- Accueil
- Background
Background
Moustiers Sainte Marie takes its name from the arrival of the monks at the Lérins Abbey (Vth century) who came to evangelise the population. This village is also famous for its faïence and its star
With the abundance of water, wood and clay, numerous potteries and tanneries together with faïence workshops appeared leading the population of the village up to 2000 souls during the 17th and 18th century.
Faïence City :
Ceramic has always been at the heart of Moustiers, but it really flourished in the 17th century thanks to Pierre Clerissy, custodian of the faïence's secret. During his reign, Louis XIV ordered three luxury decrees to bail-out state's coffers and pay for his war campaigns : he ordered the melting of all the golden, silver and 'red gold' crockery of the kingdom and replaced it with Moustier's faïence .
The kingdom's finest production never stopped developing until the XIXth century, and then progressively faded away. In 1927 the production rose from its ashes thanks to the effortse Marcel Provence. Tradition still goes on today in the 20 worshops remaining in the village...
Moustiers' Star :
According to the legend told by Frederic Mistral, during the Saracen invasions of the Xth century, the Knight of Blacas was captured and imprisoned in Orient. In his prayers, he asked to come back safe and sound to the village and his wish fulfilled, he would hang an ex-voto (votive offering to Holy Mary) between the two rocs presiding the village, the famous star always shining upon the heads of the Moustierains.
Nowadays, the one which is shining in the sky of Moustiers is fifty years-old and owes its golden aspect to an unfortunate fall which happened ten years ago: used by the elements, the chain suddenly brokeand the star was found a couple of hours later, distorted but yet intact, at the bottom of the ravine. It was gold-plated and re-hung one month later, thus occasioning a big party.
