  Polarization dependent vanadium L edge X-ray absorption spectra of BaVS$_3$
single crystals are measured in the four phases of the compound. The difference
between signals with the polarization \textbf{E}$\perp$\textbf{c} and
\textbf{E}$\parallel$\textbf{c} (linear dichroism) changes with temperature.
Besides increasing intensity of one of the maxima, a new structure appears in
the pre-edge region below the metal-insulator transition. More careful
examination brings to light that the changes start already with pretransitional
charge density wave fluctuations. Simple symmetry analysis suggests that the
effect is related to rearrangements in $E_{g}$ and $A_{1g}$ states, and is
compatible with the formation of four inequivalent V sites along the V-S chain.
