Tourism in Les Baux-de-Provence

Les Baux-de-Provence lies in the Alpilles massif, about twenty kilometres east of Arles and south of Avignon, in the heart of Provence, 36 km from Camping Crin Blanc. The village sits on a limestone spur overlooking the surrounding plain, a position that made it a stronghold from the Middle Ages. From the campsite, Les Baux-de-Provence is a natural extension of a day exploring the region: the morning among the rice fields and manades of the Camargue, the afternoon among stone streets and views over the Alpilles.

The castle of Les Baux-de-Provence stands at the top of the village and can be visited on foot in under an hour. The former stronghold of the powerful lords of Les Baux, the fortress still has its keep, towers and reconstructed siege engines, with a 360° panorama over the Alpilles and the Crau plain.

The Carrières de Lumières turn a former limestone quarry into a giant audiovisual show, projected onto 7,000 m² of walls and floor. The show lasts about an hour and suits families and art lovers alike.

The village of Les Baux-de-Provence can be explored on foot in under an hour, along stone streets lined with craft workshops and Renaissance houses with a fascinating history. The Hôtel de Manville, now the village town hall on the main square, illustrates the Renaissance architecture of Les Baux, as does the Fondation Louis Jou, dedicated to the engraver and printer who settled in the village in the early 20th century. The Musée Yves Brayer displays the works of this Provençal painter, whose frescoes also decorate the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, a 17th-century building whose interior, painted in 1974, celebrates the Nativity in the Provençal tradition. The church of Saint-Vincent, partly carved into the rock between the 12th and 16th centuries, completes this heritage with its contemporary stained-glass windows.

The Val d’Enfer, at the foot of the village, can be explored along the Sentier des Moulins, a loop of about 2.5 km between white limestone cliffs and ruined mills. This mineral landscape, one of the most spectacular in the Alpilles, inspired Provençal legends before becoming a film set for Jean Cocteau, who shot several scenes of The Testament of Orpheus there in 1960. In the Baux valley, local producers make a renowned AOP olive oil, at the Castelas and Jean-Marie Cornille mills, as well as an AOC Baux-de-Provence wine: another way to extend your discovery of the region.

Must-sees in Les Baux-de-Provence

From Camping Crin Blanc, Les Baux-de-Provence is reached by car via Arles, an easy day trip to combine with the Camargue. To enjoy the site without rushing, allow just under an hour for the castle, an hour for the Carrières de Lumières and another hour to stroll around the village: a full day lets you see everything at a relaxed pace.

The Camping Crin Blanc team’s tip : set off early in the morning to enjoy the village before the coaches arrive, and book your tickets for the castle and the Carrières de Lumières online to avoid queues in high season. Between a medieval castle, an immersive show and Provençal heritage, Les Baux-de-Provence promises a day out full of discoveries.

The castle of Les Baux-de-Provence stands at the top of the village and can be visited on foot in under an hour, along the cobbled streets of the historic centre. The former stronghold of the powerful lords of Les Baux, the fortress still has its keep, towers and the remains of a castrum built directly into the rock: a medieval history carved into every stone.

The visit route features several life-size reconstructed siege engines, a trebuchet and a catapult, and ends on a square with a 360° panorama over the Alpilles and the Crau plain.

The castle of Les Baux-de-Provence is open all year round, with opening hours that vary with the season, from 9am to 5pm in winter and until 7:30pm in July and August.

Les Baux-de-Provence lies in the Alpilles massif, about twenty kilometres east of Arles and south of Avignon, in the heart of Provence, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, about an hour’s drive from Marseille. The village has only about 223 inhabitants but welcomes several hundred thousand visitors every year, who come to discover its tourist and cultural attractions. It sits on a limestone spur overlooking the surrounding plain, between the Baux valley and the Alpilles Regional Nature Park. On a clear day, the views from this high position stretch as far as the Camargue and the Mediterranean Sea. This natural defensive position made the site a stronghold from the Middle Ages; today it is one of the most visited villages in the region, alongside Arles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and Avignon.