlarged and so a second nave, but a century later the church was too small again. So Sacré-Coeur, now a parish church, was built in 1868–1873 and widened by side aisles in 1896. The interior is typical for churches, built at that time. The nave "feels" large and somehow empty.

From the 11th century on, people left the safe site on the rock and moved down to the valley of the Verdon river, where a fortified town was built. Two centuries later the settlement on the rock was given up completely and all inhabitants of Catsellande lived inside the town walls, that had more than 10 gates. Saint Victor, erected in the 12th/13th century, was originally the seat of a priory of Saint-Victor Abbey in Marseille. From 1442 on this was the parish church of Castellane. As the parish grew the church had to be enlarged and so a second nave, but a century later the church was too small again. So Sacré-Coeur, now a parish church, was built in 1868–1873 and widened by side aisles in 1896. Seen overlooking the scenery is Notre-Dame du Roc.

From the 11th century on, people left the safe site on the rock and moved down to the valley of the Verdon river, where a fortified town was built. Two centuries later the settlement on the rock was given up completely and all inhabitants of Castellane lived inside the town walls, that had more than 10 gates. Saint Victor, erected in the 12th/13th century, was originally the seat of a priory of Saint-Victor Abbey in Marseille. From this church one nave and the apse still exist. From 1442 on this was the parish church of Castellane. This was the time, when the tower was added. As the parish grew the church had to be enlarged and so a second nave was erected in the 17th century.

For more than 10 years I have walked the "chemins" in France, in Spain and in Portugal. When I saw the "Coquille Saint Jacques", I knew, that I was welcome.

Castellane has a public swimming pool for the "castellanais" and the visitors of the town. But be aware, there is a very strange dress code. As it was really hot, I decided to take a dip. I paid the entrance fee and changed clothes, but before I could jump in, the pool attendant stopped me. My bathing trunks were too long. Bermuda style bathing trunks are not allowed for the male guests, only men wearing bathing slips are allowed here to swim. Elderly men hate these slips... I got my money back. Notre-Dame du Roc, dating from the Middle Ages, is seen here from the valley. The chapel really dominates the city of Castellane.

Notre-Dame du Roc, dating from the Middle Ages, dominates the city of Castellane from atop the Rock and belongs to the former Convent of Mercy. But only the wall and the south façade date from the twelfth century; the building was half demolished during the wars of religion and rebuilt in 1590. Crumbling by 1703, the chapel was again rebuilt in the early eighteenth century and once more in 1860.

The Verdon Gorge (aka "Grand canyon du Verdon") is a beautiful river canyon. It is about 25 kilometres long and really deep. It was formed by the Verdon river. The most impressive part lies between Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Some areas of the canyon are remote and hard to access, the more accesssable areas are very "touristic". The busy entrance to the Verdon Gorge seen from the bridge. The Verdon here enters the (man made) "Lac de Sainte-Croix".

The Verdon Gorge (aka "Grand canyon du Verdon") is a beautiful river canyon. It is about 25 kilometres long and really deep. It was formed by the Verdon river. The most impressive part lies between Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Here the river has cut a ravine to a depth of 700 metres through the limestone mass. Some areas of the canyon are remote and hard to access, the more accesssable areas are very "touristic". Note the many kayaks on the river.

The Verdon Gorge (aka "Grand canyon du Verdon") is a beautiful river canyon. It is about 25 kilometres long and really deep. It was formed by the Verdon river. The most impressive part lies between Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Here the river has cut a ravine to a depth of 700 metres through the limestone mass. The Verdon-river seen from the lookout "Balcon de la Mescla". After a hike of several hours, the swimmers have reached the beach down below the "balcon".

The Verdon Gorge (aka "Grand canyon du Verdon") is a beautiful river canyon. It is about 25 kilometres long and really deep. It was formed by the Verdon river. The most impressive part lies between Castellane and Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Here the river has cut a ravine to a depth of 700 metres through the limestone mass. The Verdon-river seen from the lookout "Balcon de la Mescla". After a hike of several hours, the swimmers have reached the beach down below the "balcon".