Tourist Attractions & Monuments en Provence

You are facing the old Saint-Pierre hospital. Built in 1713, it did not resist the pillages of the Revolution. The Germans held it during the First World War. Religious sisters surrounded the place before the Second World War and built a hospital again. But they have focused on their monastery and diseases spread in the various establishments of the surrounding area. Since that time, all attempts to reopen the institution had failed. In 1958, the city council decided therefore to transfer the whole administrative services in this location.

Adjoining against the Chapelle des Pénitents, it is the oldest fountains in the city. It dates back to the reign of Louis XIV. If you look at it, you will notice the two fish consumed by time. It is said that it once supplied the town with water. It is also one of the few Baroque fountains of Provence. But do not stop there because the city has no less than 14 fountains, some of them flow abundantly. It is ridiculous to say, but when the weather is very hot, you will feel freshened up when hearing them singing.

On the highest point of the village, stands the old 12th-century tower, known as Templar, the order of the Templar Knights who had a strong influence in the region in the past. But the fact that it was the seat of a residence of the temple is extremely contested. When the place was transformed into a town hall in the 19th century, it was topped by a clock tower and a bell. The clock underwent an identical reconstruction to keep the aesthetic structure of the building. The view over the landscape is magnificent.

In 1206, the nuns were founded by Saint Dominic in Prouilhe near Toulouse, in the heart of Cathar country. In 1860, this Dominican community was established in Marseilles, to serve the incurably ill and the infirm of all orders abandoned by all. The monastery of Saint-Maximin was created in 1972 from the work of Sainte-Catherine. The monastery moved in 2009 to the hill of Deffends, a preserved place of the city of Saint-Maximin at 400 m altitude. Its location offers retreatants a view and an atmosphere conducive to rest and recollection, changing with the seasons. The nuns offer to all those who wish to share their liturgical life of prayer and contemplation for a few days. The reception is open to all people for individual stays or in groups organized for retreats or training sessions. And also young girls who are reflecting on a vocation... and more generally any person who is looking for God and wishes to share the prayer and life of the community. They welcome people for a day or for a stay of between two and eight days and provide, in addition to accommodation and meals, places for prayer, two conference rooms and a library. Finally, for guides and scouts, there is a space for camping and an altar for outdoor celebrations.

The church dates from the end of the 12th century. Under the choir, there was a small underground church of the 11th century. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a gargoyle bell tower and side chapels were added to it. In one of them, you can see a primitive anonymous of the Avignon school, dating back to 1498 and depicting the crucifixion, as well as a processional cross dating from the same period. We can say that its simplicity is like that of the village that has a little rough air. But all this is heated by the very soft colour of the stone.