Les Baux-de-Provence
Member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France
Bauxite is named after this rocky spur of the Alpilles, where the ore was identified in the early 19th century. Its medieval lords claimed descent from the Magus Balthazar and ruled from the fortress whose ruins overlook the plain towards Arles. Only 22 people live in the old village, yet over 1.5 million visitors a year come for the castle, its siege engines and the Carrières de Lumières.
Highlights
- Château des Baux, with trebuchet demonstrations from April to September
- Carrières de Lumières, image shows inside cool former quarries (FR)
- Chapelle Saint-Blaise and the Église Saint-Vincent
- Pavillon de la Reine Jeanne, free and open at all times
- Walks in the Alpilles regional nature park (FR)
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Les Baux-de-Provence (FR), Les Baux-de-Provence (EN), Les Baux-de-Provence (IT)), Wikivoyage (Les Baux-de-Provence (FR), Les Baux-de-Provence (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 264
Things to see
Events through the year
- Noël aux BauxLiving nativity and pastrage: shepherds offer a newborn lamb, Saint-Vincent church
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Les Baux-de-Provence). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Local food & wine
- Huile d'olive de la vallée des Baux-de-Provence (FR)Olive oilAOC oil from salonenque, béruguette, grossane and verdale olives
- Cracked olivesLocal produceSalonenque and béruguette olives under the AOC
- Vin de pays des AlpillesWine
Adapted from Wikipedia (Les Baux-de-Provence). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
13 places to stay within 3 km
- Hotels 12
- Campsites 1
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Thermal baths nearby
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Nearby member villages
- Ménerbes · 34 km
- Gordes · 37 km
- Venasque · 40 km
- Roussillon · 44 km
- Lourmarin · 46 km