The best walks and hikes around Le Castellet

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Although cervèu means "brain" in French, according to Wikipedia it is a variant of lou cèrvi, which means "the deer" (fr.m.wikipedia.org).

The highest point of the Gros Cerveau is unfortunately inaccessible due to the extensive construction of Fort Gros Cerveau, built by General Séré De Rivières in 1890. However, from the lookout point located slightly below, you can still enjoy a very beautiful view.

The same observation applies to the windows of some houses, which still display a former splendor... but a lack of maintenance that could very well prove fatal. But one can only imagine how proud these elegant joinery windows with their small glass panes must have been of those who had them built. Concern for comfort sometimes even extended to equipping these openings with interior shutters. Some windows, although dilapidated in houses now virtually abandoned, must have been nothing short of class and splendor at a time when Le Castellet had nearly 400 inhabitants. Other details, in a completely different way, should attract the visitor's attention. Grooves carved into door jambs or some of the village walls bear witness to the concern for flood protection. In the past, the vagaries of the Rancure torrent and especially the Fouent valley caused considerable damage to the village. To protect themselves from these elements, the residents adopted an (almost) foolproof solution: planks were slid into these grooves in front of each door to prevent water from invading the interiors. Today, some residents still install protective planks on rainy days to prevent water infiltration. Others were installed at each communication opening of the barri (the large wall that protected the entire section of the Fouent valley that entered the town) to prevent flooding of the village's secondary roads. A photo from the 1950s clearly shows the lower stone of this wall, at the level of the Barri square! This stone was removed to facilitate vehicle traffic, but fortunately, it has been preserved as a reminder of this

The keystones of many homes in the village center reflect a refined aesthetic, demonstrating the gentrification of the wealthiest residents. The notables settled around the church. Indeed, many of them have carved stone door frames, or even carved keystones, unlike the older, more rustic houses built by peasants when they came to settle in the valley floor. This elegance, further emphasized by some doors made of fine wood such as walnut, with moldings or carved decorations, are a clear testament to this prosperity. Unfortunately, too many of these doors have disappeared during successive renovations to the homes. Dating from 1622, the main door of the church is in pure Romanesque style with its semicircular vault. Its side door was salvaged from the older church (with a very slightly pointed arch). The door was rebuilt in the style of the main door. There are still quite a few old doors remaining in the village of Le Castellet, although over the centuries many have been lost due to housing renovations that have shown little regard for heritage.

The 12th-century church, enlarged in the 18th century, was listed in the supplementary inventory of Historic Monuments in 1939. Our current church was built five centuries later on the remains of a small 7th-century chapel. After 133 years of work, it was completed in 1153 and confirmed by the Pope. An extension consisting of a second nave and a sacristy was completed in 1754. On the left of the main nave, you can still see the window, walled up during the Revolution, which allowed the lords of the manor to attend services. Its triple-arched bell tower is found in several southern religious buildings. The characteristic saint of this church is Saint Clair, patron saint of seamstresses who became patron saint of the blind. A mass in his name is celebrated on the Sunday following New Year's Day, close to Saint Clair's Day, which takes place on January 2nd.

The Gros Cerveau structure is a military building dating from 1890.

This 446 meter mountain offers views of Marseille and the islands beyond. At the top, you will find Fort du Gros Cerveau.