Discover La Roque-D'anthéron

La Roque-D'anthéron offers two clear focal points for planning a trip: cultural history and contemporary events on the one hand, and landscapes and trails on the other.

Culture, history and music

The Jean-Marc Bourry Gallery and the exhibition space at the La Roque-D'anthéron tourist office regularly host exhibitions of contemporary art. Silvacane Abbey offers a different historical perspective: it was founded on the banks of the Durance in 1144 and is the youngest of Provence’s three Cistercian abbeys. Visitors can explore the church, dormitory, cloister, chapter house, refectory and warming room. The abbey’s varied cultural program includes changing exhibitions, concerts, theater and circus.

On the discovery trail through the old town, you can see different types of Provençal village architecture. The trail also explains why monks settled here in the 11th century and how the village expanded after the Waldensians arrived in the 16th century. Several construction phases can be seen at the Château de Florans: a small castle was commissioned in 1598; its expansion began seven years later and was completed in 1667. The annual Festival International de Piano offers four weeks of concerts in the park of the Château de Florans each summer.

The Romanesque Chapelle Sainte Anne de Goiron was built in the 11th century on the Plateau de Manivert above La Roque-D'anthéron. It became a pilgrimage site in the 16th century; graves from a cemetery, carved into the rock, lie around the chapel. The Bassin Saint Christophe is one of the three major structures of the Canal de Marseille. It was built in 1882, after the death of the architect Montrichet. The canal was constructed to clarify its water. The basin offers views of the Chaîne des Côtes and the Luberon.

Landscapes and trails

The La Durance à Vélo greenway connects La Roque-D'anthéron with Sénas. It is suitable for cycling and can also be used on foot or on horseback. Protected areas along the route provide suitable habitats for more than 100 bird species. Check the conditions along the Durance before setting out.

The Sentier des Iscles runs through the main channel of the Durance, across agricultural land and alongside riverside vegetation including reeds, sea buckthorn, willows and poplars. The Sentier des crêtes lies in the heart of the garrigue, among Mediterranean plant species, and offers views of Montagne Sainte-Victoire, the Luberon and Mont Ventoux. Access is subject to seasonal regulations; take the conditions in force into account when planning your visit.

The botanical nature trail offers insights into the wildlife and plant life of the Chaîne des Côtes through information panels. Seasonal restrictions on the massif may affect route details; take this possibility into account when planning your visit. The trails have different themes: birdlife along La Durance à Vélo, riverside plants on the Sentier des Iscles, and garrigue and panoramic views on the Sentier des crêtes. This lets you choose a route based on the landscape that interests you.

Discover more destinations: Roquefort-La-Bédoule, Tarascon, Saint-Cannat, Fontvieille, Fuveau, Vauvenargues, Maillane, Saint-Antonin-Sur-Bayon

For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.