Les Baux de Provence

Pop.: 458.

Department of the Bouches du Rhône.

The village of the Baux de Provence is situated in the heart of the Alpilles on a rocky plateau 245m high. A brilliant view of Arles, the Camargue and the Alpilles can be seen from the look-out points! This immense and superb stone fortress is without doubt one of the "must-sees" on the Provencal tourist trail!

The village is officially classified and labelled as "one of the most beautiful villages in France". Its cultural heritage is exceptionally rich, with 22 architectural treasures classified as "Historic Monuments" (including the church, chateau, town-hall, hospital, chapels, houses, doorways... without counting items of furniture and a collection of paintings).

The village has been painstakingly restored and is now one of the most popular attractions in the region... (no matter what time of the year you visit, you will not be alone... Les Baux welcomes more than one-and-a-half-million tourists a year!).

The 500 permanent residents must surely have the impression of living in a real-life museum!

The village can only be visited by foot and you will admire the ancient houses that have been carefully restored, beautiful Renaissance façades and several magnificent "hôtels particuliers" which today serve as art galleries or museums.

While wandering around you will come across many craft shops selling Provençal products and souvenirs... Food-lovers will soon discover that several restaurants at Les Baux boast international reputations... such quality dining is so hard to resist!!!

You can not miss the "Citadelle des Baux" at the summit of the village. Les Baux covers 7 hectares and visitors can discover the main ruins of its dramatic past: the keep, Saracen towers, chapel, old war weapons... the history of Provence unfolds before your eyes amongst the rocks and stones.

At the entrance of Les Baux, you can visit the History Museum which will explain village life and history through the centuries.

Outside of the village, do not miss the permanent exhibition of the Cathédrale d'Image, an audio-visual extravaganza projected onto a 4.000m2 rock-face disguised as a giant movie screen... impressive !

Historic sites to visit :

Leisure activities :

Accommodation :

Hotel-restaurants
Holiday rentals
Bed and breakfast.

Neighbouring villages :

Maussane les Apilles (5km),
St Rémy de Provence (8km).