Eygalieres Provence, History of an 12 th Century Walled Town
Eygalieres makes a stunning sight as
you approach from St . Remy; the
remains of an 12 th Century church
and chateau occupy the hilltop and are
viewable for many miles. For the hikers
who come on the trails through the olive
groves and vineyards or for the bikers
who come from Mouries and Les Baux,
the hilltop is no less stunning. The
village center of Eygalieres is a
welcome stop for a coffee or a glass of
wine at the sidewalk cafés.
It might surprise visitors that Provence
offers such great hiking and biking
amid these old ruins, some dating to
the 1st century Romans and others like
the St Sixte Chapel, a nicely preserved
building of the 12 century just a mile
east of Eygalieres center on the Orgon
road..
you approach from St . Remy; the
remains of an 12 th Century church
and chateau occupy the hilltop and are
viewable for many miles. For the hikers
who come on the trails through the olive
groves and vineyards or for the bikers
who come from Mouries and Les Baux,
the hilltop is no less stunning. The
village center of Eygalieres is a
welcome stop for a coffee or a glass of
wine at the sidewalk cafés.
It might surprise visitors that Provence
offers such great hiking and biking
amid these old ruins, some dating to
the 1st century Romans and others like
the St Sixte Chapel, a nicely preserved
building of the 12 century just a mile
east of Eygalieres center on the Orgon
road..
Tour groups hike from villages like
Eygalieres to other villages or to
lodging in vineyard farmhouses on
a vast network of trails through
olive groves, vineyards, and
grazing land.
Eygalieres to other villages or to
lodging in vineyard farmhouses on
a vast network of trails through
olive groves, vineyards, and
grazing land.
Bike tours often travel the same routes used by the Tour de France racers.
Usually no more than 8 to 10 miles separate each village making lodging while
hiking or biking plentiful.
hiking or biking plentiful.
Provence is a land full of ancient
buildings, many in ruins.
The area has for thousands of years
produced olive oil and wine and was
once an important region to the Romans
for grain, olives and wine.
For the modern visitor, wine, fresh fruit
and Herbs de Provence will occupy the
evening dinner conversation while during
the day, the many ancient church
buildings built above the vineyards and
groves will color the hikes and bike rides.
Trails through the Alpilles, Luberon,
Vaucluse and Camargue deliver some
spectacular scenery and some historic
towns, none more beautiful than
Eygalieres.
buildings, many in ruins.
The area has for thousands of years
produced olive oil and wine and was
once an important region to the Romans
for grain, olives and wine.
For the modern visitor, wine, fresh fruit
and Herbs de Provence will occupy the
evening dinner conversation while during
the day, the many ancient church
buildings built above the vineyards and
groves will color the hikes and bike rides.
Trails through the Alpilles, Luberon,
Vaucluse and Camargue deliver some
spectacular scenery and some historic
towns, none more beautiful than
Eygalieres.
Eygalieres Provence:
History of the Walled
Town of Eygalieres, an
historic town known
today for its Hiking
and Biking
History of the Walled
Town of Eygalieres, an
historic town known
today for its Hiking
and Biking
Eygalieres History, Provence
The old church of St Laurent on the hilltop at
Eygalieres is a small remnant of a once grand
edifice dedicated to an early Pope of the
Christian church who was martyred by the
Romans in 258 AD.
St. Laurent is the patron saint of Eygalieres.
another saint important to the town, St. Sixte II,
is revered in an annual procession through
the town held on the Tuesday following Easter.
July and August are high season in Provence
and the roads can be crowded but May, June,
September, and October bring great weather,
fewer visitors, and plentiful rentals of B&Bs,
vacation houses , and vacation apartments.
Eygalieres is a small remnant of a once grand
edifice dedicated to an early Pope of the
Christian church who was martyred by the
Romans in 258 AD.
St. Laurent is the patron saint of Eygalieres.
another saint important to the town, St. Sixte II,
is revered in an annual procession through
the town held on the Tuesday following Easter.
July and August are high season in Provence
and the roads can be crowded but May, June,
September, and October bring great weather,
fewer visitors, and plentiful rentals of B&Bs,
vacation houses , and vacation apartments.
Eygalieres, more appropriately called a commune, the lowest or simplest level of French
administration, is located in the Bouches du Rhone Department. (State) near St. Remy and Les
Baux-de-Provence.
The museum of history located in Eygaliere's Chappelle des Penitents will attest to the presence of
residents in Neolithic times but historical times for Eygalieres began around the 12th century when
the Chapel of St Sixte, the church of St Laurent and later, a château, were constructed at the top of
the hill above the center of the village.
administration, is located in the Bouches du Rhone Department. (State) near St. Remy and Les
Baux-de-Provence.
The museum of history located in Eygaliere's Chappelle des Penitents will attest to the presence of
residents in Neolithic times but historical times for Eygalieres began around the 12th century when
the Chapel of St Sixte, the church of St Laurent and later, a château, were constructed at the top of
the hill above the center of the village.
Eygalieres Nearby Villages
Les Baux de Provence (11 miles), Saint Rémy de Provence (7 miles ), Aureille (6 miles).
Les Baux de Provence (11 miles), Saint Rémy de Provence (7 miles ), Aureille (6 miles).
