RIANS HISTORY  and his CHURCH

RIANS CHURCH

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Rians has been founded by Rome several secular before Christ. Even during pre-historic  era. An antique roman villa, considered as the most important villa of all the french mediterranean area. Its ruins are still visible nowadays. On the road of Jouques, another ancient village. Just after Saint Maurin castle.

The site of Rians was  occupied since more than 40000 years in the Rigabe caverns (Artigues) a little village near Rians.

The site was in the past occupied by Celto-Ligures called "Salyens". They built on the surrounding hill oppidums (places-fortes) with stone walls. One can clearly watch them  near "le puits de Rians". (Rians well)

Then after Romans built villas, in particulier on the Toulons domain. It's the oldest winery of the french mediterranean world. (cf Wikipedia).

Hannibal went in Rians, by year 228 before J.C.


Saint Jean door

RIANS CHURCHES :

The first Sainte-Marie Rians priory has been mentionned by year 1092 by monks from the well known Saint-Victor abbey in Marseille. This abbey was formerly the main relgious center in Provence during numerous seculars. 

The second church was built by year 1602, but numerous problems occurred after its construction. Water leaks, rockfalls, and so on. The nave was also too small.

The current church is the third religious building built in Rians, the first two churches being after some historians in ruins. Its construction was decided in 1875, but it was not officially consecrated until 1882. The tower of the second church with its bells remained intact, in the immediate vicinity of the new church, built slightly lower. It coexists with the Clock Tower, a vestige of the old castle. They constitute a unique whole.

See the history of the churches of Rians, in the excellent study written by Alain Droguet, General Curator of Heritage, Director of Departmental Archives of the Var, in the LII issue of the Bulletin of the Society for Scientific and Archaeological Studies of Draguignan and the Var.

There were once miracles on the site of the ancient church of Rians, recounted in the memories of the village. He was thus discovered, during the construction of the third church, the body of a girl in perfect state of conservation. She was probably a member of the Fabry family, the Marquise de Rians. It was the object of a holy devotion, but soon after the revolution its remains transferred in the chapel of the Holy Child were lost in 1923.
The Church could therefore one day deserve the title of Basilica.
Its position at the intersection of two sources of pure water make this place an exceptional site.

Since 2004, a great pipe organ with 1596 tuyaux and 5 keyboards have been built by Mr Leray who conceived and built freely by himself. With his own fundings  and work, without any external funding. Visits are possible upon request. Each sunday Pascal Leray is giving freely recitals with instrument visit. Free entry. Welcome !

Rians  great organ
Stained glasses

THE GREAT MEN of RIANS :

Saint Bénézet, a religious of the Ponts hospital order, was born in the locality of Mirat, an old village on the hill facing Rians, now destroyed. He is the prestigious designer of the famous Pont d'Avignon in 1177.

Jean Gaultier, born in 1564 in Rians, Doctor of Theology and renowned scientist, friend of Peresc, former lord of Rians. The learned Gassendi came regularly to consult him at Rians. Gaultier was very interested in the works of Galileo, (He sent for his work "The Celestial Message") and built an astronomical telescope similar to that of Galileo. He was thus the first in France to discover satellites of Jupiter, called at that time the "Medici planets".

Father Anthoine Yvan, born in 1576 in Rians: writer, renowned painter, there are still paintings of his hand being repaired by Heritage officials of the current municipality.

TH SITES to VISIT :

RIANS CHURCH : prendre la montée de l'église, au sommet du village, après la place du Posteuil. Visites et récitals d'orgue sur demande organisés par le constructeur bénévole de l'orgue 06 87 46 55 85.

Above the church you can see the bell tower and the old tower of the castle, currently demolished.

Clock Tower: next to the church: it is the last vestige of the castle of Rians and its ramparts, erected in the Middle Ages, after the first "castrum" Romain de Rians. The first Lord of Rians was Pons the younger, to whom William I had donated the lands of the village. He settled in the tenth century in the castle dominating the village. The castle was destroyed around the fifteenth century. There remains only the tower called "clock tower".

Saint Laurentus Square


Porte Saint Jean: Unique remnant of the ancient fortifications of Rians, gradually disappeared or encompassed in village houses.


Fountain Square: at the main entrance of the village

The Town Hall of Rians: Formerly called The House of the Holy Spirit, a term that replaced the forum. In the past, the deeds and crops belonging to the commune were kept there.

Saint Maurin Castle :

The roman villa : At about 2 km frome Rians, on Jouques road. Take the  "domaine des Toulons" direction.

Roman oppidum, on Pourrières road, after the "Puits de Rians".

WINERIES : Classified as "AOC coteaux d'Aix" (Certified Controlled Origin)

Vignelaure Castle: with Cabernet wineyards

Pigoudet Castle

Toulons Domain

Rians wine cooperative



Histoire de l'orgue depuis ses origines
Ci-dessus : Orgue antique