The Alpilles

THE ALPILLES are a privileged region of Provence, in the south of France. A rather luxurious tourist destination with visitors 10 months a year. The famous tourist towns of the Alpilles are : Saint Rémy de Provence, Maussane les Alpilles, Le Paradou, Eygalières, Fontvieille, Saint Etienne du Grès, Mas Blanc les Alpilles, Mouriès, Aureille.

Many of the hotels and holiday homes in the Alpilles are in the high-end category. Owners rent through local agencies and well-known rental platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo, Abritel, Booking.com, Holidaylettings and Flipkey from Tripadvisor. or through alpillesprovenceholidays.com.

The majestic setting of the ALPILLES, a small rocky massif situated between the Rhône and the Durance in French Provence, 20 km south of Avignon and 40 km north of the Mediterranean, is a secret of French Provence. From here, you have a breathtaking view of the nearby Mont Ventoux and the Luberon. The limestone peaks of the Alpilles rise south of the chic and famous town of Saint Rémy de Provence. The Alpilles is a mountain range whose highest point, "Les Opies", is only 498 metres high. In 2007, the Alpilles was classified as a Regional Natural Park. The hills and villages of the region can be explored on foot or by bike, but can also be discovered by car.

The villages of the Alpilles in Provence are postcard images of Provence, with their authentic Provencal atmosphere.

This part of Provence has some of the most famous tourist sites in France, such as the Roman ruins of Glanum, the medieval village of Les Baux-de-Provence, the refined town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Daudet's Mill in Fontvieille or the beautiful, chic village of Eygalières. Here you will find the typical sunny landscapes of colourful Provence, with cypresses, olive trees, vineyards and beautiful scenery.

The villages here offer discretion and respect and are a secret holiday destination for those who do not own property in the Alpilles.

The Alpilles is the home of famous artists such as the French authors Frédéric Mistral and Alphonse Daudet, the painter Vincent Van Gogh, Nostradamus.

A villa or mas in Provence is a must for many celebrities from all over the world and the Alpilles in Provence is still a secret retreat for many famous people such as Hugh Grant, Tom Hardy, Omar Sy, Jamel Debbouze, the Grimaldi family of Monaco, Caroline de Monaco, Michel Drucker, Jean Reno, Alain Prost, Charles Aznavour, Charlotte de Turckheim, etc.

The locals say that the Alpilles is the discreet and chic side of Provence, very different from the Côte d'Azur where the celebrities show off their "m'as-tu vu? The Alpilles offer picturesque Roman and medieval villages and gastronomic delights in the many bistros and restaurants. It is no wonder that Hollywood and French film makers use this natural setting to film.

Famous companies such as Chanel organise fashion shows here.

The towns and villages of the Alpilles :

Saint Rémy de Provence where the art of living is an institution. Ancient Roman monuments, 18th century mansions, numerous restored houses, a beautiful and lively historic centre full of shops, bars, bistros, restaurants and terraces where you can enjoy the Provencal art of living.

The village of Les Baux-de-Provence, a superb perched village in the Alpilles mountain range. A medieval village labelled "Les plus beaux villages de France". A magnificent landscape awaits you in the village, with many shops and restaurants.

The commune is centred around a village situated on a rocky spur, the beginning of a plateau, the first foothill of the Alpilles mountain range, which overlooks the countryside by 200 m. The village is dominated by a vast fortress, now in ruins, opening up a wide view over the southern plains towards Arles and the nearby Camargue. Here you will find La Carrière des Lumières, an old quarry with artistic multimedia shows and projections of famous paintings set to music.

Eygalières, a quiet village typical of Provence, with a lively market, bars and restaurants and the Saint-Sixte chapel.

Saint Etienne du Grès and Mas Blanc Les Alpilles are on the north side of the Alpilles. On the south side is Maussane les Alpilles, a pleasant little village with nice restaurants and the excellent Golf de Manville.

The other villages on the southern side of the Alpilles are :

Le Paradou is a pretty village.

Fontvieille with the windmill of Alphonse Daudet, which was built in 1814, and is the most famous windmill of Fontvieille. On the same hill you can see other mills that belong to the group of mills of Rome (Sourdon mill, Ramet mill, Tissot-Avon mill), the first of which was built in 1791.

Mouriès with the golf course of Servanes.

Aureille, in the very heart of the Alpilles.

The Mediterranean and the Camargue are 45 minutes away, as are the Pont du Gard and Uzès. You can easily visit the Luberon with the beautiful villages of Gordes, Lourmarin, Roussillon, Isle sur la Sorgue. Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Avignon, Marseille, Nîmes, are interesting cities to visit.