Bouches-du-Rhône en Paysages - Maussane, along the water

At the same time structured and at times wild, water will guide your visit for an intimate discovery of our typically Provencal village.

1- The departure takes place at Henri Giraud square. Cross the park with its hundred-year-old trees Benjamin Priaulet.
You will see the house of the oil and soap merchant and the old oil mill, nowadays a media library.
Walk along the wall of the media library and take the pedestrian passage "Temps Retrouvé".
2- Turn to the right and cross the place Laugier de Monblan.
Admire the Ste Croix church and in front of it, the terraces of shaded cafés. The Fountain of the 4 Seasons, built around 1869, is an unexpected masterpiece for such a village at that time.
Cross the Avenue de la Vallée des Baux and go down Rue Charles Piquet.
A few small fountains and a wash house will lead you along the way.
3- Turn to the right on the parking Charles Piquet and cross it to the crosswalk on your right.
Go up the street Simon Barbier on a few meters. Turn to the left in Sautel street and discover a new fountain.
4- Turn to the right before the parking Simon and take a small "carrairon".
A "carrairon" is a small path in the ground, which goes along a brook).
Follow this "carrairon" by staying on its right side up to the dead end of the Calade.
5- Cross the avenue de la vallée des Baux and stop at the Lavoir Napoléon III. Its concept was innovative because it allowed you to wash your clothes standing up! Go along the avenue of the Vallée des Baux and admire the frescoes painted by Jean-Claude Quilici with the children of the school of Maussane!
A small fountain invites you to turn right and take a pedestrian path along the back of the school.
At the end of the path, turn left and walk along the gaudre.
Gaudre (from the Provençal word gaudre: "small stream") designates a watercourse that is often dry in summer and has a low flow the rest of the year.
The village is crossed by several gaudres which all have their source in the Alpilles mountains and end their course in the various channels of the old marshes:
The gaudre du Trible, whose source is located north of the village of Les Baux-de-Provence and which, in the south of the commune, passes by the Saint-Jean bridge (Pène range) and flows into the Vallée des Baux canal.
The gaudre de la Foux, which is the continuation of the gaudre de Verpétrière, which flows from the vallon des Amants, north of the crest of the Calans (commune of Mouriès).
Turn to the left and go down the avenue des marronniers.
6- Turn to the right in the street "rue du vieux Maussane", by crossing a bridge which spans the gaudre river. You are in the historical center of the village. You will discover the beautiful mansion "Maison Quenin", built shortly before the Revolution. Turn to the left and go down the street Charloun Rieu up to the Fontaine du Planet and its adjoining wash house, formerly a place of sociability.
7- Go up the street Charloun Rieu to the Cornille mill (dating from the 16th century). Guided visits are possible on reservation.
Turn to the right and take the "chemin des Batignolles", it is an old railroad of the Arles-Salon line.
At the end of the track, turn to the left on the road of Les Baux that you will follow for a few meters.
8- Turn to the right before the bridge over the river Gaudre.
Follow a small path in the woods and thickets, which runs along a fresh brook. A lively waterfall welcomes you at the end of the path ! Go up the embankment to the right and you have arrived in the Agora Park!
Follow the path lined with almond trees and go down the steps on your right.
9- Follow the path and stop at the "Carte de France de la pierre de taille", a giant "puzzle", 5 m x 5 m and about 6 tons, which represents France at 1/200 000th !
Cross the park and the parking Agora Alpilles, then take the small bridge over the gaudre. Cross the avenue des Alpilles and go down the rue de la gare. You are back at Place Henri Giraud.

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