Located in the northwest of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône, the Alpilles massif is a mountain range whose main characteristic lies in its low altitude (496 meters) and its typical landscape of white limestone rocks. These mountains are a perfect terrain for all kinds of activities, such as cycling or hiking, but also for its cultural aspect and picturesque villages. Through this article, we will tell you everything about this region and help you navigate using an Alpilles map.
The Alpilles Map and Nearby Points of Interest
The Alpilles are ideally located between several important cities, making it a prime location if you want to enjoy the cultural and historical aspects of the region; for history lovers, visit Arles and discover its mythical arena, or Nîmes if you want to learn more about the Roman past of the region, very present in the architecture of both cities. For those who prefer calm and water activities, we advise you to go north of the Alpilles map and visit Annecy, where you can, in addition to visiting the city, discover its lake, a true jewel of the region and a perfect place to enjoy the water.
If you want to go to the seaside and do activities, you can go south of the Alpilles map and discover the activities to do in the Camargue, a true getaway that combines nature, culture, and adventure.
As you can see, due to its geographical location, the Alpilles are perfect for all types of stays!
How to Explore the Alpilles with a Map?
The Alpilles covers an area of about 50,000 hectares, and it is shared by sixteen communes, such as Saint-Rémy-de-Provence or Fontvieille, and has about 47,000 people.
When discovering the Alpilles map, we find that several summit areas compose it:
- The main part of the massif, called l’Alpille, “stretches from the Saint-Gabriel chapel in Tarascon to” the road connecting Aureille to Eygalières
- Les Opies, east of l’Alpille, are composed of three small peaks: the Opies crests, the Mont Menu and the Défends
- Les Collines (or Pène rocks) are a narrow chain stretching to the south of the massif from which it is separated by departmental road 17.
Besides these summits, the Alpilles consist of several plains that are worth the detour, especially if you like hiking:
- The Baux marshes, an area of several hectares between the Costières and the Pène rocks, present a flat surface dried up during the 19th century
- The Fontvieille plain, located to the north and northeast of this commune, owes its existence to the cohabitation of the massif with the alluvium of the Rhône; it is now a large triangular area devoted to the cultivation of vines and olives
- The Roquemartine plain, on the opposite side, is located north of Eyguières and presents a severe relief with grassy slopes that serve as pasture for sheep and cows of the region
- The Saint-Rémy-de-Provence plain marks the northern limit of the massif. Home to the ancient site of Glanum, this plain is fertile. Moreover, the painter Vincent van Gogh immortalized its landscape during his stay at the Saint-Paul de Mausole asylum (between 1889 and 1890)
- The Eygalières plain has large stretches of olive groves and tends to be more urbanized than the rest of the massif.
Where are the Alpilles on the Provençal Map?
Located in the south of France, the Alpilles are about sixty kilometers north of Marseille; the massif “extends along an east-west axis for about 25 kilometers from the Rhône valley to” the Durance valley. To the north of the Alpilles, we find the city of Avignon and its mythical lake, to the west the city of Arles with its Roman remains, as well as Nîmes, and to the east we can note the presence of the Luberon Regional Natural Park, a perfect place for hiking enthusiasts.
The Best Hikes in the Alpilles
The Alpilles Regional Nature Park reveals a heritage and diversity of landscapes perfectly suited for hiking. With its extensive network of paths and trails, you can practice all kinds of hiking, on foot, by bike, or even on horseback. Due to its environmental diversity, the park offers various hikes accessible to all, marked and displayed on the various maps that you can find online. Here are some of them:
- The Alpilles Ridge: the hike on the Alpilles Ridge is mainly for experienced hikers due to its significant elevation gain. Starting from the village of Saint-Rémy-en-Provence, plan for a 3-hour hike covering 7.73 kilometers. Moreover, this hike is perfect as it will allow you to discover different emblematic places of the massif throughout your journey between wild and steep ridges.
- The ascent of Les Opies: The highest point of the vast Alpilles massif, the summit of Les Opies offers a sensational 360° panorama. During your journey, you will be accompanied by a sweet scent of Provence due to the presence of garrigue, olive trees, and an old sheepfold; this ascent, with an average duration of 5 hours for 13.63 kilometers starting from Eyguières, is a must-do hike for those visiting the Alpilles, but also for history enthusiasts, as it allows you to discover exceptional landscapes and archaeological remains. The walk is quite demanding, but it’s worth the detour for those who want to take up the challenge!
- Lake Peiroou: Lake Peiroou is a true haven of peace to recharge and connect with nature. From here, there are numerous trails that lead to the dam area; if you wish to do a loop starting from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, there is a low-difficulty route that can be completed in 3h30, ideal for a Sunday family walk.
If you want to learn more about hikes to do in the Alpilles, we have dedicated an article on this topic right here!
Hikes in the Luberon
Hike in the Luberon and discover its impressive natural landscapes.
Why is a map of the Alpilles essential?
The Alpilles region is magnificent for tourists who decide to venture there, particularly because the region offers various activities suitable for families, but also for all types of travelers. Do you want to discover everything that the Alpilles map offers, but don’t know where to stay? Don’t worry: with Plaisirs & Maisons, you will find the accommodation that suits you in just a few clicks!