Eygalieres has the remains of an aqueduct that the Romans built
to bring water from the northeast of Eygalieres to join with
springs in Maussane on their way to turn mill stones at Barbegal
near Arles.
From Arles the Romans built a canal beside the Rhone where
they could ship the abundant produce of Provence to their empire.
The 12 th century chapel on the road to Orgon not far from the
center of the village of Eygalieres was dedicated in 1222 to Saint
Sixte II, a Pope of the early Christian church who was martyred by
the Romans in 258 AD.
Another church at the top of the hill in Eygalieres commemorates
St Sixte II's successor, St Laurent, also executed by the Romans
three days after the death of St Sixte.
to bring water from the northeast of Eygalieres to join with
springs in Maussane on their way to turn mill stones at Barbegal
near Arles.
From Arles the Romans built a canal beside the Rhone where
they could ship the abundant produce of Provence to their empire.
The 12 th century chapel on the road to Orgon not far from the
center of the village of Eygalieres was dedicated in 1222 to Saint
Sixte II, a Pope of the early Christian church who was martyred by
the Romans in 258 AD.
Another church at the top of the hill in Eygalieres commemorates
St Sixte II's successor, St Laurent, also executed by the Romans
three days after the death of St Sixte.
Hills and meadows bordering the low rocky Alpilles surround Eygalieres and provide grazing for huge
herds of sheep and hiking trails that lead to the nearby villages of St Remy, Les Baux, Mouries, and
Maussane.
The Remains of a Roman aqueduct winds southwest from Eygalieres towards Maussane and Arles.
herds of sheep and hiking trails that lead to the nearby villages of St Remy, Les Baux, Mouries, and
Maussane.
The Remains of a Roman aqueduct winds southwest from Eygalieres towards Maussane and Arles.
The churches of St. Sixte and St. Laurent are mentioned in church document dated 1155. St Sixte was
dedicated by the people of Eygalieres in 1222.
The builders located St, Sixte's chapel over a neolithic monument to a water god from which a spring of
fresh water seeps. This had long been a sacred place for the farmers of Eygalieres.
dedicated by the people of Eygalieres in 1222.
The builders located St, Sixte's chapel over a neolithic monument to a water god from which a spring of
fresh water seeps. This had long been a sacred place for the farmers of Eygalieres.
The country road from St Remy to Eygalieres, the D24 leads to stunning
views of the ancient town of Eygalieres.
views of the ancient town of Eygalieres.
Eygalieres had been in the news in 2008 because Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt shopped
for an 850 year old house there, the $19 million former cloister for the 12 th Century St
Sixte Chapel, according to the rumors.
for an 850 year old house there, the $19 million former cloister for the 12 th Century St
Sixte Chapel, according to the rumors.
The prosessioners walk to the Chapel of
Saint Sixte and celebrate mass in the
ancient language of Provencal.
The site of the chapel once held a
neolithic altar to the rain god and this
spring ceremony is a continuation of that
plea to the gods for favorable rains.
Saint Sixte and celebrate mass in the
ancient language of Provencal.
The site of the chapel once held a
neolithic altar to the rain god and this
spring ceremony is a continuation of that
plea to the gods for favorable rains.
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Aureille 6 miles from
Eygalieres.
Eygalieres.
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commercial
vehicles
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vehicles
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zone ends
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Highway or
Expressway
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Eygalieres still carries on the traditions of honoring its ancient customs and its patron saints, although only a
small portions of the old walls remain. On the Tuesday after Easter each year, the people of Eygalieres form
a procession and carry the likeness of the martyred Pope St. Sixte II towards the chapel dedicated to this
3rd century saint accompanied by Camargue Gardians on white horses and men and women dressed in the
costumes of mid 18th century Arles.
small portions of the old walls remain. On the Tuesday after Easter each year, the people of Eygalieres form
a procession and carry the likeness of the martyred Pope St. Sixte II towards the chapel dedicated to this
3rd century saint accompanied by Camargue Gardians on white horses and men and women dressed in the
costumes of mid 18th century Arles.
Biking on
the back
roads
between
Saint
Remy and
Eygalieres
the back
roads
between
Saint
Remy and
Eygalieres
Chapel of Saint Sixte
Camping: Les Oliviers Campgrounds
Avenue Jean Jaurès, 13810 Eygalières
Eygalières, Provence Alpes Cote, France
Avenue Jean Jaurès, 13810 Eygalières
Eygalières, Provence Alpes Cote, France
Camping
"Le Pesquié" - Route du Mas d'Aubergue - 13810
EYGALIERES
Tel: 0 (033) 4 90 95 99 50 - Fax: 0 (033) 4 90 95 96 63 -
lepesquie84@orange.fr
"Le Pesquié" - Route du Mas d'Aubergue - 13810
EYGALIERES
Tel: 0 (033) 4 90 95 99 50 - Fax: 0 (033) 4 90 95 96 63 -
lepesquie84@orange.fr
| Activities near Eygalieres: Rock climbing sites: Orgon, Aureille, Mouriès, . Walking Trail (GR6) Roman Ruins, Cycling and mountain bike routes, Golf Near Les Baux , Tennis, horseback riding, gliding |