The Plain (forest)

6 points of interest

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  Patrimony and history

  The Fountain

  In the middle of the 19th century, Moissac-Bellevue had a total of 260 inhabitants, among which 200 lived in the heart of the village. But there was no water and the residents had to get water at the "font vièio" located at the bottom of the village, 600m, and then at the "font novo" located above, but the river bed was dry in summer. In 1860, the municipality decided to purchase a source close to Vérignon, on the territory of the town of Aups 11km from the village, and the construction of a fountain in the village. The pipe work and construction of the fountain were completed in 1875. The amount of the building works ruined the municipal finances, and the town council had to sell the vast forest of Pelenc to the State to cover the debts.

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  Patrimony and history

  The Clock Tower

  Initially planned next to the church, to serve both as a steeple and a clock, the tower was finally built in the village in 1816. The bell tower was built by an ironworker from Draguignan Mr. Ollevary. Until the late 19th century, it was a tradition to welcome the "vagrants and poor wretches" in the villages. They were lodged in the tower and received food. Following complaints of the inhabitants, this accommodation was abolished in 1904.

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  Patrimony and history

  Notre Dame de la Roque

  Overlooking the valley, the chapel of Romanesque style, offers a unique perspective. The place name "la Roque" evokes the pitched position of the building sitting directly on the rock. The chapel stands out in the distance by an imposing wall and steeple. It represents a covered stone bedside whose origins may go back to the 13th century, but it also displays traces of many changes. On the site, there are numerous remains of medieval houses.

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  Fauna

  The reptile hunter

  The short-toed eagle is one of the most common raptors and easier to see in our region. This white eagle dark throat consumes mainly reptiles, he hunts hovering. Migratory he attended the March region in September and are installed nest on a pine tree in a quiet valley. The single egg is laid between late March and mid-April and the chick flew four months later. As for the golden eagle, intensive monitoring concerns the short-toed eagle.

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  Flora

  The Cottony Rockrose

  The Cottony Rockrose (Cistus albidus) is shrub characteristic of the ‘garrigue’, although adapted to arid conditions and limestone soils. It can be found in the hills of the Haut Var and flowering starts in April .

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  Fauna

  A true Provençal singer

  The Provencal cricket is active mostly at night and only found around the Mediterranean. Males only begin to stridulate late after dusk throughout the summer, a little earlier from mid-September, especially if the weather is gray. During the second half of the season, we can catch them by surprise “sunbathing” and enjoying hot temperatures. Even in the dark night, it quickly spots a human approach and stops singing at a safe distance.