Located in the Bresque valley, on the hillsides and sheltered from the winds, a stone's throw from the Gorges du Verdon and the Côte d'Azur, Salernes lives to the rhythm of the Mediterranean climate. Its important historical heritage makes it a flagship village of the Haut Var.
Salernes history:
Salernes, a village in the Haut Var, has been renowned since the beginning of the 19th century for its production of tomettes. Originally, the village was based on an agricultural economy (oil, wine, figs, etc.)
It was from the 1830s that the inhabitants of Salernes decided to exploit the exceptional quality of the clay deposits of Salernes. The small workshops have specialized in the manufacture of a single product: the tomette.
From 1850, this new activity took on greater importance. No more simple craft activity, ceramics become a commercial activity, spearhead of the country's economy. Growing international demand is pushing craftsmen to expand their workshops.
After the Second World War, new products appeared (sandstone, terrazzo, etc.). Consumer tastes are changing, finished the floor tile, the consumer wants new products. From 1970, the activity of Salernes took on a new impetus.
Salernes no longer produces only terracotta tiles. Ceramists introduce enamel, decoration and enamelled lava supports. The tile is no longer just an aesthetic covering but an aesthetic element.
Today 15 ceramists and 15 potters perpetuate the tradition. The municipality, concerned about the economic future of its city, has invested in a project of "House of Architectural Ceramics" Terra Rossa to pay tribute to generations of ceramists.
Maison de la Céramique - Terra Rossa:
The House of Architectural Ceramics, called Terra Rossa brings together three vocations:
Save memory
Promote local productions
Celebrating the contemporary expression of creative ceramists
Also find on the Terra Rossa website, the list of potters and ceramists of Salernes as well as their contact details.
Annual opening from April 1 to September 30
Hours:
Monday: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday to Friday: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. / 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday and Monday morning by reservation
Phone: +33 4 98 10 43 90
Website: https://www.terrarossasalernes.fr
Address: Quartier Les Launes 83690 Salernes
Price:
Full price: €5 per person
Reduced price (young people aged 12-18, students, seniors): €4
Saint-Barthélémy:
The legend says: At the foot of the rocks, whose peaks become iridescent at daybreak with the most tender colors and under the greenery flows the pretty source of Saint Barthélémy. In a very distant time when the nymphs of the woods bathed in the waters of the spring, the gods of that time, jealous of their beauty and to prevent mortals from accessing them, cut the rocks steeply. And when seductive knights came to the shores of the wave, the nymphs disappeared, plunging them into deep disarray. Taken with pity for these unfortunate humans, the gods changed them into poplars. It is since that day that trees grow on the banks.
A large shaded park with picnic tables and relaxation areas is available to visitors. All along the valley, caves provide a playground for children. The bottom of the gorge is conducive to the development of an unusual flora in the department that must be respected and protected.
Discovering industrial heritage:
Every Tuesday morning (10 a.m.) during the summer, guide-lecturer Camille makes you discover the 3 emblematic sites of the industrial heritage of Salernes:
The house of Terra Rossa ceramics
The Saint Barthelemy Flour Mill
The old Cayanne oil mill
Réservation on +33 4 98 10 43 90
Price: €10 per person
Provençal market:
Large Provençal market in the heart of the village under the magnificent plane trees of Cours Théodore Bouge, on Wednesday and Sunday mornings.
La Muie - natural swimming pool:
After a visit to Haut Var, relax and enjoy the freshness of the natural swimming pool fed by the Bresque in Salernes. Swimming is permitted but not supervised.
Address : Le Gourgaret, 83690 Salernes
For any questions or information, we are at your disposal at the reception of Villa B.
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