Montagne Sainte-Victoire
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| Montagne Sainte-Victoire | |
|---|---|
 Montagne Sainte-Victoire and Croix de Provence |
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| Elevation | 1,011 m |
| Location | France |
| Range | Sainte-Victoire Massif |
| Coordinates | |
Montagne Sainte-Victoire (in Provençal Occitan: Venturi / Santa Venturi according to classical orthography, Ventùri / Santo Ventùri according to Mistralian orthography) is a chalk mountain ridge in the south of France which extends over 18 kilometres between the départements of Bouches-du-Rhône and Var. Its highest point is the Pic des mouches at 1,011 metres; this is not however the highest point in Bouches-du-Rhône, which is instead found in the Sainte-Baume massif.
It is famous for appearing in several paintings by Paul Cézanne.
The Croix de Provence is a notable feature of the mountain. At a height of 19 metres, this cross, although not placed at the highest point of the mountain, stands out from the ridge far more than the Pic des Mouches.
[edit] History and tourism
Originally called montagne de la Victoire, the mountain became known by christians in the middle ages as Sainte-Venture. In the 13th century, a chapel was constructed at the summit. It was not until the 17th century that the mountain gained its current name.
In 1989 a fire ravaged over 5000 hectares of the south face. Much work has been done to reafforest, but the amount of vegetation remains much reduced, particularly in the number of conifers. Access to the mountain is now for the most part forbidden during the summer season.
However, during the periods of free access the Saint-Victoire massif is a popular destination for hiking, climbing, paragliding and, to a lesser extent, caving. Around 700,000 walkers use its paths every year.
[edit] Artists
In addition to Cézanne, Montagne Saint-Victoire has been a source of inspiration for other artists, for example:
- The painter Pablo Picasso, who bought the Château de Vauvenargues, situated at the foot of the mountain, and installed a studio there between 1959 and 1962
- The painter Wassily Kandinsky
- The writer Peter Handke with The Lesson of Saint-Victoire (1980)
[edit] External links
- Official site (in French)
