Top 5 des plus beaux villages des Alpilles

On the border between the Camargue and the Luberon, the Alpilles rise majestically. Nature may reign supreme here, but mankind is also well established, and over the centuries has built many remarkable villages and towns with typical Provençal architecture. Here are just a few that we think are a must-see.

Contents

Mouriès

In this highly subjective ranking, we couldn’t overlook Mouriès, the Alpilles village where your favourite rental agency is based. Beyond this purely egocentric aspect, and on closer inspection, Mouriès has a lot to offer. For a start, it’s France’s leading olive-growing village. And that’s no mean feat, I’m sure you’ll agree! Olive oil lovers, we’re waiting for you. Secondly, despite its modest population density (3,400 inhabitants), it’s a very lively village. In autumn and winter, the life of the locals is punctuated by the big farmers’ market that takes place every Wednesday in the main courtyard (in front of the agency!), but it’s in the summer months that the village comes alive. In summer, the restaurants and cafés on the main square are fully booked. The dozens of plane trees in the street protect the many terraces from the sun and keep the village cool. Every weekend, amidst the typical stone houses, concerts are organised and restaurateurs take to the road to set up tables worthy of the biggest banquets. Reservations are essential for these weekly events, so popular with locals and tourists alike!

Maussane-les-Alpilles

5 minutes from Mouriès, a chic and authentic atmosphere. Stone farmhouses and villas. Typically Provençal little streets. Squares where you can soak up the sun after a day’s sightseeing. By day, Maussane is a gentle town, but by night, it’s beautiful and lively. At Christmas, the seasonal decorations flood the streets with their white and blue light. And the smoke from the chimneys covers the village in a thick veil of warmth. In summer, as in Mouriès, the festivities are almost daily. Numerous bars and restaurants provide the spectacle on the plate, and bullfighting events provide the spectacle in the streets.

Les Baux-de-Provence

This is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Between the castle and the old stone houses, a medieval atmosphere is guaranteed. Les Baux-de-Provence is a village remarkable not only for the architecture of its buildings, but also for its complex geographical location. Situated at an altitude of 200m on one of the many limestone hills that make up the Alpilles, it overlooks the entire valley. Ideal for defence in the Middle Ages. Take a look at this life-size trebuchet in the castle courtyard! Impressive, isn’t it? Make the most of a fine, not too windy, spring day to lose yourself in the enchanted narrow streets and taste a piece of Provence by sampling the Provençal flavours concocted by the small local traders. Finish off with a visit to the Carrières de lumière. A surprisingly dreamlike spectacle awaits you.

Les Baux-de-Provence

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

The town in the countryside! In the heart of the Alpilles mountains, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence has a charm all of its own. Quite simply, its historic centre, where you’ll find craftsmen and jewellers, is surrounded by a ring road, where you’ll find one good restaurant after another. Here, surrounded from north to south and from east to west by nature, the town is a haven of peace where life is good. Accessible on foot – as are most of the town’s points of interest – the Roman remains of the famous Glanum site add to the sense of a place out of time. In terms of geographical location, the town is the ideal base camp for those wishing to discover the region. Between the Camargue, the Avignon region and the Luberon, a change of scenery is guaranteed every day, less than an hour’s drive away.

Saint-Rémy-de-Provence

Aureille

The gateway to the Alpilles, in the heart of nature. Facing the Camargue, the Alpilles mountains rise up. At their summit is Les Opies, the highest peak in the range, reaching an altitude of almost 500m. Just below: Aureille, a small Provencal village of singular charm and gentleness. As well as the incredible views over the whole valley and as far as Arles on sunny days (so almost all year round!), the village itself and its surroundings are well worth a visit. As far as wildlife is concerned, the area is teeming with rare animals, which the more patient can observe through binoculars or – for the more discreet – from a few metres away. These include the ocellated lizard, Bonelli’s eagle, Egyptian vulture, kestrel and the majestic eagle owl. So if you’re a nature lover, keep your ears open! As for the flora, in addition to the thousands of century-old olive trees, the valley is home to 800 other plant species.