Cour de Clastre

The square was called “the priests’ courtyard” in the 18^th century and north of it was the cloister house, which explains the origin of its name, because the provençal word clastro means presbytery. This place has also been used as the second graveyard of the town. It was inaugurated in 1673, replacing the Saint-Michel’s graveyard, located next to the Black Penitents’ chapel. The former graveyard was unsafe because of the lack of protection walls that led to multiple grave violations. That’s why the consuls had the fortifications torn down and high walls built before transferring the graves.  The cour de clastre graveyard was used until 1776, when King Louis XIV’s order forbade to bury the dead within the city walls. The third cemetery, located on Passons hill, with its ideal exposition to winds and dominant position that prevented it from floods, was inaugurated in 1778.

Lady of Clastre

At the end of the 19^th century, Thérèse Neveu (1866-1946), known as la Dame de Clastre (Lady of Clastre), lived right here, next to the presbytery, in a house that was also her workshop. She developed a traditional family activity for which Aubagne is still famous nowadays: little clay figurines called “santons”. Thérèse started a renewal of this centenarian art by making santons out of the typical figures she was surrounded by daily. That’s how Margarido, the vicar’s cousin noticeable by her red umbrella, was born in 1890. Many other figures would follow, mainly coming from Maurel’s pastoral.