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La Barben is a small village, peacefully
situated in the middle of the Department of Bouches du Rhône, not
far from Salon de Provence. Surrounded by lush green countryside,
La Barben extends over more than 20 km2 of woods. The River Touloubre
and its tributaries cross the municipality's territory and there are
numerous springs… even during a heatwave there is no shortage of water
here.
La Barben is fortunate enough to have a magnificent historic monument
in the form of a wonderful château. Remarkable both for its interior
and its exterior, it is open to the public all year round. In addition,
the château is surrounded by a magnificent garden in the French style
which was designed by Le Nôtre (who created the gardens at Versailles).
There is also a zoo which extends over 0.3 km2!
- The Château : This
superb mediaeval fortress (mentioned in 1069) belonged to King René
in the 15th century. Altered and extended in the 16th and 17th centuries,
restoration work was then carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today you can visit the château which has been restored to all its
former splendour. Ceilings in the French style, plaster decoration,
17th-century printed cloth… All the rooms in the château have period
decoration and furnishings.
- La Barben zoo is the largest zoological park in the region.
The hilly site extends over 0.33 km2 and houses almost 400 animals.
Giraffes, elephants, lions, panthers, tigers, cheetahs, pumas and
ostriches all live peacefully in this beautiful area of the Provençal
hills. A vivarium, an aquarium and an aviary have also been installed
in the stable and the old sheepfold (19th century). Iguanas, alligators,
pythons and boas await you there…
Whether you visit for the day or stay
for longer, La Barben boasts attractions which appeal to both children
and adults - and all in the midst of the beautiful Provence countryside
(without the restrictions of the crowded coastal region). Moreover,
the village’s geographical location makes it very easy to travel to
other parts of the region: shopping and museums in Aix and Salon de
Provence which are very close, the famous hilltop villages of the
Lubéron, the lovely houses of St Rémy, the olive trees of the Alpilles
and the wild horses of the Camargue are not far away.
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