Montmeyan

Montmeyan is a fortified medieval village,{{Cite web|url=http://www.paca.culture.gouv.fr/banqueImages/imago/resultat.php?MODE=simple&termes=&DPT=83&COM=Montmeyan&SITE=Ind%E9termin%E9&NB=20&send=Rechercher&action=&SERV=archeo&ADRS=&AUT=&CHRONO=&DATPV=&DENO=&DIFF=&EMET=&FmLeg=&LBASE=&LEG=&LIEU=&MCL=&NUMCD=&NUMI=&OBJ=&OBJT=&STRUCT=&TICO=|title=FranceTerme}} built at 504 m altitude on a rocky promontory in the middle of the plain, near the gorges du Verdon and lac de Sainte-Croix.

The towers of the fortifications still overlook a charming village with narrow streets, vaulted passages, stairs and retaining sleepers arches.

With an area of 3943 hectares, the commune of Montmeyan now totals 532 permanent inhabitants.

File:Montmeyan_26aout2022.jpg|Overview west side, August 2022

File:Montmeyan matin 25oct2018b.jpg|Overview east side, October 2018

File:Saint-Esprit Montmeyan.jpg|Chapel of the Holy Spirit, November 2022

The syncline of Montmeyan is a rift oriented north-south, created by the first Alpine movement dating from the Oligocene epoch, which extends over 12 km between Quinson and Fox-Amphoux.Cécile Cornet, Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, 1976. It is filled with red clays dating from the Lower Eocene, divided into two masses by a limestone bank.F.-G. Levrault , Mémoires de la Société géologique de France : Numéros 85 à 87, 1959.

In this narrow plain, bordered by limestone faults, there are outcrops of sedimentary rocks dating from the Jurassic and Cretaceous. These rocks contain rare fossils, dinosaurs' eggs and bones, ammonites, fish and shellfish (Potamida).

Montmeyan draws its resources from agriculture, livestock and tourism, is part of Communauté de Communes Provence Verdon and Pays de la Provence Verte.

Several accommodation facilities are available in the area: two campsites just outside the village, holiday cottages and bed and breakfasts.

Two equestrian centers are installed in Montmeyan. The nautical base of Montmeyan Lake serves as a boarding point to explore the low gorges du Verdon in the direction of Esparron-de-Verdon: the rental of kayaks, canoes or boats with electric motors is become an important activity.

File:Foire_oignons_17sep2017.jpg|Onion fair, September 2017

File:Procession Montmeyan 21mai2018.jpg|Saint Leger procession, May 2018

Montmeyan appears in the records from the 12th century as Locus of Monte Mejano then Montis Mediani (the 'mountain that is in the middle').Ernest Nègre, Toponymie Générale de la France, Éditions Droz, 1991.

The Gallic word Meillan, Latinized as Mediolanum,Auguste Longnon, Les noms de lieu de la France, Éditions Honoré Champion, 1910. means 'plain located in the middle', a real sacred place to the Gaul people.Xavier Delamarre, Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise : une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental, Éditions Errance, 2003. Montmeyan was probably a Gaul Mediolanum, religious and political center which would gather the tribes (or neighboring cities combined) to address their common interests, in a fortification overlooking a rural 'flat countryside'.Camille Jullian, Histoire de la Gaule, Éditions Hachette, 1908.

The demonym of the inhabitants is Montmeyannais.

File:Blason ville fr Montmeyan (Var).svg

The coat of arms of Montmeyan is:

Gules, a triple towered castle or, on a mount in base argent charged with a cross pattée gules.

This blazon is inspired from the one recorded by Hozier for the commune, without cross pattée, and only with the castle keep of three turrets (Armorial d'Hozier, section Provence, tome II, page 1588). Montmeyan’s coat of arms are similar to those of House of Castellane. This family has owned this land for a very long time (Armorial des communes de Provence, Louis de Bresc, page 198).Louis de Bresc, Armorial des communes de Provence, Éditions Bachelin-Deflorenne, Paris, 1866.

The presence of man in the Middle Paleolithic is attested in the territory of Montmeyan with the site of Breuil shelter{{Cite web|url=http://www.paca.culture.gouv.fr/banqueImages/imago/resultat.php?MODE=simple&termes=&DPT=83&COM=Montmeyan&SITE=Abri+Breuil&NB=20&send=Rechercher&action=&SERV=archeo&ADRS=&AUT=&CHRONO=&DATPV=&DENO=&DIFF=&EMET=&FmLeg=&LBASE=&LEG=&LIEU=&MCL=&NUMCD=&NUMI=&OBJ=&OBJT=&STRUCT=&TICO=|title = FranceTerme}} in the valley of Verdon.Jean Gagnepain, Claire Gaillard et Olivier Notter, La composante laminaire dans les industries lithiques du paléolithique moyen du Verdon, Liège, Belgique, 2001. Several traces of Neolithic and Bronze Age habitat, with prehistoric ramparts, were discovered on the territory.Adrien Ghébhard et l’abbé Blanc, Inventaire des Enceintes préhistoriques du département du Var, Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française, Commission des enceintes préhistoriques, 1920.

