Village of Thoard

Overlooking the Duyes Valley, the village of Thoard is a good example of the clustered settlements of Haute-Provence. Its 13th-century keep is remarkable.

Thoard – from the Latin turris ardua, meaning high tower – was, for centuries, a formidable defensive post. At the top of the rocky peak, the medieval tower crowned with a bell tower is attached to the church, itself close to the powerful seigneurial castle which was largely destroyed in the last century. Around these buildings, the streets are organized in a more or less concentric fashion, integrating the vagaries of the slope, and the village seems to take the shape of an almond, the point pointing towards the valley. The houses are tall, very close together, built of stone and many gardens follow, to the south, the layout of the old ramparts.
Rich in community and cultural life, the village of Thoard is very lively and the Duyes Valley retains a strong identity. Don't miss the Brewers' Festival, the Lamb Fair or the Saint-Blaise Festival, moments of rejoicing and sharing.