Marcel Pagnol was born near Marseille, in Aubagne, at the foot of Garlaban range, on February 28,1895. His childhood is indeed Aubagne, the city and also Aubagne, the hills. Guided hikes are offered today to discover both the perfumed paths of this Provencal garrigue and his work.
This writer/movie maker wanted to create in the hills of Garlaban a little Provencal Hollywood. So in the middle of the vegetation, he had a house, church, farm built to be used as a site to make movies.
The Domaine de la Font de Mai is the point of departure of the circuit “Souvenirs from Childhood”, accompanied and commented, which allow the discovery of the sites mentioned by Pagnol in his books and movies. This day-long hike, 9 km long, allows you to discover the mas of Massacan, Angele’s farm, Raimu’s well, Panturle’s house, the New Bastide... All familiar names which are found in his works.
On the way back, one visits the village of La Treille and the fountain of Manon, famous for its drying out in the movie “Manon of the springs”.
This hike takes place each last Sunday of the month, from January to November with the exception of July and August.
The domaine of 100 hectares is 3 centuries old with its old-style farm, its cultures, its beehives, its own interpretation path... Multiple nature activities occur there all year round: discovery of birds, plants, observation of sky and stars, storytelling evenings, night walks, initiation to Tai Ji Quan and to Qi Gong, discovery of goats and beehives..
In summer, theatrical walks during which one tastes a terroir plate, are organized at sunset.
In July and August there are concerts in the music meadow, facing the Garlaban with its illuminated bastide in the background.
This year for the first time, a theater show will take place with Brigitte Fossey and Catherine Salviat who will star in the “Time of Secrets” by Marcel Pagnol.
Marcel Pagnol is still today the second most read classical writer after Victor Hugo: he is also an author and movie-maker universally recognized.
So, after your walks in the hills, having returned to the center of Aubagne, visit his birth place and also, facing it, “The little world of Marcel Pagnol” large space which reconstitutes with dozens of santons scenes from the books and films of this Provencal artist.
All those souvenirs of Marcel will remind you without a doubt of your first readings and of those black and white movies where people speak “with the accent”.
Plaisirs et Maisons de Provence suggests that you stay in one of its vacation rentals to discover Pagnol’s hills.
If you want to discover its history, traditions and landscapes which have inspired the author we invite you to contact us by clicking on this link.
