Restinclières

Languedoc village, Restinclières is distinguished for its Castries stone masonry.

The village is organised around the church dedicated to Saint Césaire, Bishop of Arles in the 6th century, a romanesque building dating from the 12th century. Enlarged in the 14th and 15th centuries, it was between these walls that inhabitants took refuge during the wars of Religion in the 15th century.

A that time, the fortified building was flanked with four towers, topped by crenellated walls and a sentry walk. Today the Rectory is a place dedicated to associations. The former stables have been transformed into a public library.

Did you know? The mastic tree or restincle or « restinclièras in occitan language is a mediterranean bush with dark green persistant foliage. The name Restinclières was given after the mastic tree. Its resin is harvested by a cut in the tree  and gives an aromatic gum.

That is why it is also called the mastic tree. The essential oil produced from the leaves and twigs were used in herbal medicine and its pink wood used in cabinet making.

But take care, the red and black fruit of this tree are not edible! You may come across it on the main thoroughfares of the town.