Saignon (French pronunciation: [sɛɲɔ̃]; Occitan: Sanhon) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France.
The rock at Saignon, on a prominent location over the valley, was used as an ancient observatory and possibly a signal station.
[4] The 12th century Romanesque church of Notre-Dame de Pitié, also known as Saint Mary of Saignon, has been a stopping point for religious pilgrims since the Middle Ages: in addition to local pilgrims from Provence, it was positioned on the way for those traveling to Rome along the Via Domitia, and for Italian pilgrims going to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Pope Urban II passed through the area in 1096 and devoted the church which had been recently rebuilt.
[6] The village is 4 km (2 mi) from Apt, and sits on a prominent point over the valley.