Aix-en-Provence

Arles

Cassis

La Camargue

Les Alpilles

Les Baux-de-Provence

Les Calanques

Marseille

Pont Royal

Saint Maries de la Mer

Salon-de-Provence

St Remy-de-Provence

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The sharp peaked hills of the Alpilles, a picturesque area, are set to the west of the Luberon, between Arles and Lamanou. The countryside around St Remy and Les Baux is much sought after, the latter described as one of the most beautiful villages in France and with superb and far-reaching views extending to the Camargue and Arles. Arles, with its Roman Arena, home to the annual bull run, was also for a while, home to Van Gogh and Gauguin. Where the ‘cicadas’ sing incessantly and surrounded by vineyards, almond and olive groves, the area is an artist’s paradise.

The elegant university city of Aix-En-Provence was the birthplace of Cézanne who painted the imposing Mont Saint Victoire to the east of the City on many occasions. With its beautiful shaded Cours Mirambeau, lively restaurants and colourful markets, the city has a wealth of shops, hotels and varying activities, attractive architecture, and is universally popular. Property in the surrounding areas reflects this popularity with its high prices.

On the coast is Marseille, a cosmopolitan port and the second largest city to Paris. The coastline stretching to the east from Marseilles to Cassis has some beautiful ‘calanques’ or creeks with steep rocky cliffs. Cassis with its pretty port and La Ciotat are much frequented and the area is popular for water sports of every description. This department represents some of the best that Provence has to offer.

Centre d’Information la Capeliere
Salin-de-Giraud on D36B, 13732
Will introduce you to the flora and fauna of the surrounding lagoons
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Closed Tue | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 97 00 97

Domaine de Mejanes
D37 on edge of Etang de Vaccares, 13732
Offers horseriding, canoeing, bullfights and cowboy demonstrations on the Etang de Vaccares
| Admission charge | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 97 10 62

Musee Camarguais
Mas du Pont de Rousty, Arles 13200
Details the fragile ecosystem of the Camargue
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Oct-Mar:Wed-Mon; Apr-Sep:daily | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 97 10 82

Plage de L’Espiguette
South of le Grau du Roi, Le Grau du Roi 30220
a wonderful long stretch of sand dunes

Tour de Constance
Rue Zola, Aigues-Mortes 30220
Defense tower inside the walls with access to ramparts
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily | Tel: +33 (0)4 66 53 61 55

Parc ornithologique
Pont de Gau, 4km N of Les-Stes, 13732
Offers guided walks through the marshlands and aviaries of the Camargue
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 97 82 62

Plage naturiste
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer 13732
Fine-sand beaches surround Les Stes around the phare de la Gacholle (nudist beach)

Salins-du-Midi
S of Aigues-Mortes, 30220
Visit the salt pans of the Petite Camargue
| Admission charge | Opening Times: to arrange a visit | Tel: +33 (0)4 66 53 85 20

Cinema 3-D Relief
Place de Verdun, Aigues-Mortes 30220
Will enlighten you on the fragile ecosystem of the Camargue with a half-hour 3-D film
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Mid Feb-Mid Nov | Tel: +33 (0)4 66 53 68 50

Bullfights
Ave Van Gogh, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer 13732
Held in Les Saintes-Maries Arenes
| Admission charge | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 97 10 60

Musee des Gitans
Next to Auberge de Jeunesse in Pioch Badet, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer 13732
All you need to know about the Gypsies and their patron saint Sarah
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 97 52 85

Pescalune
Canal at entrance to town, Aigues-Mortes 30220
offer barge tours of the Petite Camargue for flamingos and black bulls
| Admission charge | Tel: +33 (0)4 66 53 79 47

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Copyright Text : Office of Tourism and Sté P.E.C

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The Camargue is home to more than 400 species of birds, the brine ponds providing one of the few European habitats for the greater flamingo.   The marshes are also a prime habitat for many species of insects, notably (and notoriously) some of the most
ferocious mosquitos to be found anywhere in France.   It is also famous for The Camargue Bull and the Camargue Horse.

The flora of the Camargue is specially adapted to cope with the saline conditions.   Sea lavender and glasswort flourish along with tamarisks and reeds.

