| LES ALPILLES |
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LES ALPILLES - Les Baux
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LES ALPILLES - Vue des Baux
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| A chain of chalk mountains consisting of garrigues, olive trees, vineyards, small valleys, steep mountains and crests. The Alpilles massif is dotted with picturesque villages often embellished with the names of famous artists, poets and writers. |
 LES ALPILLES - Les Baux
TO SEE:
Hotel de Sade, built during the Renaissance on the ruins of a Roman monument. It contains objects and mosiacs unearthed during the archeological excavations of the Glanum site. Hotel Estrine is a beautiful 18th century edifice and houses the Art Center in which it pays hommage to the celebrated painter, Van |
 LES ALPILLES - Catapulte
Surroundings:
Glanum is an archeological site situated 1.5 km from the center of the town. This site was occupied for more than 800 years: first in the 6th century BC by the Saliens (gaulois), followed by the Greeks coming from Marseille, and later, the Romans. In AD 3 following the Barbarian invasions, the site was abandoned. The inhabitants took refuge in the valley and built the actual village of St. Remy de Provence. There you will find two ancient monuments in perfect condition: an Arc de Triomphe which signaled the entrance to the northern town in the beginning of our era, and the Mausolee des Jules.
St. Paul de Mausole – cloister and monastery. This place shelters a nursing home and it was here, between 1889 and 1890, that Van Gogh was interned.
Les Baux de Provence. The village is planted on a rocky spur reaching a height of 245 meters and occupied since Neolithic times. Les Baux reached its peak during the High Middle Ages when it belonged to the powerful Les Baux family who reigned over the entire region. In the 12th century, the chateau Les Baux became the center of a brilliant court. Thereafter followed a long dark period and it wasn’t until the 16th century that, thanks to Montmorency who introduced Renaissance art, the village refound its splendour. Another period of decline followed. But, in 1822, the chemist Berthier discovered a mineral to which he gave the name of Bauxite. Today, Les Baux is completely restored and classified as a Historic Monument.
TO SEE:
The Chateau les Baux overlooking the village is an absolute must, if only to admire the grandiose panorama – to the south the view extends to the sea. The citadel presents a décor of rocks and stones over seven hectares. One can still see several traces of the past: the Roman chapel of Saint-Blaise (Museum of Olive trees), towers and fortifications and a 13th century donjon. A large reconstruction of the weapons used during the siege - catapults trebuchets, beliers will whet your imagination.
In the village: Hotel Jean de Brion is a magnificent Renaissance dwelling that shelters the Louis Jou Foundation housing collections of typography. The beautiful Hotel Manville dating from the middle of the 16th century, is now the Town Hall. The 16th century Hotel des Porcelets houses the Yves Brayer Museum, a contemporary painter who, in accordance with his wishes, is buried in the Baux-de-Provence cemetery. The Chapelle des Penitents was constructed in the middle of the 17th century.
Surroundings: The Cathedral of Image offers an audiovisual spectacle against the immense white walls of this ancient quarry. Each year a new theme is presented. |
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