A 3-hour walk in the Massif des Costes, on quieter, less frequented paths. Discover the remains of a chapel and a castle that were victims of an earthquake in 1909.
Forming a little "buffer" between the Alpilles and Luberon mountains, the Massif des Côtes hill range is probably one of the Bouches-du-Rhone's least-known sites. At its heart, the village of Vernègues is an ideal walking venue, boasting a fully-preserved agricultural architecture and genuine tranquillity. Did you know that in 1909, a major earthquake in Lambesc caused huge damage here? The ancient village - Vieux Vernègues – standing on the hillside, still stands witness to this event, with a tumble of ruins from which the medieval castle emerges, church wall and the vaults of a few ancient cellars. The necropolis is astonishing too, featuring around fifteen open graves and sarcophagi dating back to the Middle Ages, set facing the Luberon. The modern village, set at the bottom of the hill and built after the earthquake, features an unusual architecture of squat semi-detached houses and straight streets. Just outside the village, stone terraces used to grow fruit and vegetables, dry stone walls and fields of old olives and vines, offer walkers a genuinely authentic insight into the hidden delights of Provence.
Plain text period
All year round.Accepted customers
Accepted customers
- Level bue - Medium