A dolmen from the Chalcolithic period on the plateau of La CollePhilippe Soulier, La France des dolmens et des sépultures collectives, Éditions Errance, 1998. and two tumuli{{Cite web|url=http://www.paca.culture.gouv.fr/banqueImages/imago/resultat.php?MODE=simple&termes=&DPT=83&COM=Montmeyan&SITE=Tumulus+de+la+petite+Roquette&NB=20&send=Rechercher&action=&SERV=archeo&ADRS=&AUT=&CHRONO=&DATPV=&DENO=&DIFF=&EMET=&FmLeg=&LBASE=&LEG=&LIEU=&MCL=&NUMCD=&NUMI=&OBJ=&OBJT=&STRUCT=&TICO=|title = FranceTerme}} (bronze Age/iron Age) in La Petite Roquetteregional Direction of Cultural Affairs Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur,archeological Base, 1997. are listed in the inventory of megaliths of Montmeyan. During the Iron Age, the Celtic-Ligurian tribes install two camps surrounded by thick stone walls at Castelar. The Roman occupation has left abundant traces in Enguerne and La Grande Roquette.

In the 12th and 13th centuries, the abbey Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon is owning the parish church, and collects its income.Guy Barruol, Michèle Bois, Yann Codou, Marie-Pierre Estienne, Élizabeth Sauze, « Liste des établissements religieux relevant de l’abbaye Saint-André du Xe au XIIIe siècle », in Guy Barruol, Roseline Bacon et Alain Gérard (directeurs de publication), L’abbaye de Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, histoire, archéologie, rayonnement, Actes du colloque interrégional tenu en 1999 à l'occasion du millénaire de la fondation de l'abbaye Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, Éditions Alpes de Lumières, Cahiers de Salagon no 4, Mane, 2001, 448 p., p 223.

In October 1164, Lord Hugh of Montmeyan enters the Order of the Temple and gives the land of Camp Long and grazing rights on the whole territory of Montmeyan. He waives all rights and inheritance in favor of the Commandry of Saint-Maurin{{Cite web|url=http://www.paca.culture.gouv.fr/banqueImages/imago/resultat.php?MODE=simple&termes=&DPT=83&COM=R%E9gusse&SITE=&NB=20&send=Rechercher&action=&SERV=archeo&ADRS=&AUT=&CHRONO=&DATPV=&DENO=&DIFF=&EMET=&FmLeg=&LBASE=&LEG=&LIEU=&MCL=&NUMCD=&NUMI=&OBJ=&OBJT=&STRUCT=&TICO=|title=FranceTerme}} located in Régusse. In November 1170, the Lord of Blachère gives and grants the Templar church of Saint-Maurin all the cultivated and uncultivated land, the right to pasture and the water from banks of the Verdon. He also gives the freedom to build a flour mill in the valley of Beau Rive and a place to prepare their bread.Laurent Dailliez, Les Templiers en Provence, Éditions Alpes-Méditerranée, Nice, 1977.

In 1223, the Commandry of Saint-Maurin purchases the castle of Montmeyan, with the support - probably financial - of the Commandry of Ruou. The deed of sale is of great interest with regard to the terms of such acquisition.E.-G. Léonard. — Introduction au Cartulaire manuscrit du Temple (1150-1317), constitué par le marquis d'Albon et conservé à la Bibliothèque nationale, suivie d'un Tableau des maisons françaises du Temple et de leurs précepteurs. Éditions Champion, Paris, 1930. During the Crusades, Montmeyan plays an important role in the presence of the soldier-monks between Argens and Verdon rivers.

After the disappearance of the Order in 1308, the land of Montmeyan is attached to the area of the royal court of Provence in 1309, then passed to the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1319. Arnaud de Trian, Earl of Aliff in the Naples kingdom and nephew of Pope John XXII, makes the land acquisition in 1322.

