Historic

The Village's origins are lost in the mists of time. In the distant past, this isolated rock was used as a place of refuge and defence. The Romans had already occupied the region. In fact, 1.5 Km to the North West there is a fortified camp with a double enclosure and oppidum. Gourdon, as it appears to us, gives us a perfect idea of a Feudal village. It is built on a peak whose impressive slopes will, after many hundreds of rock falls, end their days in the Loup river. There is only one entrance, from which you can access the main street. In former times, it was defended by a simple and harmonious Roman gate. Unfortunately, it was demolished at the beginning of the century. Thick, high ramparts close off the North side, which is the only point from which the village can be approached.

List of the Village's Mayors

19th - 20th centuries Some important events

 

Liste des Maires de la Commune

1852 : AUDIBERT Honoré
1855 : GIRAUD Jean François
1858 à 1870 : CAVALIER Louis
1871 : AUDIBERT Dieudonné
1879 : FLORY Victor
1880 : CAVALIER Fortuné
1881 : GIRAUD Joseph Fortuné
1893 : AUDIBERT Dieudonné
1907 : LAUGIER Pierre Fernand
1920 : CAVALIER Moïse
1925 : FUNEL Louis
1929 : LAUGIER Pierre Fernand
1947 : BARBOT Henri
1968 à 1995 : CHIROLEU Jean
1995 - 2001 : MELE Eric
2001 : MELE Eric

19 April 1891 : Queen Victoria's visit to Gourdon. She gave her name to the square that dominates the coastal panorama.

22 November 1907 : Serious rock slide during the building of the Gorges road - 17 people were killed.

28 April 1909 : Visit from the President of the Republic, Armand FALLIERES, and Mr Georges CLEMENCEAU, prime minister.

 

 

24 August 1944 : Destruction of the Provence Railway Viaduct at Pont du Loup by the Germans (Digne - Nice - Meyrargues line).