Caumont sur
Durance : Some
History
Caumont is a small, pleasant village with
a long history. Originally much closer to the river, prehistoric
Caumont probably originally owed its existence to the ford that
once provided a means of crossing to the other bank of the Durance.
The ford was overlooked by an 'oppidum', a raised fortification,
built of stone and earth, with perpendicular wood and iron reinforcements,
in which early settlers would have lived, creating the orginal village
.
Later, in the 12th century, the Chartreuse de Bonpas
was established here and is now an excellent historical monument,
and produces high class local wine, on sale in its shop. The church
of St Symphorien, also built in the 12th century, is now classed
as a historic monument and is a beautiful example of the Roman/Provençal
style.
In the eighteenth century, Jean Althen, an Armenian
agriculturer obtained permission to develop the cultivation
of Madder in Caumont. Madder is a plant that was used for centuries
to extract spectacularly colourful dyes. This agricultural industry
prospered until some time in the 19th century, bringing riches to
the area. Jean Althen is buried in St Symphorien.
Recently, the garden of a large Gallo-Roman villa
has been discovered on the west side of the village and is
a further, exciting testimonial to its rich history. Archeological
digs have unearthered, among other items, a good part of the orignal
wall of the garden, and an enormous pond, probably the largest of
its kind in France.
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