|  History
Giving its situation, Eygalières perfectly illustrate the type of houses
perched on top of a hill. In the heart of Provence you will find endless
villages set hight up on calcareous rocks and dominating the surrounding
valleys, gracious guards of their inhabitants After the roman conquest, a domain
was set up here, in this area of clear water : The origin of the name
"AQUALERIA" which in latin means "...Wich catch the water".
In the 13 century, the abbess of Molleges receveid, as a gift, from the conte de
Provence the fief of Eygalières. Their tireless activities during almost
3 centuries allowed prosperity to all villages of the fief and among others
Eygalières. but the men of the various places were very proud and endless
lawsuits took place against the abbess. They lost those cases and in the 15
century, the last abbess finally sold their fief to sir Jean de Louvet.
In 1660, Henri de Guise, the last heir of the house of Lorraine in Provence,
after various fortunes, will have to sale the surrounding land of the village to
its inhabitants. It will be a memorable date in the memory of the village, when
country men became the owners of their own land, long before the 1790's
revolution.
During the revolution, Eygalières became the main village of a district
including Molleges and Aureille. The decree of frimaire linked together
Eygalieres and the district of Orgon. In 1793, the republican municipality
proceeded to classify national heritage, aristocratic properties and religious
orders. The cadastral survey started under the restoration and ended in 1830,
was used until 1962 when a new cadastre was designed to replace the ancient one
which had become partially illegible.
The vocation of the village is mainly agricultural.Wine, olives and almonds
brought richness to the area. Eygualières started a great transformation
time after the second world war, losing part of its identity as time went by but
opening widly on the world. Today it is one of the most visited village of the
area where the charm of the past kept its complete authenticity. It is very
enjoyable to stroll up and down the streets and to let one's imagination flow,
also to benefit from the numerous and beautiful walks all around the village.
From the top of its promontory, gracious landscape reaches the horizon. The
plain carpeted with olive trees, the massif of the Alpilles in the background,
every trail, every road will guide your eyes to discover very fine views. Few
minutes away from the village and proudly kept, the chapelle Saint-Sixte remains
the spiritual symbol of the rural Provence. And who knows ? with a little
chance, you may meet a shepherd who will surely tell you few stories about
"LE PAYS".
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©
Régis Havond - Pixel-art
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Alpilles