BORIES VILLAGE

The village of the bories is located west of Gordes, at an altitude of 270 m, on the slopes of the Monts de Vaucluse. It is a place full of mysteries that has fascinated many researchers. Strolling through its primitive streets, framed by these massive constructions whose walls can be up to one meter thick, plunges the visitor into the heart of the intrigue. Who lived here, in these dry stone bories? At what time? If today we know more about the genesis of the site, these questions remained unanswered for a long time, leaving the field open to the wildest hypotheses. But first, what is a borie ? This term has only been used since the second half of the 20th century. Before that, as the Napoleonic cadastre attests, the generic term was simply " cabane". The term borie, mainly used today, is the French equivalent of the Provençal bori designating a hovel and comes from the medieval boveria, boria which means stable for oxen. It is difficult to date the houses in the village. It is known that the origin of this type of hut goes back to the Bronze Age, but for the village of the bories, little information is available. Some have claimed that it dates back to the 7th century, others think that in view of the remains found, it is not possible for the village to have come into existence before the 15th century! The latter is the most common thesis. It is also probable that the place was inhabited several times, at different periods. These dry-stone huts are often seen as witnesses to the demographic growth of the 18th century, and it is from this period that the ceramics found in the village date. At that time, the Provençal countryside saw the multiplication of this type of dwelling whose main material was a stone from the local bedrock, extracted during the clearing of the fields. The houses in this village were certainly inhabited on a temporary basis during seasonal agricultural work - the absence of a cemetery and a place of worship can attest to this. The exploitation of the land allowed the seasonal workers to earn an additional income, thanks in particular to the production of olives and, consequently, oil. If, in appearance, these huts seem to be of great simplicity, they are in fact real architectural feats! The stones were assembled one on top of the other without any joints and form, most of the time, a corbelled vault. The bories were built without mortar or cement: at each floor, the stones are more and more inclined towards the inside. To build a borie, it took an average of 120 tons of stones! There are 29 bories in the village and 17 of them correspond to the plan of the "gordoise nave", they are independent buildings with rectangular plans characterized by their four corbels. These huts are organized in seven distinct groups, each with a specific role. One can recognize for example sheepfolds, barns or stables, which extends the functions attributed to these bories. Over time, the bories have indeed sheltered the shepherds and their flocks, but also tools or seed harvests, and some have even become secondary residences!

We know that the village of the bories was occupied until the end of the 19th century. Today, after having sunk into oblivion for almost a century, it has become a museum site, open to visitors. It was Pierre Viala, writer, actor and traveler, who first worked to save the bories: in the 1960s, he fell in love with this site where nature had already reclaimed its rights. When he discovered it, stones had disappeared and brambles had invaded the dwellings which had become, over time, hunters' shelters. Once he became the owner of the site, he undertook restructuring work that lasted over eight years. The bories were then restored and classified as historical monuments. With the growth of tourism, the site has now been developed: a small garden of aromatic plants has been created as well as a building for the reception, whose stone walls do not disfigure the landscape. It is interesting to opt for a guided tour that will allow you to learn more about the history of these mysterious dwellings. However, a self-guided tour is also possible. The village of bories is reached by walking along a path in the heart of the garrigue, which, with its green nature, contrasts with the sobriety of the dry stone huts, offering a unique setting. Today, the site belongs to the commune of Gordes, it is one of the most visited in the Vaucluse.

To complete your visit of this corner of Provence, hiking trails in the middle of nature have been set up. For example, you can take the "small rural heritage trail" or the "Gariguette bories" trail which will lead you to discover other bories scattered in the scrubland. These walks are a perfect complement to your previous visit to the village, which gives a concentrated view of these typical dry stone huts, which are a must-see during your stay in the Vaucluse. Located close to Gordes and not far from the abbey Notre-Dame de Sénanque with its splendid lavender fields, the village of the bories is certainly one of the must-see places in the region!