In 1409, Marguerite de Trian, the granddaughter of Arnaud, becomes the wife of George de Castellane and thus brings the territory of the Montmeyan to the House of Castellane which keeps this lordship for more than three centuries. Between 1579 and 1660, the Castellane-Montmeyan family provides six Knights to the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.Jean de Courcelles, Histoire des pairs de France, Éditions Arthus Bertrand, 1826.

In the 16th century, seven co-seigneurs share the stronghold, built in marquisate in 1651 for Jean-Augustin de Foresta.Borel Hauterive,Yearbook peerage and nobility of France,Press Bethune and Plon, Paris, 1845. The Grimaldi-RégusseMonique Cubells,Memoirs of Charles de Grimaldi, Presses Universitaires de Bordeaux, 2008. are the last Lords of the place before the French Revolution.

In the summer of 1789, the Lord of Montmeyan emigrates to Germany. In 1790, its property is registered, forests are declared state property and agricultural land is either sold or leased.

From this period, Montmeyan depends on the district of Barjols and is part of the canton of Tavernes. In 1793, the population is of 661 inhabitants.{{Cassini-Ehess|23682|Montmeyan}}

In 1840, the small village of La Roquette is attached to Montmeyan who thus obtains a territorial and demographic increase.Order of King No. 8707 of June 24, 1840,Bulletin of the Laws of the Kingdom of France, Imprimerie Royale, Paris, 1841. The population reached then its historic peak with 768 inhabitants.

Following the coup d'état of 2 December 1851, Montmeyan is part of the insurgent communes and a hundred men arrives in Aups on 9 December 1851. 51 Republicans from Montmeyan are caught and convicted.Adolphe Robert, Statistique pour servir à l'histoire du 2 décembre 1851, Éditions Gaittet, 1869. They are compensated by the Republic in 1882.Noël Blache,History of the insurrection of the Var in December 1851, Le Chevalier Editions, Paris, 1869. Since then, the population decreases to reach its lowest level in 1946 with 249 inhabitants.

Twenty-eight Montmeyannais were mobilized during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. During the First World War, fourteen inhabitants are Morts pour la France. During the Second World War, ten inhabitants made up the Comité local de libération which took care of the tasks of the Resistance and prepared the Liberation. The Francs-Tireurs et Partisans destroy the Verdon bridge by sabotage in 1944.

In the context of the end of the Algerian war, a hamlet 'de forestage' is created in late 1962 to house 30 former Harkis and their families;Toutes les générations de harkis au pied du mémorial, Var-Matin, 19 septembre 2010. the arrival of these 141 people marks the beginning of a new population growth.Gabriel Henry Blanc, Trois siècles d'histoire à Montmeyan, 1975. In 2017, Montmeyan population is of 551 inhabitants.

{{Historical populations

| align = none

| cols = 2

| percentages = pagr

| source = EHESS and INSEE[https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4515315?geo=COM-83084#ancre-POP_T1 Population en historique depuis 1968], INSEE

