Le Château de la Salle
september 1924
Extract from Cahier du Patrimoine Ouest Varois n°4
"Regard sur un terroir Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer"
Le Château de la Salle
'Le Château de la Salle', or 'domaine de la Salle', sometimes called ' Mas Cauvet' which name is derived from its owners at the end of the XIX° century, is a big square country-house with two levels of house over an entrance basement. It is practically located at two kilometres of the north of Saint-Cyr's centre. Buildings are on the top of the embankment, at 100 metres of the river named 'Salle', which is coming from 'les Vannières', and goes then on 'l'Estagnol' area. 'sala' is known as river in latin. So the château has taken the name of the river which is going along it, as the area in which is established.
Built at the beginning on the 'La Cadière' territory, over a former Roman place, it is located between the road from 'La Cadière' to 'Les Lecques', current D 66 at 100 metres of the south-est, and the 'Saint-Antoine' path at 350 metres of the north-west. However, in 1825 the 'Saint-Antoine' path is taken as a boundary of the new Saint-Cyr town, and 'La Salle' is a part of it.
march 1925
Description
If it is likely that the date 1682 embedded in the wall during the refurbishment in about 1900, be the starting point of this building, it has been reworked a lot, and the openings modernised. The aisle of palm trees which leads to it dates from the beginning of the XX° century.
The est frontage contains three levels including the gateway. The two floors contains each one five windows. The south frontage, slightly raised in relation to the entrance, is drilled with three windows at the first floor and four at the second floor. The overall seems like a big building near square. The commons are located on the front, on the other side of a courtyard planted by big trees, so clearly separated, and on the back it is also detached of the main building.
History
It is difficult to rebuild the history of this big house built on the south of 'la Salle', river mentionned as soon as 1116, which land is considered as 'crau' (stony land) in 1532. It is passed by legacy from the 'Cauvet', who purchased it at the end of the XIX° century, to the 'Roussellier' during the XX° century. The canon 'Magloire Giraud' writing in 1855, mentions a private chapel, of the Virgin Mary Nativity, built in 1699, in ruins at its time, so likely neglected during the French revolution. A keystone of voussoir, engraved IHS 1682, might be all it remains of it.
watercolours: Anne Golléty
Extract from "Entre mer et vignes... de Saint-Cyr à Bandol",
Les Editions de la Nerthe (2004) de Marie Astrid Golléty et Anne Golléty
"Between Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer and La Cadière d'Azur, easily spotted from miles around, this oasis of freshness in the middle of the land.
The wonderful aisle of palm trees, subtle touch of exoticism, the imposing residence fully Mediterranean with its four-sided roof, its golden ochre façade, its cadmium red shutters.
A haven of peace, for sure!"
watercolours: Anne Golléty