Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Moorish baths of Lorgues, located in the commune of Lorgues (Var), constitute a historical monument whose construction dates back to the eighth and ninth centuries. These thermal baths, listed in the inventory of Historical Monuments by decree of 16 November 1949, represent a rare example of architecture linked to Moorish or early medieval influence in Provence. Their exact location at 13 Rue de la Bourgade remains approximated according to the available data, with a cartographic accuracy considered "passable" (note 5/10).

The site is now owned by the commune of Lorgues, although the sources do not specify its current state of openness to the public or its use (visits, rental, accommodation). The baths, referred to under cadastre M 1056, illustrate a pivotal period of Provencal history, marked by cultural exchanges and specific hygienic or social practices. Their preservation raises questions about their original role, potentially linked to rituals, care, or community activities.

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, in the Carolingian period (VIII-IX centuries), was a crossroads of Mediterranean influences, where late Roman traditions coexisted with oriental or Arab contributions. Public baths, heirs to the ancient baths, could serve as places of sociability, purification, or empirical medicine. Their rarity in the south-east of France makes it a valuable testimony of local dynamics before feudal rise.

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