Municipality of Var, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, Saint-Zacharie takes place about twenty kilometers from Cassis, at the limit of the Bouches-du-Rhône department. It is located in the center of a triangle formed by Marseille, Aix-en-Provence and Toulon, on the banks of the Huveaune.
Populated since the Neolithic, the territory of Saint-Zacharie subsequently suffered invasions and destruction, especially in the 9th century with the occupation by the Moors. After the liberation of the place by Guillaume, Count of Provence, the village experienced a first birth in the 11th century with the arrival of monks who came to take possession of the old church. The town is endowed in the history of an incredible fame thanks to its clayey soil which thus allowed the construction of tiles, bricks or other pottery objects, activity still in progress today, in particular through the craftsmanship of art.
Listed as an historic monument, the Saint-Jean-Baptiste church was built in the 11th century with significant modifications in the 17th century. A homogeneous artistic ensemble, it has kept its original furniture, notably the woodwork of the choir, the stalls and its pulpit. Partly built with the ruins of an older building, it unveils inside a strange Lou San Sabatoun relic, as well as an altarpiece of Saint Eloy and an altar-tomb gilded with bronze.
Other religious buildings can also be admired in the town like the Chapel of the Penitents and the Chapel of Orgnon, both listed as Historic Monuments.
Known as the village of 16 fountains, the town of Saint-Zacharie indeed presents in its streets and squares very beautiful old monuments like the fountains of the Lion d'Or, Place Dréo, Cours Marceau, avenue Frédéric Mistral or even the place de l'Eglise.
At the height of the Saint-Roch bridge, it is possible to discover the old wash house of the town, restored and now in bloom.
To take advantage of sunny days, be sure to visit the park of the Château du Moulin Blanc. Created in the middle of the 19th century, it is considered one of the most beautiful gardens in the department and is the subject of an inscription in the Historic Monuments, just like the neighboring farmhouse. An arboretum is presented there with many species of trees.
With its traditional Périgord architecture, the castle of Montvert is also worth a detour, as are the ceramic kilns from the end of the 19th century recently restored or the sources of Nayes which present vestiges of Roman camps.
