There's no need to wonder why Gourdon is one of France's most beautiful villages, just look. The site, the view, the architecture, the castle - it's all there. The site, first of all: like an eagle's nest clinging to its rocky peak at 760 m altitude, Gourdon is a veritable balcony overlooking the Mediterranean. Walk through the village to Place Victoria, and you'll enjoy a breathtaking panorama of 80 km of coastline, from Nice in the east to the red hills of the Esterel in the west. The village has a proud appearance, clustered around its imposing feudal castle. There are no ruins here, but this fine medieval edifice, with its round towers, loopholes and gargoyles, has come down to us almost intact. The church of Saint-Vincent and the chapels with their Provencal bell towers dot the roofs, giving Gourdon that touch of charm that makes the village one of the region's main tourist attractions. Shopkeepers and craftsmen (glassmakers, perfumers, potters, confectioners, etc.) liven up Gourdon's picturesque lanes, bringing the village to life all year round. 450 people live here. A little history. The château was built in stages as early as the 9th century on the cliff of Gourdon, which was a fortified site from the outset. Owned by the Counts of Provence until the 13th century, Château de Gourdon then passed to the Grasse-Bar family, then to the Villeneuve Flayosc and Borriglione families. Of the medieval edifice, three round towers at the corners and the north wall remain. The rest dates from the 17th century. The ensemble is a fine example of a Provencal defensive fortified castle. Privately owned, the château is now permanently closed to the public. At the end of the 19th century, Gourdon expanded into the hamlet of Pont du Loup in the Loup valley, enabling it to develop a perfume-plant, orange-tree and olive-tree business, as the climate was more favorable.

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Le village de Gourdon. Bernard Croisé

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