There are few towns of any size in the Camargue.   Its “capital” is Arles,  located at the extreme north of the delta where the Rhône forks into its two principal branches.
The only other towns of note are Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, about 45 km to the southwest, which is the site of the annual Roma pilgrimage for the veneration of Saint Sarah, and the medieval fortress-town of Aigues-Mortes on the far western edge, in the Petite Camargue.

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Château de la Barben
East of Salon on D572, Salon de Provence 13664
home to Napoleon’s sister this château is now home to a little zoo ideal for children
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily

Musee de Salon et de la Crau
Av Donnadieu, Salon de Provence 13664
Salon’s museum contains old fashioned displays of Provencal costume, furniture and paintings
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Closed Tue, Sat & Sun | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 56 28 37

Musee Grevin de Provence
11 rue de Nostradamus, Salon de Provence 13664
the renowned waxwork family (Grevin) have produced 54 waxwork figures that chart the history of Provence
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Closed Sat & Sun | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 56 64 31

Porte de L’Horloge
Salon de Provence 13664
18th century clock tower made out of iron which marks the entrance of the old town

Musee National de L’Emperi
Château de L’Emperi in old town (at highest point), Salon de Provence 13664
armour & weapons which pay hommage to France’s army from Louis XIV to 1918
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Closed Tue | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 66 22 36

Maison de Nostradamus
11 rue de Nostradamus, Salon de Provence 13664
where Nostradamus lived and where you can find out more about this fascinating character
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Closed Sat & Sun | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 56 64 31

For more information on Provence and Flights – www.flyprovence.com

In the Château des Baux, demonstrations of huge catapults
(the biggest Trebuchet in Europe, a Couillard also called biffa and a Bricole) are given every day from April to September.

Cathedrale des Images
Val d’Enfer (3km from Les Baux to the west), Les Baux-de-Provence 13520
An impressive huge scale slide show where the theme changes annually
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 54 38 65

Musee d’Histoire des Baux
Next to the Citadel, Les Baux-de-Provence 13520
a lovely introduction to the fascinating history of Les Baux
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily

Fondation Louis Jou
Grand’Rue, Les Baux-de-Provence 13520
Contains Jou’s engravings as well as engravings by Durer, Rembrandt and Goya
| Admission charge | Opening Times: By appointment | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 54 34 17

Eglise St-Martin
Bd Marceau, St-Remy-de-Provence 13210
This church is proud of its organ built in 1983 and said to be the finest organ ever made!
| Opening Times: Daily

St-Vincent
Place de l’Eglise, Les Baux-de-Provence 13520
A church that dates back to the 12th century with stained-glass windows by Max Ingrand
| Opening Times: Closed Tue & Jan-mid Feb

Musee Yves Brayer
Hotel des Porcelet, Place de L’Eglise, Les Baux-de-Provence 13520
A figurative painter who left his works to Les Baux when he died
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Closed Tue & Jan-mid Feb

For more information on Provence and Flights – www.flyprovence.com

Copyright Text : Sté PEC

Copyright Images : Informationfrance 2011

Les Baux-de-Provence Office de tourisme
Impasse du Château Les Baux-de-Provence
13520

Tel:+33 (0)4 90 54 34 39
Fax:+33 (0)4 90 54 51 15

The lower slopes are planted with olive and almond trees with Kermes oaks and pines also growing there.  Much of the range is, however, bare rock or stony ground covered with scrub and maquis.

The highest parts of the range are a nature reserve inhabited by a number of rare bird species, including Bonelli’s eagle, the Egyptian vulture and eagle owl.  Some of these species were introduced in the Alpilles in the 1980s.

At the foot of ‘Les Alpilles’, in the Valley of Les Baux, lies one of the finest olive groves in Provence.  Five oil mills, at Fontvielle, Maussane and Mouriès process the region’s olive harvest.

Harvesting is carried out by hand.  It is important to collect the finest fruits, especially for eating.  Picking takes place in December, sometimes with a hand-held rake and a net stretched out on the ground.

