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Natural and historic heritage Lavender field on the Valensole plateau At the beginning of the 16th century, Aiguines began to be famous thanks to the quality of its wood turnery and the manufacture of studded bowls. Forests in the surroundings of the village supplied box trees enough for wood turners, moreover box wood could be collected freely. During fall, box tree cutters were going in pairs in wild and steep areas of the canyon. Box wood, turned and polished, was used to manufacture planks, mortar and pestle, cutlery and other objects. Concerning the manufacture of studded bowls, the rounded part of box roots was collected and brought back to the turnery shops in the village. There, wood turners used saw to rough down the root, and turning machine to give a final spherical shape. Women were in charge to cover the wood bowls with special studs. Surroundings' hawkers used to come to the village to get a stock with these objects, in order to sell them in fairs of the area or in bigger towns. This trade, prosperous untill the twenties, declined with the beginning of the steel petanque bowl. Today, Aiguines tries to recover these craftsmen' know-how, and will soon inaugurate its wood turnery museum. Meanwhile, studded bowls and period tools can be seen at the tourist information centre. Natural heritage The truffle : the black diamond (Tuber melanosporum) This black smelly mushroom is 10 centimetres buried closed to oaks' feet. If you pay attention, you will manage to recognize several truffle plantations around the village. Thyme or "farigoule" is used in various local recipes. Added with bay leaves and parsley, thyme makes up the famous "bouquet garni". Lavender was used by Romans to treat wounds and to scent bath. In the past, these flowers were gathered wild in garrigues of Provence, but nowadays, there are cultivated in large fields, like in Valensole plateau. Honey was harvested in the past by shepherds in wild hives in the Gorges du Verdon. Honey can be very different from another thanks to its colour, its consistence and its taste. Lavender honey is very famous. In Aiguines, a small weekly market takes place every tuesday morning on the village place. | |||||||||||
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 | Office de Tourisme d'Aiguines - Allée des Tilleuls - 83 630 Aiguines Phone : 04 94 70 21 64 - Fax : 04 94 70 20 41 - eMail : ot@aiguines.com | ||||||||||||
