Séguret

Portail Renier is the north entry into Medieval Séguret village, part of the original 10th-century walled defenses. This vaulted entry, also called Portail de la Bis, because of cutting the cold north winds, was last renovated in the 14th century.

Heading through the portal up into the beautiful, old village, you'll enter a wonderfully vehicule-free environment. Free car parks are located just below the village at the north end (one at the Place Jean Moulin), and at the south end, at Place des Arceaux.

The cobblestone Rue des Poternes leads south from Portail de la Bis, up through the length of the old village all the way to the corresponding Portail Neuf at the south end of the village. This narrow, Medieval street curves up between ancient buildings, many with doorways dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, and one from the middle of the 16th century.

In the heart of the old village, Rue des Poternes widens slightly to form a small village square. Tucked into this little square is a covered lavoir built in 1846, and the 17th-century Fontaine des Mascarons with its carved stone faces. Mascaron is simply a word meaning "masks", as the stone carvings depict faces wearing masks.

Beside the Mascarons Fountain square is a 17th-century bell tower topped with a small wrought-iron campanile. The bell tower also has a unique one-hand clock, built in 1660.

Like other beautiful and popular villages of Provence, Séguret has a number of tourist-oriented shops, including art galleries, wine and santons. For once, though, all of the shops are very discretely integrated into the architecture of the village, blending nicely with the stone walls.

Santons. The santon workshop of Philippe Fournier, located in the center of Séguret displays and sells the work of this master santonnier. Further on through the village we found "L'oustau dei santoun", with an exposition of the Crèches du Monde and listing the names of seven master santonniers, all "Master Ouvriers de France".

The original Saint-Denis church of Séguret was built on this site in the 10th century. In the 13th-century the church was rebuilt, enlarged and even reoriented. There were "modern" additions and improvements made in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The Eglise Saint-Denis sits on a relatively open area at the south end of Séguret village. Here you'll have a great view of the countryside and vineyards spread out below, and the jagged Dentelles-de-Montmirail rocks nearby to the southwest. There's a panorama panel (table d'orientation) here to help you identify the far sites.