Pressing consists of two distinct operations.  Firstly the olives are washed, ground and mixed without heating.  The paste thus obtained is then spread out onto ‘Scourtins’.

These are woven trays, formerly of rush, but nowadays of synthetic fibre, in the form of large round ‘cheeses’.  They are piled one on top of one another between the plates of the press.  This method enables the oil to be separated out leaving the pulp behind.
After separating out the watery residues by allowing it to settle, pure, first pressing olive oil from the Valleé des Baux is obtained.

Fontvieille and Alphonse Daudet’s windmill
Les Baux de Provence
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the ruins of the Roman city of Glanum
Arles
Orgon
Montmajour Abbey
Eygalières
Saint-Étienne-du-Grès
Eyguières
Lamanon
Mouriès

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Copyright Images : Informationfrance

The Aleppo pine is the dominant tree and is sometimes flanked by oak and ash, while mytle, rosemary, thyme and the strawberry tree are found amongst the vegetation.  Archaelogical finds have proved that this coast was the site of human settlements in earlier times.
Today, diving enthusiasts come from all over the world to admire the sunken natural and archaeological wonders of ‘Les Calanques’ : Grotte de Cosquer, for example, discovered in 1991, contains rock-paintings dating back 20,000 years ago.  The visitor can take any one of the many walking tours through these areas which are not always reachable by car.
Those localities of the Calanques best known and most appreciated by tourists, are Port-Pin, En-Vau, the area around Morgiou, Sormiou and finally Cassis,  with its sheltered small port, east of Cap Canaille and west of the last rocky promontory of the Gardiole in an extremely beautiful natural setting.

Boat trips to the Calanques are fun to arrange.  Walk along the line of boats at the Cassis harbour and spot which ones are filling up for which trips. They’ll be going to a series of 3, 5, or 8 Calanques.

3 Calanques; 45 minutes (about 10 €)
Port Miou, Port Pin, En Vau
5 Calanques; 1hour (about 12 €)
Port Miou, Port Pin, En Vau
Loule, Devenson
8 Calanques; 1 hour and a half (about 15 €)
Port Miou, Port Pin, En Vau
Loule, Devenson
Oeil de Verre, Sugiton, Morgiou

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CassisTourist Office

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The magnificent  18 hole Golf Course was designed by Severiano Ballesteros.

The resort is also designed to fulfil the desires of children of all ages.  Its swimming pool complex boasts an outdoor wave pool, a ‘countryside’ pool with a large beach, an artificial rafting river, a boating lake and children’s clubs for all ages.  Other activities include an aquagym, basketball, volleyball, archery, table tennis, petanque, children’s shows and a village farm.

APARTMENTS, HOUSES, VILLAS & FARMHOUSES

The village offers four types of accommodation: 478 Apartments, 84 houses, 11 villas and 5 large farmhouses.  The apartments are near shops and activities, the houses are on the edge of the village, most of the Provençal farmhouses are on the edge of the golf course and the villas are in a village at the heart of the estate.

– Please click on ‘Accommodation‘ for further information
– Please call +33 (0)4 90 57 54 54 for the reservation of a Farmhouse
– 33 apartments and 5 houses are available for persons of reduced mobility.

SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS

3 restaurants: “Les Tilleuls”, “La Farigoule” and “Es beù la Vie” – see ‘catering’ for our suggestions.
“Le Café des Arts” bistro: atmospheric cocktail bar overlooking the lake, beer, tea, open every day from 11 a.m to 12 p.m, Provencal grocer’s shop and point of sale for bread and pastries, newsagent*, decoration*, boutique*, souvenir shop, refrigerated wine cabinet, hairdresser, beauty salon* (body treatments, massage, manicure, facials, etc.), departmental tourist office on Place de la Mairie in the village offers information.

Cash dispenser at the Maison de Pont Royal, paying launderette below Place des Taillades (level 6 of the car park): 8 washing machines, 3 tumble dryers, coin-operated, bicycle racks.

* Independent of Pierre & Vacances services

GENERAL INFORMATION
Official classification: 3 Star Tourist Residence
Languages spoken: English, German, Italian.
The main reception is open every day, round the clock.
Tourist tax (Adult & Children): €0.61 per day.

