Sauve Community

Save, a city of the Middle Ages





Save is a medieval village of the south of France. It is close to the Cevennes.




One of the oldest monuments of Sauve is the old Bridge. It has enable the cross of the Vidourle for centuries. It is why Sauve became significant: the lords of Sauve were powerful and respected.



After the bridge, you find a monumental gate: it was the entrance of Sauve in the Middle Ages. There were wooden gates that were locked with a large bar.

You cross the gate and one come into Sauve by the Street of the old Bridge. It was the principal street of the city. However, it is narrow, sinuous, and steep. It brings us to the places which frame the church. It was there that the abbey was found.



In the Middle Ages, they did not enter this zone, but passed around it, taking covered streets. They found there shops and craftsmen who worked wood and made barrels. It is why that this street is called the \" fustery \".

A little higher, you find the Mint: it was there that currency was coined. That shows that the lords of Sauve were very powerful. A little further, rises the tower of the clock. It was used as a prison and meeting place.



Another tower is a little lower, it is the tower of Mole.

It was a watching tower. on the ground level, there is a well which gives the water of the underground Vidourle in the event of a siege. The reserve is inexhaustible.

In the village, you find some of the old gates of the city. It is thus that it increased. In Middle Ages, the village begins with middle height of the hill and arrives up to the top. There is still a tower, Castellas, and remainders of walls.



Then, as there were more and more inhabitants, the city spread outside the ramparts: they are the suburbs, or the \" bourgades \". The new districts have wider and straighter streets. The houses are less crowded.

In the XVIIth century, a new bridge was built, and since, we do not go across the village of the Middle Ages.

Today, the village still increased: you find new districts on the other bank of Vidourle. they built a new road and a new bridge: the village was crossed no longer.