Callas, pretty village in the hearth of Var

Callas in the heart of Var

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Chapel "Notre Dame de Pennafort"

 

Callas is a "Low - alpine" type village characterized by houses of character. One sees narrow streets with arched passages, porch, front doors from the eighteenth century, fountains and shaded places which invite to stroll. One must see the fountain of "Placette de la Paix" surmounted by Mr. Giboin's bust, the "Lavoir du Barri" (washtub) in the entrance of the village, the "Lavoir de la Mine" (washtub) and the fountain of the Place Clemenceau engraved to effigy of Saint-Eloi.

Callas, is a quality natural space with particularly picturesque sites that one sees on the approach of its territory. See the overhang of Pennafort's gorges, wild and restless landscape with its fragmented rock masses (see lower). A dirt track leads to the Chapel Notre-Dame-de-Pennafort situated on a headland. It is covered by a dome built in 1855 on the rests of an ancient chapel. The callassiens always honour the Virgin of the chapel. Each Whit Sunday, take place a pilgrimage.

 

 

 Chapel Saint-Auxile

Chapel Saint-Auxile :
The Chapel Saint-Auxile: It is situated at 1,5 km from the Callas's village southeast, at the top of a hill, and is flanked by a ruined small priory. Dating from the twelfth century, it was restored in 1998 by the Municipality, helped by the General Council of the Department and the State. It is a pleasant place for walk and plenitude.
T
he footnotes of history : Saint-Auxile was born in fifth century. He withdrew in the islands of Lérins and succeeded Saint-Léonce as third Bishop of Fréjus. He was tortured on 26 January 480.

At the beginning of the seventeenth century, tradition told that the body of the Saint was interred on the hill and that the deaf-mutes went to it in pilgrimage. One tells also that a young person from Frejus would have found again there the usage of the word and the hearing. So the bishop authorized searches. These will bring the discovery of a grave containing bones. In memory of this event, callassiens makes a pilgrimage first Sunday of May. An important Festival of Ancient Music is organized every year attracting a music lovers public enchanted by the acoustic of the place.

Pennafort's gorges : This site presents a big geologic interest. A dirt track allows to reach a beautiful waterfall falling between two cliffs.

The " foot of Samson ":
At the edge of Gorges, a flat cliff presents the track of a big foot ; it is the "foot of Samson". The legend tells that Samson, pursued by his creditors, would have dashed of a jump on the other side of the throat and his prosecutors were able to only find the imprint of its foot
.

 Pennafort's gorges

The bell tower church and the ruins of the castle

The name of the parochial church is Our Lady Of The Assumption (Notre-Dame de l'Assomption). The date of the foundation of this Church is not known. The most former known document is a charter of 1055 which learns us that Bertrand, bishop of Fréjus, bequeathed to this date the presbytery and Callas's church in Saint Victor's convent of Marseille.

It is Romanic style. The current dimensions were reached in three stages of wich two increases in 1673 and 1761. The inside was the object of a renovation in December 1993.

SEE ALSO ...

Piol's pre-Roman Oppidum is situated on the hill in the North and is 800 metres height. Panorama is magnificent.

To see the ruin of the castle of Lords of Ponteves, take streets in the top of the village, after "place du Rond" and "place Saint-Pierre".

In Callas's entry one can see a Dovecote in good condition.


On the course of the small valley of Risse is the lake (retained) of Risse popular by a particular and interesting vegetation. It offers a beautiful landscape and the possibility of walk . Most of oil watermills used this valley for their functioning.
The Chapel of Trinity is from eleventh century and is a listed building. One recognizes an ancient temple of the twelfth century with stones and columns of re-use.

The Dovecote

 


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