|  History
Situated
on the Alpilles southern slope, Maussane is a typically
Provençal village and has 2000 inhabitants.
A rural and pastoral village, Maussane has managed
to kept its charm over the years, a charm very much
appreciated by the many visitors that visit this beautiful
village every year. The village square, shaded
by ancient plane trees, is the centre of village life.
It is an everyday occurrence to see local
French villagers catching up with the village news in
typical French cafés - life is relaxed and very
laid back.
Maussane, (as
well as numerous other villages in the plain) is blessed
with an abundance of water and extremely fertile land
and truly developed only after peace was reached in
Les Baux de Provence region.
The agricultural
sector was developing rapidly and a mill was constructed
in 1542 in order to grind wheat harvested. It
was then transformed into an oil crusher in around 1620.
In 1795, the
revolution meant that Maussane acquired the title of
municipality. During the second Empire, the Town
Hall, the Four Season Fountain and many other edifices
were constructed.
In 1830, more
than half of the cultivated land was planted with olive
trees.
Maussane had
more than 12 oil crushers. The olive market started
in 1890, it was the beginning of the marketing
of olives. The frost in 1956, destroyed almost all
the olive trees. Due to their tenacity, the producers
have managed to continue the tradition of olive
growing.
There are still
2 mills in use in Maussane.
|
Alpilles
