Oppède-le-Vieux
A medieval village in Provence, France dating back to the 12th Century. It held a defensive stronghold with ramparts, narrow cobbled streets (calades), a village and castle. The village and castle were held by the Counts of Toulouse before it passed to the papcy in the 13th century as part of the Comtat Venaissin. The strategic hilltop location made it an important location.
During the 16th Century Jean Maynier, the Baron of Oppède made the castle his seat and waged a war against the Vaudois population who were Protestants. In that process his troops killed thousands of people and destroying eleven villages in the region. The town went through a period of decline when the residents moved to a location on the plains which were easier to farm. Abandoned. Residents removed the roofs from their houses in order to not have to pay tax. But but in the 20th-century the town went through a period of revival when a group of artists moved in.
The passage way under the 1758 structure is one of the main gates to the old town.
Walk about the town. The massive defensive structures are still in place.
Walk up rue de Chapitre and you will come across the 1680 Chapel of the White Penitents.
Continue walking up the rue de l'Église Notre Dame d'Alidon, built in the 16th Century.
The church was closed when I was there, but my through-the-keyhole photo gave me a sense of the beauty of the inside of the church.
Opposit the church is the 13th Century Castle, which suffered damage in an earthquake (1931). Some work to remove invansive vegetation is underway, but currently not open to the public.
A story is that during an attack on the castle, the Pope escaped by jumping out of a castle window. I wondered if this was the window?
Walking back down you will pass homes of noble famities and buildings which were shops.
Back at the bottom you reach the Place de la Croix, named after the cross of the mission (1745). This is the only part of the town with a cafe and restaurant.
The buildings off the streets that branch out from the Place de la Croix have been restored. This beautiful buildings has rental apartents. What a place to stay!
Rue de Feraille runs from the Place de la Croix and then out of the town, this sculpture of St. Peter is on one of old noble homes.
Just when you think you have seen it all, you come across an old gate through the walls - another road to explore.