Monuments to visit Provence

Many forts make up the whole fortress of Tournoux: the Pellegrin (1,290 m), battery (1,350 m), the average (1,500 m), the upper (1,700 m), the Caurres battery (1,800 m) and the Ault greenhouse (2,000 m) 00 m). The site was built on 700 m of disgradings and placed on a rocky spur, and was built in the nineteenth century to prevent access to Larche Pass. Currently well preserved, the ensemble undeniably attracts the visitor's eye by its inclination and architecture on the mountain side.

Located on the edge of the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer road, the castle of Avignon has been classified as a historical monument since 2003. Louis Noilly-Prat, a native of Marseilles, bought it in 1893 and had it built a hydraulic set to pump the water of the Petit Rhône for redistribution. He then equips it with central heating and provides it with electricity. Impressive with modernity and technicality, the castle, with its outbuildings, is the property of the General Council of Bouches-du-Rhône.

A must, this 12th-century tower contains a rare pictorial decoration. On two floors, you can discover medieval frescoes of the 13th century that have been remarkably preserved which tells the adventures and struggles led by Charles d'Anjou - brother of Saint Louis - in southern Italy, in the manner of a life-size cartoon. Its central character, Charles Anjou, is particularly well represented with his royal crown and white dress covered with lilies.

The Manosque market maintains with panache the tradition of Provencal markets in the heart of town centres and old towns. It takes over various streets and squares in the historic centre: Place du Docteur Joubert, Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, Place Marcel Pagnol, Promenade Aubert-Millot, Esplanade François Mitterrand and Jardin Voghera. It is an explosion of colors, smells and sounds, drowned by an endless stream of pedestrians mixing Manosquins who came to buy supplies and tourists bathing in this typical and friendly atmosphere. Not to be missed!

It was housed in the episcopal palace in 1801, and was rebuilt in 1646 in a Roman style: prominent balconies, bossed pilasters, enormous ledges... It contains admirable decors painted by Romanelli in the 17th century. Place du Palais, known as "Sextier", was bordered to the West by the convent of the Ursulines whose prayers were sometimes disturbed by turmoil of the daily life. Mgr Buti wrote a letter to the pope Innocent XII on 23 August 1694, complaining that young people play ball on the place - so that the nuns and the pupils could hear the licentious, obscene and sacrileges words of the players, but also see them playing fully stripped of their clothing. So, the vice-legate prohibited the ball game, on penalty of a fine of 100 crowns.

The Saint-Nicolas fortress was built between 1660 and 1664 in record time. Following a series of revolts, king Louis XIV ordered the construction of the citadel to assure supervision of the city, but also its defence. During the Revolution, the fort is swept by the revolutionaries who degrade a part of it. It is in 1860 that the fort is seen divided into two by the construction of a new boulevard named Charles-Livon, which connects the Port au Pharo Old man. Therefore the sea side part is called strong Ganteaume, on the other side, the strong summit is named after Entrecasteaux. Today, only part of the fort is open to the public. An opportunity to admire panoramic views of the city and the port. Strong Saint-Nicolas is classified as a historical heritage since 1969.