Provence à la une
Bonnieux
A stroll through Bonnieux
Buoux
A stroll to the fort of Buoux
Accommodation
Your holidays in Provence Luberon
Provence > Villages of Provence > Alpilles > Les Baux de Provence - 13520
Eating ?
Accommodation ?
Shopping ?
Entertainment ?
Les Baux de Provence
Bouches du Rhône department
Population : 369 people (2007)
Under the sun of the Alpilles, the village of les Baux de Provence thrones proudly on its rocky spur overlooking sublime landscapes surroundings…
A stony vessel navigating in the blue sky of Provence, and so will appear to you the small village of les Baux de Provence.
It is one of the "more beautiful villages of France" and its reputation is far from being usurped. Thanks to the wealth of its history confidentially connected to that of Provence, and the intensity of its cultural life, the village of les Baux is a unique, magic and major place of the Alpilles.
Les Baux de Provence major village of the Alpilles
Nowadays this small village welcomes 1 and a half million visitors a year, doubtless attracted by the exceptional historical and architectural heritage of les Baux Provence. The village is the tourist Mecca, counting not less than 22 classified monuments. Monuments met during your visit of les Baux will make you discover the historic past of Provence, from the Middle Ages to nowadays by way of the Renaissance.
The plateau of les Baux on which the village was built is a strategic place, exploited for a very long time by the man. From the village, the point of view on the surroundings is incomparable and the accessibility of the place rather delicate to protect effectively this fortified town. From the Xth century it is mentioned in certain texts of this "castrum", in the Middle Ages the line of the Lords of les Baux, is one of the most prestigious of Provence. The Lords of les Baux possess lands in great quantities in all Provence. It is not only thanks to its numerous possessions (79 cities and villages !) that the dynasty of les Baux marked the memory of Provence, the Lords of les Baux had strong personalities, one says they were rebel and warlike.
The village of les Baux Provence had an animated history, between wars, seats and dismantling. It will be necessary to wait for the end of the Renaissance so that the city was quite and so that numerous buildings were reconstructed. In 1642, the King of France offered the seigneury of les Baux to Hercule Grimaldi, the Marquis of les Baux is the Prince of Monaco.
In the XXth century, the village of les Baux Provence, which went from a population of 3000 alive inhabitants within the village in the XIIIth century to only 22 nowadays, knew a revival. The world-famous "Oustau de Baumanière" opened its doors and became a kind of embassy of the French gastronomy. It is André Malraux who placed in 1966 the village in general under the protection of the Ministry of Culture and the environment, began then for tes Baux a period of revival.
At les Baux de Provence it is a historic, cultural and artistic visit, but also why not gastronomic that you can make, according to your desires.
Historic visit, by walking in the alleys of the village or by showing the assault of the castle of les Baux. Cultural and artistic visit, by entering the museums of les Baux de Provence, artists' galleries or still at the exit of the village by discovering the spectacular pictures cathedral. Gastronomic visit finally, by taking your meal at "l'Oustau de Baumanière " or still by tasting renowned olive oil from the Alpilles…
Visit this major village of the Alpilles during your holidays in Provence.
Monuments
This building, built at the end of the XVth century, was until the revolution the seat of les Baux de Provence, then administrative centre of a royal and seigneurial jurisdiction.
The former rampart against which the building based, pierced in the XIXth century, represents the entrance of the city today.
The Tourist Office is located inside the "Maison du Roy".
This magnificent Renaissance hotel dates from the XVIth century. It was built in 1571 by Claude de Manville's family, fortunate Protestant family.
About the architecture, the façade possesses numerous mullioned windows and a luxurious inner courtyard.
Manville Hotel is today the city hall.
- Queen Jeanne PavillonThis Renaissance house proudly raises in the heart of the "Vallon de la Fontaine". It was built by Jeanne de Quiqueran, Honoré des Martin's wife, Baron of les Baux in the XVIth century.
This house decorated the garden of the family of les Baux nicknamed "Jardin du Comte" or "Verger du Roi".
Vallon de la Fontaine
- Saint Blaise ChapelIn the XVIIth century, the brotherhood of the carders of wool and the weavers had taken up residence in the Romanic chapel. This brotherhood's patron saint was Saint Blaise, it is for that reason the building was called Saint Blaise Chapel.
Today, the movie "Provence seen from the sky" is projected inside the chapel.
Saint Vincent Church, dating from the XIIth century, is a former priory dependent on Saint Paul de Mausole monastery in Saint-Rémy de Provence.
This building is typical of les Baux by its Southern part half dug in the rock. Modifications were brought to it in the XVIIth century without breaking the Romanic beauty of the whole.
Let us note Max Ingrand's modern stained glasses which decorate the inside and were offered by Prince Rainier III in the XXth century.
From the top of its rock, the site of the Castle extends over 7 ha and dominates les Baux de Provence. Classified as "Historic Monument", this magic place offers a quite unique view on the region.