| graph-pos = bottom

|1793 |661

|1800 |622

|1806 |648

|1821 |733

|1831 |755

|1836 |746

|1841 |768

|1846 |746

|1851 |711

|1856 |670

|1861 |688

|1866 |693

|1872 |685

|1876 |663

|1881 |553

|1886 |542

|1891 |503

|1896 |467

|1901 |446

|1906 |370

|1911 |328

|1921 |325

|1926 |356

|1931 |355

|1936 |332

|1946 |249

|1954 |260

|1962 |259

|1968 |408

|1975 |387

|1982 |299

|1990 |380

|1999 |399

|2007 |532

|2012 |592

|2017 |551

}}

File:Mairiejuin2015.jpg

• The fortified medieval village contains the remains of defensive equipment, including Charlemagne Tower (square belfry with arrowslits) and many architectural elements dating from the 12th century.
• The parish church of Notre Dame, of Romanesque architecture, dates from the 12th century and was modified in the 18th century; it has a square bell-tower with campanile.Étienne Sved, Provence des campaniles, Éditions Équinoxe, 1969.Le campanile, Les carnets du patrimoine n° 3, Éditions du Conseil général du Var, 2004.
• Some medieval houses,Congrès Archéologique de France, Monuments du Var, Société Française d’Archéologie, 2002. including one located in Couvent Street,French Society of Archaeology, Archaeological Congress in France: Var department, 2005. date from the 12th century.
• The square tower of Castelar, on top of a rocky needle in La Grande Roquette,Elisabeth Sauze,General Inventory of Cultural Heritage Montmeyan, Regional Directorate for Culture and Heritage Provence-Alpes-Cote d Azur, Marseille, 2002. dates from the 12th century; it overlooks the remains of the church and the village of La Roquette (village abandoned in the 15th century) .
• The chapel of the Holy Spirit, on a rocky promontory at the top of the village, dates from the 13th century, was the sculptor's studio of Victor Nicolas during the 20th century and has become private property.
• The castle of l’Éouvière, building from the 18th century located south of the village, has become a camping caravaning.
• The Three Crosses, erected on a high point at the intersection of the limits of Fox-Amphoux Montmeyan and Tavernes, have been a place of procession;Bulletin of the Society of Sciences of the Var, Toulon, 1849. there is an orientation table.
• The aqueduct of Beau Rivé, built in 1865 for irrigation.
• Both tumuli of La Petite RoquetteGaëtan leave,General Inventory of Cultural Heritage of Montmeyan, Regional Archaeology Service Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Aix-en-Provence, 1997. are from the bronze Age and the iron Age.
• The dolmen of La Colle, northwest of the commune, dates from Chalcolithic.
• The rock shelter of Breuil, discovered in northern boundary of the commune in l’EscourcheAndre Anna,Atlas of the prehistoric Mediterranean Midi: sheet Draguignan, Laboratory of Anthropology and prehistory of the countries of the western Mediterranean (France), Editions du Centre national de la recherche scientifique, 1980. near the Verdon, dates from the Middle Paleolithic.

File: Montmeyan vu de l'Eouviere.jpg|West side, August 2011

File:Montmeyan - Coté est.jpg|East side, February 2010

File:Montmeyan - Sous la neige 21Déc2001.jpg|Under the snow, December 2001

File:Montmeyan - Tour Charlemagne.JPG|Charlemagne tower dating from the 12th century, December 2010

File:J. Martin TOUR CHARLEMAGNE 1910.jpg|Charlemagne Tower dating from the 12th century, 1910

File:Montmeyan - Porte d’enceinte.JPG|Rampart’s gate dating from the 12th century, December 2010

File:Montmeyan - Absyde de l'église Notre-Dame-du-Plan 03Déc2010.JPG|Church of Notre Dame dating from the 12th century (apse), December 2010

File:Montmeyan - Entrée de l'église Notre-Dame-du-Plan 03Déc2010.JPG|Church of Notre Dame dating from the 12th century (Entrance), December 2010

File:Montmeyan - Maison médiévale.JPG|Medieval house dating from the 12th century, December 2010

File:Montmeyan - Tour du Castelar.jpg|Castelar tower dating from the 13th century, December 2010

File:Montmeyan - Ancien atelier du sculpteur Victor Nicolas 05Mai2008.jpg|Chapel of the Holy Spirit dating from the 13th century, May 2008

File:Montmeyan - Prieuré des Hospitaliers.JPG|Castle tower, December 2010

File:J. Martin PLACE de la FORGE 1910.jpg|Place de la Forge, 1910

File:10._Château_l'Eouvière_mai2008.png|Castle of l’Eouvière, May 2008

File:LES TROIS CROIX.png|The Three Crosses, September 2010

File:@@@MONTMEYAN_PLAGE_2010.png|Lake of Montmeyan-Quinson, August 2010

File:Carlavan COTE SUD 1933.jpg|South side, 1933

File:Combier COTE OUEST 1905.jpg|West side, 1905

• Rolland de Castellane (1560-1637), seigneur of Montmeyan, deputy of the nobility to the Estates-General in 1614, quoted in the works of Malherbe, was appointed twice provost of Marseille (1588 and 1615) and governor of Fréjus in 1624.
• Henri Breuil (1877-1961) is a pre-historian who gave his name to the shelter Paleolithic discovered north of the village near the Verdon.
• Victor Nicolas (1906-1979) is a sculptor who created many monuments in the departments of Var and Alpes Maritimes.
• Roger Taillefer (1907-1999) is a member of the French Resistance who provided military intelligence.
• Charles Michel (born 1975) is the president of the European Council, former Prime Minister of Belgium, who regularly stays in the municipality where there is a family property.

{{Geographic Location

|title = Neighbouring villages

|Centre = Montmeyan

|North = Quinson

|Northeast = Artignosc-sur-Verdon

|East = Regusse

|Southeast = Sillans-la-Cascade

|South = Fox-Amphoux

|Southwest = Tavernes

|West = La Verdiere

|Northwest = Saint-Julien

}}

{{Commons category|Montmeyan}}

• {{Official website|http://www.montmeyan.fr/}}
• [http://www.cadastre.gouv.fr/scpc/rechercherPlan.do?ville=montmeyan&codePostal=83670&codeDepartement=083 Plans du cadastre]

{{Var communes}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Communes of Var (department)