This sight is magic and preserved. It is one of
the most famous sight in France and you will discover the most fascinating panorama
lying over 360° around.
Les Baux de
Provence, are first of all a beautiful sight, staggering of beauty, where on the
southern slopes of Alpilles mountains the ground reveals amazing resources. Under
a dazzling sky, ragged with the winds, or smoothed over by the erosion, the bare
sun glazed rocks white flashed the green garrigue surroundings.
Springed
up from a mysterious push, shaping a boat, long and narrow limestone cliffs surrounded
plateau lodges the village which lies north-south. Its narrow lanes are lined
of beautiful Renaissance Houses and sumptuous private hostels. They are all year
long invaded by a flood of tourists, drawn by the fabulous past of the city and
its castle and fascinated by the unique grandiose panorama at the foot of the
rock spur.
Baux de Provence history
Long
time lust after, this military position, true natural fortress becomes, since
the 10th century, the kingdom and the den of the powerful and proud Seigneurs
des Baux. They were so full of their courage and their origins that they claimed,
to be borned from Balthazar the king mage conducted by its holy star up to Jesus.
The
name of the city refers to the celt, language in which "bau" meaned "steep rock".
Firmly erected over this bared spur, surrounded by two vertiginous pits, the city
lodged "this eaglet race, never vassal", song by Frederic Mistral. Here, you will
go back in time to the love courts in the 13th century or to the battles in the
12th century leaded by these powerful southern Seigneurs, convinced in the faith
of their holy star, the same which conducted them to the forefather.
Armorial
bearings of Baux are making reference to Balthazar and, in its center, to the
holy star he followed.
You
will heard of Alix, the last princess des Baux and of king "du bon roi René" who
gave the property des Baux to his wife, Jeanne de Laval. Linked to the kingdom
of France, baronnie des Baux will revolt against Louis XI who ruled in demolishing
the fortress. Then after the restoration works managed by the connétable Anne
de Montmorency, les Baux recovers their life and vigour.
Became
protestant fief, the castle will be demolished by Richelieu. Then the Baux will
become the marquisate of Grimaldi (of Monaco) who however will not save them.
The Revolution speeds up the desertion of the village and the inhabitants move
lodging in the plains : after the annexation of the marquisate to France, the
Baux are now a "dead city". Their only defenders are the true descendants of the
troubadours, Mistral and Daudet. It is under the goodwill of André Malraux that
the Baux were subject to discovery and restoration campaigns for are our big happiness.
The
castle destroyed by the wars demolished and restored impresses always.
To day,
thousand of tourists interested in the history of "les Baux", stroke by the wars,
the fights and revolts, come to admire the ruins of the fortress walls, the fabulous
tools of war (trébuchet à balancier, catapult, bélier, piloris), the narrowed
lanes of the city which show the restored stones of their Renaissance façades
and of course, the exceptional sight, in the heart of the Alpilles mountains which
cover the pays d'Aix up to Cévennes.
The
Baux de Provence lie few kilometers from Saint Rémy de Provence. So take advantage
of it to visit this provençal village and the famous antic ruins of Glanum.
Three
hours of visit for the price of only 65 Euros !
