"Les Baux" a Les Baux Travel Page by astro_kerryn

”Nul ne traverse les Baux sans éprouver une nostalgie réelle car ici, l’œuvre du temps, plus qu’ailleurs, montre ce que deviennent les entreprises les plus ambitieuses : ruines de murailles et trouées sur le vide. Le soleil et le vent dévorent les pierres des orgueilleuses constructions des hommes. Seules demeurent les traces de leurs ambitions, de leur peur et leur solitude”
( T.Fréchier).

"No one passes through Les Baux without a sense of true nostalgia, for here, more than anywhere else, the labours of time show what becomes of the most ambitious undertakings: ruined walls and breaches onto the void. The stones of man’s proud constructions devoured by the sun and wind. Only traces remain of their ambition, fears and solitude"
(T.Fréchier)

The site of Les Baux de Provence constitutes a large group composed of numerous elements testifying to a long period of human occupation. The first traces of human presence on the plateau of Les Baux-de-Provence is archaeologically attested from the Neolithic period, about 6,000 years BC.

Antiquity is also represented among the various remains. At the same time, neither traces of the 13th and 14th centuries, nor the first half of the 10th century have as yet been found.

A glance at the history of Les Baux de Provence

The presence of a castle is attested by documents from the 2nd half of the 10th century. The first known member of the family of Les Baux , Pons le Jeune, is cited in a text dated 973 or 981. The last surviving member of the family, Alix, died without issue at the castle in 1426.

History was long and eventful between these two dates: conflicts (wars in Les Baux), revolts, sieges, wars of religion, etc. The 16th century in Les Baux was a prosperous time, which saw great architectural development: - construction of new apartments in the castle and many private mansions. Unfortunately, there are few remaining traces of artistic works (paintings and decorative arts) from this period.

The caste was finally destroyed in 1632 at the demand of the inhabitants because of trouble provoked by rebels who had taken refuge there. This voluntary destruction greatly explains the condition of the buildings today.

In the heart of the old village or the surrounding Alpilles, tcraftsmen and shopkeepers keep the village of Les Baux alive. Lavender products infuse the air at Les Baux and sound of crickets abound. The area is abundant with Crafts, Antiques, Stone Quarries, Wineries
Art Galleries. Studios and Shops

THE OLIVE- pearl of the Valley of Les Baux

Olive cultivation in the Valley of Les Baux has won acclaim. The extremely fine and particularly sought after oil produced here has won the AOC label "Huiles d'olives de VallÈe des Baux de Provence".

Its preparation requires no less than 5 types of olive: the Salonenque, the Verdale, the Grossane, the Aglandau and the Picholine. The Salonenque and the Aglandau are also prepared as split olives in light brine flavoured with fennel. This preparation, which is eaten in wintertime, also bears an AOC label: "Olives cassÈes de la VallÈe des Baux de Provence". In 1999 the valley produced 130 tonnes.

"The olive trees here are silver on orangey or mauvish earth under the great white sun."
V. Van Gogh

WINE

The Baux de Provence AOC wines come essentially from the vineyards located on the North and South slopes of the Alpilles.

These vines enjoy the right rainfall and sunlight. The wines of the Valley of Les Baux are distinctive, born close to the stone of the Alpilles and nurtured by the sun of Provence. They have a multitude of aromas: red and black fruits, pepper, cinnamon and cloves.

The types of vine grown are grenache noir, syrah, cabernet-sauvignon or cinsault.

Les Baux is
15 km from Arles via the D17 and 25 km from Avignon via the D27.