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Vallée du Rhône
the most Ancient
Bee wAll in provence*
The Chartreuse de Bonpas has plenty of secret treasures that This apiary would have guaranteed a regular and easily
tell the story of the people who have occupied this building for accessible supply of honey and wax, two key products during
the past 700 years, and the bee wall is one of them. the Carthusian period. The honey would have been used in
it almost certainly dates back to the 14th century, like the cooking and also as a remedy, while the wax would have been
monastic buildings. This would make it the most ancient apiary used for candles for religious ceremonies, as well as lighting
known in Provence*. The wall looks over the Carthusian monks’ for richer folk because it is odorless and doesn’t smoke.
kitchen garden, which is still producing today. it is 6m high, Although there are no longer hives in the wall, a few have
33m long, and has 30 nooks over two levels that once housed nonetheless been set up in the organic kitchen garden.
hives that would have been made from cork oak. Five holes *source: Provence historique Fascicule 210-2002 by Albert Giraud
on the upper level suggest they once held beams forming an
awning designed to protect the hives from rain and hot sun.
Boisset La Famille des Grands Vins
20 www.boisset.com - summer 2020