Colmars

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Coordinates: 44°10′55″N 6°37′38″E / 44.182, 6.6272

Commune of Colmars
Location
Colmars (France)
Colmars
Administration
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Arrondissement Castellane
Canton Allos-Colmars
Intercommunality Haut Verdon-Val d'Allos
Mayor Fernand Dyen
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 1,178 m–2,742 m
(avg. 1,250 m)
Land area¹ 81.82 km²
Population²
(1999)		 378
 - Density 4/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 04061/ 04370
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

Colmars or Colmars-les-Alpes (Còumars in provençal) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.

The official name of the commune, according to the geographical code of the INSEE, is "Colmars", but it is always referred locally as "Colmars-les-Alpes", even though it is not recognised in legal situations. Nevertheless, the signs on entering the village read "Colmars-les-Alpes".

Its inhabitants are called Colmarsiens.

Contents

[edit] Geography

The village is situated at the conflence of the Verdun and Lance rivers, at an altitude of 1250 metres. The site of the village is a site inscrit, a site of special natural, scientific or historical interest.

[edit] Hamlets

There are two other hamlets in the commune: Clignon-Haut and Clignon-Bas.

[edit] Mountains and peaks

There are numerous high points in the commune. The main ones are:

  • Tête de l'Encombrette (2682m)
  • Autapie (2426m)
  • Roche Cline
  • Valpane

[edit] History

The name of the village comes from a hill dedicated to Mars by the Romans ("Collo Marto"). The village was originally situated further up a hill, but the site was judged to be too cramped and not possible to expand any further, so it was abandoned. It was destroyed by Raymond de Turenne in 1390.

[edit] Modern era

In the French Wars of Religion, the site was the target of several attacks:

  • Paulon de Mauvans, a Protestant captain, pillaged the village in 1560;
  • Cartier, a captain operating on behalf on de Mauvans, took and ransommed the village in 1583;
  • The French Catholic League sacked the village a few years later.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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