The first mention of the village is from 1078: Castrum de Albarno. In 1235, a fortified camp on a height is mentioned in a document between the Lord of Antibes and the Count of Provence. In 1322, Raimbaud de Grasse, Lord of Bar, purchased a part of Mouans from the wife of Raymond Caïs of Nice.
In the 14th century, the town was dominated by the castle of the counts of Grasse. It is in the 15th century that its current name, Lou Barn, Le Bar, is mentioned. The Church of Saint James the Greater from the 15th century houses a wooden painting from the 14th century, which some attribute to Louis Brea. The work:
The Danse Macabre, originates from his workshop. A poem in Provençal invites people to keep in mind their mortal end and always praise God. A legend accompanies this altarpiece: The Count of Bar had thrown a party during Lent, and the guests were all struck down, their souls judged and weighed by Saint Michael, condemned, they were all cast into hell.
This poem of 33 verses, of which here are a few: “O you poor sinners/ Have great remembrance/ That you will soon die/………/Then, all the time, praise God/ With great dignity/…….,” is in itself a homily. In this church, one can admire the carved door and the base of the bell tower where Roman inscriptions can be deciphered, proof of the presence of Imperial Rome at Bar.
The castle of the counts of Grasse and its square keep with 13th-century foundations, the memorial of Admiral de Grasse born here on September 13, 1722, and the Path to Paradise which leads us to Gourdon are other attractions of this village whose name means: height.
We will conclude our presentation by talking about Célestin Freinet. It was in Bar sur Loup that he first experimented with his educational methods which, at their time, were revolutionary.
Thierry Jan
