- Location:
- Gattières is a common "close" Nice country located on the ledge on the right bank of the lower Var. Its territory has an area of 1003 hectares, 120 Forest. It is bounded on the east by the valley of the Var, dating back to the west towards the mountain Chiers (1085 m) and to the south-west chain Baous (800 m).
- The village is perched on the end of a spur at an altitude of 295 m, arranged in a oval shape, dominated by a large stately home. Immediate vicinity, was erected the church. Finally around the nucleus grew the village. Streets Gattières extend concentrically and downlink. The linearity of facades is sometimes interrupted by the presence of vaults.
- On the south-east were built retaining walls to create terraces for cultivation, absent from the north-west side because too abrupt.
- Surrounded by walls, the village was for four centuries a border Savoyard enclave in eastern Provence French.
- Local Habitat:
- The habitat type is rural. The houses are simple and rustic. They are about 4-5 floors and are often built on two levels of street. On the ground floor there is a room that once served as stables, on the upper floor: main room and kitchen on the second floor: rooms, and above the attic (room once and for fodder grain).
- The roofs are gabled and tiled "channel".
- The ridge is parallel to the natural contours of the land. There are some balconies and several walkways.
- History:
- Spur overlooking the Var, the rock of the cliffs natural Gastes offered a strategic location and Ligurian aborigines. Situated on the route of the Roman road with his ford on the Var, Gattières held an important strategic position that earned a tormented past. In wartime, they were unfortunately numerous, catches and losses alternatives village were frequent. Taking advantage of the unrest prevailing in Provence, Count 7th Amédée de Savoie ensures the treachery of the governor of Nice and September 28, 1388, coup de théâtre: Nice and its hinterland of Provence stands and gives the Savoy. Allégret Mauleon, Gascon captain often described as "adventurous", but high cash fasteners Savoie had taken the place of Gattières during a hand in which Amedee seventh was perhaps not unrelated. October 25, 1388, Allégret Mauléon Gattières sold to Amadeus seventh for the price of 2000 florins. Savoy and had a head start on the right bank of the Var. The importance of this event is checked during the wars between the two sides of the Var. The arms of Gattières remember this historical fact: "Gules a lion rampant or holding in the dexter paw a tower Argent charged with a cross of the first."
- So for nearly 400 years (1388-1760) Gattières follow the fate of the County of Nice, Savoy first and Sardinia. The Treaty of Turin (24 March 1710) rectifies the border between the Kingdom of France and Sardinia. From its mouth to the confluence of the Estéron, Var divide the two states. Gattières is well separated from the County of Nice and attached to France.
- The town is marked by the arrest of many villagers by the Germans in 1944, which Grassi and Seraphim Angel Torrin, tortured by the Gestapo hanged Nice and Avenue de la Victoire at Nice.
- Origin of name Gattières: Different hypotheses are discussed:
- The first explanation comes from a plant formation called "catnip". We can also think of Latin cattus, chat with the suffix-aria.
- The second assumption is due to the strategic location of the town, crossing the Var encouraging to think Latin Vadum, ford, "gat" in nissart.
- The third meaning is based on the fact that the land would be poor, infertile "waste land".
- Meaning Gattières coat of arms:
- "Gules a lion rampant or holding in his right paw a tower Argent charged with a cross of the first."
- These weapons recall a historical fact: October 25, 1388, Allégret Mauleon, Gascon knight resells 7th Amédée de Savoie Gattières instead of which he was seized following a hand.
