Saint Savournin is a small Provencal village built under the rock of the Etoile mountain range. It lies between Aix and Marseille. Comprising several neighborhoods and the hamlet of Valentine, the village stretches through farmland and forests.
Several signposted footpaths and historic walls offer ideas for walks (the fountain opposite the post office, the philharmonic circle, the château comtal and its farm...).
From the Chemin de Croix and the ancient Castellas feudal castle, you can admire a magnificent panorama stretching as far as the Sainte Victoire mountain,
The village is unusual in having had to build no less than 4 churches since the year 768!
The first church was built between 768 and 923, probably on the ruins of a temple dedicated to Saturn on the site now occupied by the post office.
A second church was built on the site of the first in 1683, but demolished in 1865.
A third church was built 200 metres further on, between 1851 and 1853, by the Archbishop of Marseille, on the site of today's Town Hall. In 1873, the church was adorned with superb paintings depicting the martyrdom of Saint Saturnin. In 1932, the single bell named "Félicité" was joined by two others, "Philomène Noémie" and "Louise Noémie".
From 1937-38, work on the Germain Well caused numerous tremors throughout the village, particularly in the vicinity of the church. In October 1942, a violent storm flooded the area, further weakening the building as it slipped and sank. Subsequent rains worsened the situation, and by 1946, the church was split in two: the upper part remained clinging to the rock, while the lower part was gradually sliding away. After some hard work, the town council decided to demolish the church in 1960. A fourth church was then built in 1961 on the site of the parish hall, in a more contemporary style, making a clean sweep of the previous churches.
