Journées du Patrimoine - Fontvieille

SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER: PRESENTATION OF THE ALTAR OF THE FATHERLAND A patriotic ceremony organised by the Town Council. Listed as a Historic Monument and virtually the only example of its kind, the Altar of the Fatherland – a simple block of stone, carved and hollowed out – nevertheless goes largely unnoticed amongst Fontvieille’s rich heritage. Erected on 8 June 1794 during a republican ceremony, the altar symbolises the inhabitants’ allegiance to their homeland as well as the emergence of a new cult, that of the Supreme Being decreed by Robespierre. In the 1930s, Jules Auvergne, a historian from Fontvieille, described this monument: ‘This block was surmounted by a tree of liberty; one can still see the imprint of a hand, palm facing inwards, taking the oath, and inlaid with a few leaves from a laurel wreath.’ 11.00 am above the car park on the Sentier des Moulins. Free and open to all SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER: AN INVITATION TO DISCOVER THE GARDENS OF YVONNE Presentation of the garden’s layout by the Mayor and the launch of works on the Roman aqueducts and the Barbegal waterworks Guided tour of the garden, meetings and discussions. 11.00–13.00, village centre Special free opening SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: DAUDET MUSEUM / MONTAUBAN CASTLE Open continuously from 10.00 to 18.00 Free self-guided tours Interactive stations throughout the exhibition Quick highlights: on the first floor, a medieval theme in 5–10 minutes (Saturday and Sunday 2 pm, 3 pm and 4 pm) Bookshop, gift shop and souvenirs. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: THE WINDMILLS OF FONTVIEILLE Free tours of the Sourdon and Tissot-Avon mills - 2 pm–6 pm The Sourdon mill, nicknamed ‘the fallen mill’ because it was the first of the village’s four mills to lose its roof, stands on the small hill to the right as you walk up the Allée des Pins. A notarial deed states that it already existed in 1791. It ceased operations around 1870 and was restored in 2015 by the local council. The Tissot-Avon Mill: This is the closest to Montauban Castle, Alphonse Daudet’s holiday retreat. It was built in the early 19th century and remained in operation until 1905. In 1866, in one of his letters to Timoléon Ambroy (owner of Montauban Castle), Daudet wrote: ‘It really would be a good idea to buy Father Tissot’s mill; I shall speak to him about it when I go there. Honour compels me to own a mill.’ Despite this desire, which was closer to fantasy than reality, Alphonse Daudet never owned a mill in Fontvieille. The Tissot mill was restored in 2016 by the local council.