FROM prehistory to recent times, the both kept building or improving their summer the rue Grande or the main street (today village of Jouques has been inhabited and most palaces in Jouques and this is to a large extent boulevard de la République). A very peculiar periods in history have left interesting remains. why Jouques, more than the neighboring villages, feature of many houses in the village is a large has such interesting buildings. underground empty space (up to 7 cubic metres), Tools, weapons and pottery from the th excavated in the rock between the 11 and the Stone Age and Bronze Age have been found, th mainly in the Adaouste cave (or Baume 15 Century that was probably used for storage (of, for example, grain). From 1440 on, the Lyonnaise), close to the bridge of Mirabeau. Four th th oppida from the Iron Age are still visible, the most villagers prayed at Saint-Peter's church (11 - 19 obvious situated next to the Chapel of Notre- century), which still contains interesting pieces of art, including frescoes. The imposing Bell Tower Dame-de-Consolation. Their inhabitants were th called Ligurians or Celto-Ligurians. Their (18 century) testifies to the increasing power of interaction with Greeks and Etruscans in the the tiers état. villages around Jouques has been documented. After the French Revolution, the link with From Roman times until the French the rulers from Aix-en- disappeared and Revolution, the link with Aix-en-Provence (the Jouques became a modest village. The Roman Aquae Sextiae) has been a very strong population declined from 1800 (in 1830) to 930 one. The remains of a 30 km-long Roman (in 1936), especially at the expense of the countryside. Both World Wars and the French aqueduct, which brought water from the Traconnade spring in Jouques to Aix-en- colonial wars also exacted their toll from

Provence, are still visible in the Western part of Jouques. The demographic situation changed Jouques: in the Deffend hamlet and in the Gardis After 1252, the Lords of Jouques drastically after 1954, with the arrival of new area, and further down the way to Aix- en- belonged successively to 3 families: the industrial activities [the E.D.F. Power station; the Provence. Also, remnants of eight Roman villas, (who built a second castle, of which nuclear research centre C.E.A. at scattered over the area of Jouques, have been very little is left, and sided with the Protestants (Saint-Paul-lez-Durance)], the creation of a identified. Coins and sculptures have been found during the Religious wars at the end of the 16th settlement for Harkis, the return of many people at these sites. From late Roman times, a century), the d'Albertas and the d'Arbaud- from overseas and the increasing attraction of Paleochristian altarpiece was discovered not far Jouques. The latter are best known for building a Jouques for vacationers and retired people. As a from the Real, North-West of the village. large palace (still proudly standing, the largest result, new houses were built around the old building complex in Jouques) and an elegant From the middle ages, a little outside the village and the hamlet of Bèdes and a new mansion (today the town hall or mairie) as well as main village, the Château d'lf is still clearly visible hamlet (Le Deffend) was created west of the old for their later activities against the French on top of the hill. A little downhill, the picturesque village. Even so, green areas still dominate the Revolution. Some Archbishops also came from Chapel of Notre–Dame–de-La-Roque landscape. Agriculture is still a major source of famous families, for instance Alphonse de mas (Romanesque style) was the first parish church of revenue: around impressive farms ( , Richelieu and Michel de Mazarin, each of them bastides Jouques. Still further downhill, a group of houses ) lavender fields, vineyards, olive and th the brother of a Cardinal who made history. The (Enclos Jean Roque) goes back to the 15 oak groves cover large areas (the oak as a remarkable archiepiscopal summer palace, a fine century. The communal oven is still in place! For substrate for the growth of truffles) but the sample of 17th Century architecture, has been centuries, almost until the Revolution in 1789, countryside is to a large extent wild, with forests preserved in part. "garrigue" Jouques was ruled by both the Seigneur and the (several kinds of oak and pine tree), or "maquis" Archbishop of Aix- en-Provence. Over time, The third group of citizens (tiers état) - . In addition to the houses and farms, numerous conflicts are reported between the neither nobles nor bishops-, were the bourgeois there are numerous chapels, some very old, Lord and the Archbishop, on the one hand, or (very few), farmers or workers; their activities more modest wayside shrines (crosses, statues between the rulers and the local community, on were concentrated along the River Réal in mills of a saint...) and stone huts (similar to the bories the other. (watermills for milling grain or pressing olives, found in other places in Provence) which paper mills), tanning or wool workshops. The provided shelter for shepherds and farmers. Although neither the Seigneur nor the bourgeois could afford fine houses still visible in Archbishop had his main residence in Jouques, The village of Jouques is representative of this part of Provence, the Provence of the hills, hardly influenced by the sea or by the alpine JOUQUES, climate; yet, it is in many respects unique and therefore of exceptional natural and historical FROM THE STONE AGE interest. Several rare plants and animals (eagles, vultures, many species of bats) are still found in TO THE 21st CENTURY Jouques. The Grand Site Sainte-Victoire, one of Europe's Natura 2000 sites selected for their ecological value, includes Jouques and several A glimpse of its history, archeology, neighboring villages. nature. Accordingly, the whole area, though not a nature reserve, is monitored and has been accorded limited protection. For more than 25 years now, the "Amis de Jouques" have investigated the past of their village. Their publications review data from the literature but also report original investigations by amateurs or by professional archeologists. They also established (in Saint-Jean Chapel, rue Grande, 74) the Museum of local tradition and history.² Dépliant réalisé par l’association des Amis de Jouques R. H.

Résumé du livre sur « Jouques un village son histoire» rédigé en anglais par Robert Hooghe - septembre 2006-