Is it just me or does the \u00c9glise Saint-Loup seem to whisper stories of centuries past? The \u00c9glise Saint-Loup stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of this village. Saint-Loup’s history is deeply intertwined with its church. The village of Saint Loup was once known as Centhis. It then evolved to San This and Saint Thyrse.
Interestingly the transition to Saint Loup remains unexplained. Some suggest a link to the Loubet river in Provençal. A cartulaire from 1057 describes a transaction. Pierre a priest from Saint Marcel gave a vineyard to the monastery of Saint Loup. This vineyard was next to Pons Borrelus’s in Saint Thyrse. A papal bull confirmed the \u00c9glise Saint-Loup to the Bishop of Marseille in 1153.
By 1318 the area was still called Saint Tyrse. The priory was joined with Notre Dame D’Eoures. The name Saint Loup appeared in 1531. Historians have not been able to explain this change. Could Saint Loup be named for the graces of the Huveaune river? Neither Abbé Cayol nor Alfred Saurel could confirm this.
The village began to grow in the early 18th century. By 1777 the parish was large enough to warrant a cemetery. The parish struggled financially. Access was forbidden by the bishopric. Remorse led the population to renovate it. Architect Dreveton oversaw the project. He owned land in Saint Loup.
In 1791 during the Revolution the new church was inaugurated. It has stood the test of time. Revolutionary terror interrupted worship until 1801. Monseigneur De Mazenod consecrated the \u00c9glise Saint-Loup in 1834.
The church offers mass on Sundays at 9:30 am. Weekday services are held Tuesday and Friday at 8:00 am. Wednesday services are at 6:30 pm. Father Michel Armand leads the congregation. The \u00c9glise Saint-Loup is open every day throughout 2025.
Saint-Loup is near the Huveaune river. It is surrounded by La Valbarelle Saint-Tronc and la Pomme. Marcel Pagnol’s family lived here for three years. The village heart grew around the \u00c9glise Saint-Thryse. The church was built on land belonging to the Abbey of Saint-Victor. Vestiges of a convent and chapel remain on Sainte-Croix hill.
The canal’s water was not only beneficial. Wealthy merchants sought tranquility here. They invested in agricultural estates employing villagers. This created a social mix of rich and poor. The village’s current appearance reflects the late 19th century. Many bastides from that era still stand today.