The History of Provence

The area of Provence was inhabited very early. Although there are not any traces of the paleolithic era, there are a lot of the neolithic period in the caves near to La Colle.

This was under roman rule from 154 before J.C. Until 880, Provence was ruled by a few important families of Roman origin. It remained at war until 972 because the Earl of Burgundy and the Saracen (his allies) kept attacking it. The regions of the lower Durance and around Apt didn't put up much of a resistance. However, this was not the case concerning the other regions as they were defended fervently by their landowners.

At the end of the 10th century after the Priest of Cluny was captured together with the Frenet Fortress, where the saracen were settled in the Gulf of Saint Tropez, this was seized by William, Earl of Provence whom was given the name 'the Liberator'. He then gave the land to his companions and so created several feudal houses:- Prices of Antibes, Viscounts of Nice, Earls of Provence etc.....