Marcel Pagnol’s Provence
Novelist and moviemaker Marcel Pagnol has painted the portrait of an authentic and colourful Provence. La gloire de mon père and Le Château de ma mère are among the best-known works of this remarkable author, who had his seat at the Académie française. From Tête Ronde to Taoumé, from La Treille to Aubagne, discover the life and work of Marcel Pagnol by exploring the hills of Garlaban.
Read more: Following in the footsteps of Marcel Pagnol in Provence
The Sainte-Baume National Park
Between the Bouches-du-Rhône and the Var, the Sainte-Baume massif peaks at more than 1148 meters, at the signal of the Béguines. The Natural Park offers an incredible playground for lovers of nature activities: hiking, cycling, horse riding, climbing… This natural site conceals exceptional flora and fauna, with a relic forest made up of a beech wood. The heritage is just as remarkable. Mary Magdalene, mentioned in the Gospels, is said to have spent the last years of her life meditating in a cave near the summit, transformed into a church and sanctuary. The forest at the foot of the sanctuary is mentioned by Roman authors. As for the ice-boxes, they bear witness to a time when freezers did not exist: ice was produced in winter and then delivered by donkey to the big cities of Provence.
Museums in the Bouches-du-Rhône
Numerous museums welcome visitors throughout the Bouches-du-Rhône. Small or large museums or foundations, there’s something for everyone! For example, you can visit the Alpilles museum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the Estrine museum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the René Beaucaire archaeological museum in Istres…
