Upon their deaths, Ythier and his wife Blitgarde left all that they possessed in the towns of Clevo, Centuria, Lasenatis, Conriano, Bonciano, Vinovvolis, Corniano, Cassanolios and Cornon, to Dalmace de Beaumont, Abbot of the monestry of Saint-Chaffre. The names of four of these places is certain: Cliou, Coucouriane, Cornillon and Bance.
In the act of the donation, it was specified that the Abbot of Saint-Chauffre must construct a church and a monestry at Clivo (Cliousclat) and at Bance, which was an adjunct of Mirmande’s territory at that time.
In 1266 Cliousclat was called “Clivo Valentinensis” and then renamed “Clium Usclati” in 1519.
The elevated position of Cliousclat can be explained by the need to defend itself. A fortified castle was constructed and the dwellings huddled around it in order to take advantage of the laughable means of defence of the time, which were without a doubt dissuasive!
Several theories have been proposed concerning the origins of the name
“Cliousclat”. According to de Coston, the village names
Coston, Clius, Clevus, Cleu and Clovum indicate a hill or a mountain,
which corresponds well with Cliousclat’s position; the adjective
“usclat” signifies “burnt”, evoking the fires
lit in 1441, thus giving “Cliou-Busclat” – the burnt
hill.
However, according to the Abbot Adrien Loche, the etymology evokes the
idea of a shining hill; the terminology “usclat” comes from
“busclat” which in the provencal language means “burnt”.
In 1475, there were nine homesteads accommodating approximately sixty people, including the priest Claude Chavaillon.
A merovingien grave was discovered in the old cimetary, which proves that the church of Cliousclat was a baptismal church at the merovingien period. (Gerard Senger).
The 23 June, 1883, the castle was demolished for public security. Its material was sold for the benefit of the municipality.
Mena Loopuyt, a Swiss woman, came to Cliousclat in 1934. She fell in
love with the village, so much so that she was compelled to paint every
aspect of it: the rooftops, the farms, the courtyards, the roads, not
to mention still life.
