The hilltop villages of Provence

If you are on a quest to find peace and quiet, some authenticity and spectacular views of the mountains, benefit from your stay in Aix-en-Provence in order to visit the hilltop villages of the region. Small villages perched high on a rocky spur, dominating the vineyards and the plain, they seduce by their character.  There are a lot number of those villages in The Pays d'Aix: let yourself be tempted!

The village of Les Pennes Mirabeau is perhaps the best known. Very picturesque, with its church, castle and windmill, it attracts every year curious holidaymakers who take advantage of the panoramas that it offers on the plateau of Vitrolles and the pond of Berre.

The village of Bouc-Bel-Air, an old fortified town, is also well-known. It is a collection of ancient alleyways with a magnificent view of the Chaîne de l'Etoile.

The village of Coudoux bears its name well: "collis dulcis" means "sweetness of the hills". And it is true that life seems soft in the heart of this small village lined around its church of the eighteenth century, which seems to contemplate peacefully its vineyards.

In the village of Meyrargues, the castle is perched. The discovery of this medieval village, nestled in the Durance valley, is an enchantment for lovers of historical heritage.

The latter will also appreciate Chateauneuf-le-Rouge, a village that dates back to the 12th century and whose name is a wink to its clay soil.

For those who are passionate about Paul Cézanne, do not forget to complete your itinerary so as to discover its favorite landscapes by visiting Meyreuil, another charming hilltop village. It was from this little village, indeed, that the painter was inspired, for the first time, by the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. And the Muses were not satisfied with this visit alone. They also told him of the presence of interesting "Baigneurs" under the Trois-Sautets bridge.