Colmars

Colmars
Commune
An overall view of the village of Colmars

Coat of arms
Colmars
Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region
Colmars
Coordinates: 44°10′55″N 6°37′38″E / 44.182°N 6.6272°E / 44.182; 6.6272Coordinates: 44°10′55″N 6°37′38″E / 44.182°N 6.6272°E / 44.182; 6.6272
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Arrondissement Castellane
Canton Castellane
Intercommunality Haut Verdon-Val d'Allos
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Fernand Dyen
Area1 81.82 km2 (31.59 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 384
 • Density 4.7/km2 (12/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code 04061 /04370
Elevation 1,178–2,742 m (3,865–8,996 ft)
(avg. 1,250 m or 4,100 ft)

1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Colmars or Colmars-les-Alpes (Còumars in provençal) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France.

The official name of the commune, according to the geographical code of the INSEE, is "Colmars", but it is always referred locally as "Colmars-les-Alpes", even though it is not recognised in legal situations. The signs on entering the village read "Colmars-les-Alpes".

Geography

The village is situated at the conflence of the Verdon and Lance rivers, at an altitude of 1250 metres. The site of the village is a site inscrit, a site of special natural, scientific or historical interest.

Hamlets

There are two other hamlets in the commune: Clignon-Haut and Clignon-Bas.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
17001,712—    
17161,672−2.3%
17171,320−21.1%
17651,723+30.5%
17931,100−36.2%
1800898−18.4%
1806927+3.2%
1821961+3.7%
1831927−3.5%
1836986+6.4%
18411,033+4.8%
18461,055+2.1%
18511,097+4.0%
18561,092−0.5%
18611,118+2.4%
18661,002−10.4%
18721,004+0.2%
1876990−1.4%
1881818−17.4%
1886845+3.3%
1891777−8.0%
1896708−8.9%
1901715+1.0%
1906707−1.1%
1911717+1.4%
1921550−23.3%
1926507−7.8%
1931424−16.4%
1936405−4.5%
1946389−4.0%
1954351−9.8%
1962311−11.4%
1968360+15.8%
1975311−13.6%
1982314+1.0%
1990367+16.9%
1999378+3.0%
2008384+1.6%

The inhabitants are called Colmarsiens.

Geography

Mountains and peaks

There are numerous high points in the commune. The main ones are:

  • Tête de l'Encombrette (2682m)
  • Autapie (2426m)
  • Roche Cline
  • Valpane

History

The name of the village comes from a hill dedicated to Mars by the Romans ("Collo Marto"). The village was originally situated further up a hill, but the site was judged to be too cramped and not possible to expand any further, so it was abandoned. It was destroyed by Raymond de Turenne in 1390.

Modern era

In the French Wars of Religion, the site was the target of several attacks:

  • Paulon de Mauvans, a Protestant captain, pillaged the village in 1560;
  • Cartier, a captain operating on behalf of de Mauvans, took and ransommed the village in 1583;
  • The French Catholic League sacked the village a few years later.

See also

References


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