Saint-Cannat

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Saint Cannat is a village and commune of the Bouches-du-Rhône département in southern France.

1 Overview
2 History
3 Trivia
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Overview

It has retained a lot of its Provençal charm despite its closeness to Aix-en-Provence and Marseilles. There are several fountains and lavatories dating back to the 17th and 18th century, the remains of the medieval ramparts and the chateau, which today houses the town hall and museum.

[edit] History

The village was named after Canus Natus in the fifth century ^[1] , who was a Roman clergyman born with white hair, a quirk synonymous with great wisdom at the time. He was entombed in Saint-Cannat, although there was no such place at the time, but soon enough several houses were built into a hamlet.^[2]

In the twelfth century, Archbishop Pierre mentioned, 'Castrum Santi - Cannati' in a paper.^[3]

In the thirteenth century, villagers turned on their archbishop and pledged allegiance to the Lord of the Baux-de-Provence, and then to the kings of Sicily (namely, Frederic III of Aragon, or perhaps Louis XIII). This, however, only lasted three years. In the same century, the Knights Templar established a settlement there.^[4]

On 17 July 1789, famous Bailli de Suffren was born there.

On 11 June 1911 there was a terrible earthquake that destroyed nearly everything, yet things were re-built in the same style.^[5]

In 1984 and again in 1994 huge floods ravaged most houses.^[6]