Boulbon

In Boulbon, you can discover different sides of the town: the château on a rocky outcrop of the Montagnette, historic buildings and hiking trails. If you are looking for a hotel in Boulbon, these attractions can help you plan your schedule. Seasonal opening dates are relevant for the château, requests to visit the interior for the Chapelle Saint-Julien, and current trail conditions for hikes.

Château de Boulbon: Visit and Walking Route

The Château de Boulbon stands on a rocky outcrop of the Montagnette, overlooking the Rhône Valley. It is open to the public for self-guided visits; you should check the seasonal opening dates before your trip. The footpath to the château runs through the lanes of the old village. Free parking is available at Place Gilles Léontin. From there, it is about a ten-minute walk to the entrance. Allow time for the walk from the car park to the château when planning your visit.

Chapelle Saint-Julien and Historic Traces

The Chapelle Saint-Julien de Boulbon is a Romanesque chapel dating from the 12th century. It lies north of the village, on the road to Frigolet, in the garrigue. It has been classified as a Monument historique since 1 October 1941. The interior is closed; a visit can be requested by email or via the website form. As access arrangements may change, check the current arrangements before your trip. This makes it different from the château, which is open for self-guided visits: a request is required first to visit the chapel interior.

Another historic building is the Moulin Bonnet. It was built in 1776 and fully restored in 2002. It offers a remarkable view of Boulbon and the alluvial plain. The Porte Loriol reveals another trace of the town’s history: it is a surviving remnant of Boulbon’s former fortifications. The mill and the gate thus represent different buildings and historical connections; the dates for the Moulin Bonnet mark both its construction and its later complete restoration.

An Annual Event in June

The Procession des bouteilles takes place every year on 1 June at the Chapelle Saint-Marcellin. If this date is important for your trip, ask locally about that year’s arrangements. This lets you take the annual date into account when planning without assuming that the details of the event are the same every year.

Hiking Trails Towards Boulbon

A hiking route from the Abbaye de Saint-Michel de Frigolet gives the trail times “Boulbon 1 h” and “Boulbon 50 min” in the direction of Boulbon. It then passes through the Vallon de Saint-Michel on its way back to Boulbon. The route description therefore gives two different times for the direction of Boulbon. Check the route and trail conditions before setting out.

The climb to the Moulin Bonnet is also described as a hike in the Massif de la Montagnette. Access to the Montagnette may be regulated during periods of high fire risk; check the current conditions before setting out. The hiking information therefore differs in its point of reference: for the route from the abbey, the trail times and return via the Vallon are specified, while the description of the Moulin Bonnet places the climb in the massif. Both can help you plan the visits and walks that are relevant to your stay.

Discover more destinations: Entressen, Tarascon, La Destrousse, Pélissanne, Cabriès, Saintes-Maries-De-La-Mer, Aureille, Les Milles

See the regional travel guide: Bouches Du Rhone.