Every year, a reconstruction of the life in the medieval time takes place there : leave to the assault of the castle of les Baux de Provence
Tél. : 04 90 54 55 56
Located in the heart of the quarries of the Val d'Enfer, this cathedral is a masterpiece by Albert Plécy. Since 1977, shows take place with projections on the walls of galleries and a different theme every year.
More information : The pictures cathedrale
Route du Val d'Enfer, D27
Tél. : 04 90 54 22 34
This chapel was built in the middle of the XVIIth century by the White Penitents' Brotherhood, so that its name. It is dedicated to Saint Estelle, guard of former penitents' memory.
The chapel is decorated inside with Yves Brayer's frescoes staging the Christmas of the Shepherds in Provence.
Place de l'Eglise
Musées
Built in the XVIth century, this set was restored by Louis Jou, artist and talented typographer.
This hotel Renaissance shelters Louis Jou's most beautiful works as well as his collections : old books, engravings, paintings, sculptures and ceramic mix in everyday life.
Opening of the museum only by appointment.
More information : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/fondationlouisjou/index.html
Tél. : 04 90 54 34 17
Built on the former ramparts, the Museum of figures in les Baux de Provence possesses numerous pieces and gathers varied collections.
Neapolitan figurines, dressed figures, painted figures and scenes illustrating the traditions of Provence are exhibited there.
Tél. : 04 90 54 34 39
Porcelet's hotel, magnificent house from the XVIth century, belonged to one of the rich families of Arles.
In 1991, this hotel became Yves Brayer museum. It presents a retrospective of this contemporary French painter's works, also keen on engraving and on lithography.
Tél. : 04 90 54 36 99A voir
These machines are exhibited at the castle.
These reconstructions, truer than nature, present machines used in the medieval time.
Le château
- Tremaïe and GaïeAfter a stroll through a charming path, the funeral steles of "Tremaïe" and "Gaïe" appear at feet of the donjon. Chapel and sculpturemake the beauty of the site.
- The Door of EyguièresAlso called door of the water, the door of Eyguières was until 1866 the unique entrance of the village. This door was raised in the XVIIIth century by the Prince of Monaco, Marquis of les Baux. The coat of arms of the Grimaldi family always thrones proudly over the door.
Let us note that the door of Eyguières kept its rampart way, usely defence system formerly.
Events
Useful addresses
Municipal Tourist Office
Maison du Roy
Rue Porte Mage - 13520 Les Baux de Provence
Phone 04 90 54 34 39
Fax 04 90 54 51 15
City Hall
Mairie des Baux de Provence
Hôtel de Manville - Grand Rue - 13520 Les Baux de Provence
Phone 04 90 54 34 03
Fax 04 90 54 49 23
Site map
Access
By coming from Lyon take the highway A7 - exit n°24 Avignon Sud - Via Noves and Saint-Rémy de Provence.
By coming from Marseille take the highway A7 direction Lyon - A54 direction Arles - exit n°11 Saint Martin de Crau - Via Maussane les Alpilles.
By coming from Nimes take the highway A9-A54, Arles - exit n°7 - Via Fontvieille.
Distance from towns
Maussane les Alpilles > 3.5 km, Paradou > 4 km, Fontvieille > 8 km, Mouriés >10 km, Saint Rémy de Provence > 10 km, Saint Martin de Crau > 14 km, Saint Etienne du Grès > 14 km, Tarascon > 17 km, Arles > 18 km, Aureille > 18 km, Eygalières > 21 km, Châteaurenard > 22 km, Eyguières > 24 km, Avignon TGV > 27 km, Orgon > 28 km, Lamanon > 29 km, Aéroport Avignon > 29 km, Cavaillon > 29 km, Sénas > 35 km, Avignon > 36 km, Remoulins > 38 km, Isle sur la Sorgue > 41 km, Coustellet > 44 km, Gordes > 47 km, Fontaine de Vaucluse > 49 km, Nîmes > 54 km, Roussillon > 57 km, Aéroport Marseille Provence > 58 km, Apt > 62 km, Lourmarin > 65 km, Aix en Provence > 69 km, Rustrel > 74 km, Marseille > 84 km, Le Mont Ventoux > 96 km, Montpellier > 100 km, Manosque> 125 km, Valensole > 139 km, Toulon > 148 km, Moustiers Sainte Marie > 159 km, Digne les Bains > 178 km, Saint Tropez > 201 km, Cannes > 213 km, Castellane > 227 km, Nice > 248 km.
The pictures cathedral
in the heart of the quarries of the Val d'Enfer, discover magic shows with 3-dimensional projections on the walls of the galleries.
The assault of the castle
Travel in the medieval time through a grand historical reconstruction in the quite unique place of the castle in les Baux de Provence.
Nature reserve of the Alpilles
Located between Luberon and Camargue, the country nature reserve of the Alpilles is a territory witth a rare biodiversity to discover absolutely.
