5 walks in the footsteps of history

Panier Quarter in Marseille

The place where it all began…

Let’s travel back a few years in time with a walk in the heart of Marseille‘s historic quarter. Lined with tall, colourful facades, narrow streets and tiny stairways, the iconic Panier quarter – an icon of Marseille and Provence alike – is an absolute must-see. The city’s oldest quarter, the site was first inhabited by Ancient Greeks in 600 BC, who chose it for its location on high ground and proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, just a stone’s throw from the Vieux-Port (Old Port). Today, it remains a little oasis, sheltered from the city hubbub. In recent years, street art and designer shops have breathed new life into its little lanes, lending the quarter a new, hype status. During your wanderings, you’re also bound to come across some of its emblematic sights, such as the Eglise des Accoules, Hôtel-Dieu and Place de Lenche.

Plague Wall

Vestiges of Vaucluse

A moving testimony to the terrible Bubonic Plague that struck the region and, in particular, Marseille in the 18th century, the remains of the Mur de la Peste (Plague Wall) now lie in idyllic scenery laden with local vegetation. Built in 1721, at a time when masks and hand sanitizer had yet to be invented, this long, dry stone wall was built to prevent the disease reaching the Vaucluse area. Today, the Plague Wall guides ramblers and hikers through the valleys and iconic scenery of Vaucluse. Place du Bataillet square, Colline du Pieï hill, Lagnes valley and the Chante-Perdrix orientation table also await you along the way on this magnificent stroll through Provence combining nature and culture.

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Une publication partagée par Département de Vaucluse (@departementdevaucluse)

Chemin de Régordane in Le Gard

Where history meets nature

Linking Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne region to Saint-Gilles-du-Gard in Provence, Chemin de Régordane (also called the GR®700 long-distance hiking trail) was formerly a combined trading route and Christian pilgrim’s road during the Middle Ages. Featuring a mesmerizing palette of landscapes, the route winds up in Provence in Le Gard, crossing the saltmarshes of Camargue and picturesque villages of Les Costières in an endless array of gorgeous scenery to savour at your own pace. Over the years, the Chemin de Régordane has forged a genuine and beautiful soul of its own, rich in experiences shared in the memoirs of such illustrious figures as Coco Chanel.