CAR PARKING
Indoor and outdoor car parks (See extra charges for parking)

Saint Rémy de Provence is a typical Provençal town, proud of its prestigious Roman remains unearthed during excavations in 1921 on the Glanum and Antiques sites.
On the Antiques plateau stands a cenotaph (a Roman monument erected in homage to a deceased individual) in an excellent state of preservation.

This little jewel of Roman art dates back to the very first years of our era.  According to the inscription on the freize, in all likelihood it is dedicated to the memory of Caius and Lucius, the grandsons of the Emperor Augustus

Parfumerie Artisanale
34 Bd Mirabeau, St-Remy-de-Provence 13210
All you need to know about perfume with a display of bottles dating back 3,000 years
| Admission charge

Musee Archeologique
Hotel de Sade, St-Remy-de-Provence 13210
Combines guided tours to Glanum and Musee des Alpilles
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 92 64 04

Musee des Alpilles
Hotel Mistral de Mondragon, Place Flavier, St-Remy-de-Provence 13210
An introduction to local customs and St-Remy’s famous son Nostradamus
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily

Eglise St-Martin
Bd Marceau, St-Remy-de-Provence 13210
This church is proud of its organ built in 1983 and said to be the finest organ ever made!
| Opening Times: Daily

Glanum
Glanum, St-Remy-de-Provence 13210
the Roman remains of the ancient city of Glanum
| Admission charge | Opening Times: Daily | Tel: +33 (0)4 90 92 05 22

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St Remy-de-Provence Tourist Office.

Copyright Text : Sté P.E.C

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During the 17th and 18th centuries many aristocratic town houses were built. Today they form the core of the charming historical centre where the large number of listed monuments bears witness to 2000 years of history.  In 1981 the Roman and Romanesque buildings of Arles were listed as UNESCO world heritage monuments.
Arles is a member of the French network of Ville d’art et d’Histoire, and also of the European network AVEC (Alliance des villes européennes de la  culture – European cultural cities alliance).

THE ROMAN THEATRE – The theatre stands at the top of a hill. The semicircle of tiers is over 100 metres long at its widest axis and faces west.

THE ARENA or AMPHITHEATRE – This is probably the most representative monument of the town. It is well preserved, ellipse shaped, with a 136 metre long main axis and a 107 metre smaller one. It was built between the 1st and 2nd centuries and could seat 20,000 to 30,000 spectators. It was reserved for gladiatorial events.
An ingenious system of corridors was used to evacuate spectators quickly. The basement  was used for animal cages and machinery. Even today the arena still fills up for festivals, corridas and bull fights.
THE ALYSCAMPS (ROMAN NECROPOLIS) – Created by the Greeks and Romans, this burial ground was to become the most famous in the western world.
THE CONSTANTINE THERMES This monument was built using a charactaristic technology which alternates rows of bricks and stones which date from the 3rd century and the start of the 4th century under the reign of Emperor Constantine.

THE MUSEE D’ARLES et de LA PROVENCE ANTIQUE – The Arles archeological museum, anchored since 1995 on the banks of the Rhone River was built by Henri Ciriani beside the remains of the Roman circus.  It contains the archeological collections of the city and the surrounding region spanning the period from neolithic times to the end of the  Roman and early Christian era.

THE MUSEON ARLATEN  – The local ethnographical museum, is housed in the former Laval-Castellane town house dating from the 15th century.  The museum was created in 1896 by Frederic Mistral, a regionalist poet, and exhibits costumes, furniture, tools, objects connected with local religious traditions and superstitions, illustrating life in Provence during the 19th century.

THE MUSEE REATTU, DONATION PICASSO  – The fine arts museum, is housed in the former Grand Priory of the Knights of Malta.  It houses the works of Jacques Réattu, an Arlesian
painter of the period of the French Revolution, 18th and 19th centuries, as well as modern and contemporary artists (Picasso, Zadkine and Alechinsky).  The museum also possesses
a remarkable photography collection (Henri-Cartier, Bresson, Edward Weston).

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Arles Office of Tourism

Copyright Text : Office of Tourism and Sté P.E.C

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