Culture

The St-Jean-de-Fos Municipal Pottery Museum

From the 14th century onwards, Saint-Jean-de-Fos had been known for its glazed clay pottery. As many as 75 workshops produced orjols (water jugs), bowls, dishes… but also roof-tiles, guttering, floor-tiles…and original creations deriving from popular art.

However, this craftsmanship could not withstand the competition from big manufacturers and the last workshop was to close its doors in 1920.
Since 1992, there has been a rebirth of this centuries-old tradition and workshops are reopening once more.

An exceptional classified collection of old pottery is today on display at the council offices. A publication is soon to appear, entitled “La Maison des potiers” (House of the Potters) which deals with the history of the collection.

The Municipal Collection for the Abbey of Gellone – Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

This collection, which is housed in the monks’ former refectory, includes sculptures covering a period of fifteen hundred years. It has brought together and reserved a large number of stone artefacts: capitals with floral decorations, wavy columns, abacuses, arch-stones, statues and a number of pieces of major significance.

Among the more noteworthy exhibits are the sarcophagus of Guilhem (4th and 12th centuries), an 11th-century Christ in majesty and the sarcophagus claimed to be that of Albane and Bertane, the two sisters of Guilhem.

The Village of Yesteryear Museum – Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert

This museum, housed in a medieval village house in Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, tells of life and trades of long ago. A 13-metre long diorama presents a Languedoc village of yesteryear. You will also find there the santon maker’s workshop and his original creations. Santons are world famous carved crib figures.


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