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Founded: 11th centuryCategory: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)
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The Château de Thouzon, located in the commune of Le Thor in Vaucluse, was originally a fortified Benedictine monastery. It preserves an ancient vaulted church, a chapel, two towers, remnants of walls, and a stone-carved cistern in its courtyard. Privately owned, the site is restored and maintained by a volunteer association that organizes summer youth projects.
In 1014, the Benedictines of Saint-André Abbey gained possession of Thouzon, confirmed by the Bishop of Cavaillon. Throughout the 11th and 12th centuries, prominent figures such as Raymond IV of Toulouse and Pope Gelasius II granted privileges to the abbey. By 1202, the monks of Saint-André held sole ownership of Sainte-Marie and Saint-Pierre churches, despite still owing allegiance to the house of Toulouse. The site was briefly occupied by soldiers in 1396.
In 1563, the Baron des Adrets entered the domain during the Wars of Religion. In 1696, the château was sold to Joseph de Martin, then passed through various families, suffering gradual decline. In 1836, part of the château was dismantled due to local authority orders, despite ownership disputes.
The Thouzon altarpiece, now in the Louvre, consists of two painted willowwood panels depicting scenes from the life of Saint Andrew. Discovered in 1870 in one of Thouzon’s chapels, it portrays Saint Andrew driving out demons and extinguishing a fire with his disciple.
The site is open to pedestrians year-round. Sainte-Marie Church is accessible on the first and third Sundays of each month, during Heritage Days, and on the first Sunday in May.
Manarola is a small town, a frazione of the comune of Riomaggiore. It is the second-smallest of the famous Cinque Terre towns frequented by tourists, with a population of 353.
Manarola may be the oldest of the towns in the Cinque Terre, with the cornerstone of the church, San Lorenzo, dating from 1338. The local dialect is Manarolese, which is marginally different from the dialects in the nearby area. The name 'Manarola' is probably a dialectical evolution of the Latin, 'magna rota'. In the Manarolese dialect this was changed to 'magna roea' which means 'large wheel', in reference to the mill wheel in the town.
Manarola's primary industries have traditionally been fishing and wine-making. The local wine, called Sciacchetrà, is especially renowned; references from Roman writings mention the high quality of the wine produced in the region.