The Architecture of Provence and the RivieraMacGibbon, David
History
The Architecture of Provence and the Riviera
MacGibbon, David
Architecture -- France -- Provence; Architecture -- France -- Riviera
At Tignet the ruins of an ancient commandery of the templars are passed,
but there is nothing of architectural interest sufficient to detain the
traveller till St Césaire, amongst its remote and snow-clad hills, is
reached.
[Illustration: FIG. 194. AT ST CÉSAIRE.]
The town of ST CÉSAIRE is charmingly situated about nine miles west from
Grasse. It stands on the edge of a lofty precipice overlooking the
valley of the Siagne, which is here full of remarkable scenery and
interesting grottoes and fountains, forming a romantic region, from
which starts the aqueduct which supplies fresh water to Cannes and
Antibes. St Césaire possesses still some remains of its ancient walls
and gates (Fig. 193), some quaint pieces of carving over doorways etc.
(Fig. 194). But its most interesting feature architecturally, is the
ancient church which stands in its quiet churchyard outside the town,
relieved against a background of snowy mountains (Fig. 195). It is
similar in its Cistertian simplicity to those of Cannes and Vallauris,
and differs only in having, instead of plain pilasters, rounded vaulting
shafts, with simple caps and bases (Fig. 196), the former very similar
to those of Thoronet. The church is 45 feet long by 20 wide (Fig. 197),
divided into three bays, with apse 9 feet deep to the eastward. As at
Vallauris there are two doors, one at the west end and one in the south
side, the latter pointed externally and round internally. The windows
have round arches, with the usual deep external splay, at the inner edge
of which the opening is narrowed by two half roll mouldings, probably
with a view to prevent draughts in this lofty and exposed region. For
the same reason there are only three very small windows, two on the
south side and one in the apse.
[Illustration: FIG. 195. CHURCH OF ST CÉSAIRE.]
This church probably dates from the early part of the thirteenth
century. Both the exterior and the interior are well preserved. The
walls have been heightened at a later date, but why is not clear. As the
alteration does not affect the interior, it has probably been done to
make the slope of the roof harmonise with the west front, which has been
altered and a belfry added.
[Illustration: FIG. 196. CHURCH OF ST CÉSAIRE.]
As in all the churches of the style, the tiles of the roof rest directly
on the outside of the arches.
An ancient carved front (shewn in Fig. 194) is lying outside the
church.
[Illustration: FIG. 197. PLAN OF CHURCH, ST Césaire.]
[Illustration: FIG. 198. CHÂTEAU DE TOURNON, NEAR ST CÉSAIRE.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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