The town of Biot is known for its wonderful history and unique glassblowing . Биот знаменит своей богатой историей и уникальными изделиями из стекла . |
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A HISTORY BUFF ’ S GEM
If you are thirsty for history and particularly for the history of a Mediterranean hill-top village you will be lucky to have chosen Biot — it sort of had nine lives . Biot is an ancient volcano but we can consider that pre-history . Village life really all starts about two thousand five hundred years ago with the Celtic Ligurian tribes spotting Biot ’ s strategic location and staging a settlement there . This threatened the more sophisticated and Greek-influenced port of Antibes who called in the Romans to defend themselves . And so Biot was rid of the Celts and enjoyed a new era under Pax Romana for 500 years after they garrisoned the town in 42 BC . Fast forward to the 12th century when Biot was ruled by the Earl of Provence who “ donated ” it to the warrior Knights Templar in 1209 . Visible on a tour between Place aux Arcades and the Church Square is the Biot Château from where the Knights Templar presided from 1233 until they were crushed and disbanded . And so Biot came up again for “ diplomatic auction ”. And a deal is made between the Bishop of Grasse and the fearsome Knights of Malta . Notice the coat of arms of Biot — it has a most unusual combination of a Knights of Malta cross and a lamb representing the Bishop of Grasse . Peace reigned until the end of the 14th century when with the war of Succession of Queen Jeanne of Provence , and together with the Black Death and pillaging gangs , the village was decimated . Its church was destroyed in 1387 in a failed campaign to keep the brigands at bay .
So , for a town originally safely tucked away from the pirated coast , it ironically
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now became a scandalous nesting place for brigands , robbers and thieves . Favourable conditions and the rule of law did not return until 1470 when King Rene encouraged fifty good families , some with prior links to Biot , to relocate back to Biot ( then called Buzot ) from the Oneglia valley in Italy . And Biot started on the road to becoming the prosperous place that it remains today .
VISITING THE ANCIENT TOWN OF BIOT
Meander down the pretty boulevard Rue Saint Sebastien as you enter Biot . Pass attractive colourful houses , cafes , and abundant greenery . The old town is located down this road towards the end . Its centre is the Place des Arcades ( a narrow square , almost a rectangle , with arcaded houses and the 15th century church ). See the altar painting of the Virgin of the Rosary by 16th century artist Louis Brea . As you enjoy walking the streets you will arrive at a small gap in the houses called the Place de la Catastrophe — it was the spot where in 1898 three houses imploded during a communion party killing 26 people .
The Biot Tourist Office will provide you with a map that highlights many fascinating architectural features . Admire the beauty of the doors , vaults , stairways , stonework , sundials , cobblestones , and the contrasts from one narrow passage to another .
These highlights include two surviving ( out of the original three ) medieval gateways into
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