Eyguières: Chapels, Culture and the Alpilles

Eyguières combines architectural and artistic heritage with landscapes and activities in the Alpilles massif. When planning your stay, you can choose from different themes: the history of the chapels, a recurring religious tradition, or nature and outdoor activities. The character of the area gives you a starting point for deciding what matters most for your trip.

Landscapes and Activities in the Alpilles

Eyguières is part of the Alpilles Regional Natural Park, established in 2007. The Défends d’Eyguières offers sweeping views: to the south, it overlooks the Crau grazing lands, and to the north, the Durance Valley. These directions make it possible to appreciate two distinct landscapes and give this viewpoint a special connection to its surroundings.

In the Alpilles massif, you can hike along trails and paths, cycle, or go mountain biking. Alongside enjoying the views, you can choose outdoor activities as a focus for your trip. The Tour des Opies is a viewpoint on a hilltop. Panoramic views, hiking and cycling offer different ways to decide what kind of stay you are looking for in Eyguières.

Chapels and Architectural History

The Chapelle Saint-Vérédème is a Romanesque chapel dating from the 11th century. It was classified as a historic monument by decree on 16 October 1906. This distinguishes the building’s architectural period from the later date of its classification: the former relates to its construction history, the latter to its formal heritage status.

The Chapelle Saint-Pierre-de-Vence is also dated to the Middle Ages; it was probably built towards the end of the 11th century. Its simple barrel-vaulted nave and the so-called cul-de-four apse in the choir describe the building’s form. A barrel vault is a longitudinally extending vaulted ceiling; the term cul-de-four refers to a semicircular vaulted apse. For this chapel, both the cautiously worded dating and the named architectural elements are worth noting.

The Chapelle des Pénitents blancs has a different history: it was built in the 19th century on the former site of the original church of Sainte-Marie-Madeleine and its cemetery. The single-nave building has three bays; its transverse arches are made of dressed stone. These details help distinguish the building from the Romanesque chapels and place the area’s different construction periods in context.

Other Heritage and Traditions

The remains of the Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Anges stand on a rocky hill in the Cadenières district. The Fontaine Cocotte has been classified as a historic monument since 1923. The Chapelle Saint-Roch contains wall paintings by Albert Martin dating from 1964. Chapels, architectural remains, a fountain and wall paintings reveal different aspects of Eyguières’ heritage.

The pilgrimage to Saint-Marc is part of local tradition. It has been held in Eyguières every year on 25 April since the 1980s. It includes a traditional Mass celebrated in Provençal, the blessing of navettes, and the blessing of the fields. If you wish to plan your trip around this date, it is advisable to check locally for arrangements in the relevant year.

For planning your trip, each theme has a different focus: the chapels offer an architectural history spanning several centuries, the pilgrimage takes place on a fixed date, and activities in the massif focus on outdoor pursuits and views. If you are looking for a hotel in Eyguières, you can start by considering which of these themes matters most for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Savournin, Cuges-Les-Pins, Puyricard, Ventabren, Orgon, Saint-Estève-Janson, Aurons, Charleval.

For the overview of the wider area: Bouches Du Rhone.