Grimaud (Var)

It is located at the foot of the Mor mountain range, covered with thick forests, between the ruins of a medieval castle of the 11th century and the D588 highway, above the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Thanks to this exalted position, Grimaud from the early Middle Ages to the 18th century played an important role in alerting settlements of the Coast in case of attacks from Saracens, pirates, and so on, coming from overseas. The commune consists of four districts: Grimaud-Villages, Port Grimaud, Saint-Pont-les-Murets and Beauvallon.

According to information obtained during archaeological excavations, the area of ​​modern Grimaud was inhabited by humans back in the Bronze Age. Later, in ancient times, the Greek harbor of Sambrakis was in its place. In Gallo-Roman times, the sea lay much higher than now, and during excavations on the territory of the commune, archaeologists find mooring stones for Roman ships, ceramics of the turn of the era, amphora, and so on.

After the Battle of Turtur (973), when the Earl of Provence Guillaume I (Liberator) expelled the Saracen Arabs from the Saint-Tropez region, the territory of the present Grimaud passes as one of the counts to one of the count's assistants, Giebelen de Grimaldi. He was litas belonging to the present family of the princes of Monaco - it is not exactly established. Actually, Grimaud was first mentioned in writing in one of the documents of the Marseille Abbey, Saint-Victor (as “castrum”, fortification). From the XII to the XIV centuries, its territory is gradually expanding, over the centuries it gradually changes its owners - the abbey of Saint-Victor, the abbey of Lehren, the abbey of Le Torone, the bishopric of Frejus. By the 18th century, the ownership of Grimaud bore the title of Marquisate.

During the Religious Wars in France (1563-1598), the castle of Grimaud was abandoned and destroyed under Cardinal Richelieu. Subsequently, partially restored (two new towers were erected), is now under the protection of the state as a historical monument ( Monument historique ).

The population of the commune in 2011 was 4106 people ^[5] , and in 2012 - 4041 people ^[4] .

Population dynamics ^{[2] [6]} :

The main source of income for the local population is the tourism business. Agriculture also plays an important role: viticulture and winemaking, the collection and processing of edible chestnuts (maroons), cork oak, olives, beekeeping , and floriculture .

Market Day in Grimaud - Thursday.

In 2010, out of 2592 people of working age (from 15 to 64 years), 1955 were economically active , 637 were inactive (activity indicator 75.4%, in 1999 - 70.4%). Of the 1955 active able-bodied residents, 1703 people worked (957 men and 746 women), 252 were unemployed (111 men and 141 women). Among 637 able-bodied inactive citizens, 145 were pupils or students , 219 were pensioners , and another 273 were inactive for other reasons ^{[7] [8]} .

Throughout 2010, there were 2021 taxable households in the commune , in which 4,425.5 people lived. In this case, the median income was 20 thousand 873 euros per taxpayer ^[9] .

The Grimaud Commune is a splendidly preserved medieval-built settlement, partially restored. Some of the houses belong to the XV-XVI centuries. The walls of the old masonry are designed in pastel colors, generally traditional for Provence. Among the most interesting architectural monuments are:

• partially restored ruins of the castle of Grimaud, surrounded by a defensive wall up to seven meters high;
• Romanesque cathedral of Saint-Michel at the end of the 12th century. Of particular interest is the baptismal font of Carrara marble of the 12th century;
• chapel of the Penitents ( Chapelle des Pénitents ) of the XV century;
• chapel of Saint-Roche, XVII-XVIII centuries:
• Notre Dame de la Quest, chapel of the 11th century;
• “The Templar Road” ( Rue des Templiers ) with the House of Arcades of the 15th century;
• old mill ( Moulin Saint-Roch ), since 1990 again operational
• "Fairy Bridge" ( Pont des Fées ), built in the XV-XVI centuries.

• Bernard Rondeau: Grimaud, Village Médiéval des Maures , Bernard Rondeau (ed.), ISBN 2-9511022-0-8 , Sainte-Maxime, 1997 (fr.) .
• Antoinette Demuth: Le Château de Grimaud - Lou Castellas , Office du Tourisme, Grimaud, 1993
• Jeanne Carmagnolle: Monographie de Grimaud , 1981 (Fr.) .
• Philippe Sénec: Provence et Piraterie Sarrazine , Maisonneuve & Larose, 1982 (Fr.) .
• Le Guide Vert: Côte d'Azur - Principauté de Monaco , Michelin, Editions du Voyage, ISBN 2-06-032005-4 , Paris, 2000 (French) .

• Official site of the mayor's office of the commune of Grimaud (fr.)