Mouriès: Olive Culture and Heritage

Olive growing and local history give Mouriès a distinct character for travelers who want to choose their stay around local themes. The village lies south of the Alpilles massif, between Arles and Salon-de-Provence. Mouriès is also one of the 17 municipalities that make up the limestone massif of the Alpilles Regional Nature Park. The village is accessible by road and via the RN113 national highway.

Olive growing and harvest season

Mouriès has two active olive mills as well as numerous olive-growing businesses with shops selling directly to customers. Olive growing is therefore not just an agricultural activity, but is also represented through local retail. Moulin Saint-Michel offers olive oils, olives, tapenades, and regional products. The mill can be visited freely throughout the year; check the visiting arrangements before you travel.

A recurring event in the annual calendar is the Fête des Olives Vertes. It takes place every year on the third weekend in September and marks the start of the olive harvest season. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the exact event date in advance.

Moulin Peyre – Maison de l’Olive et de l’Olivier represents the cultural, industrial, and agricultural history of Mouriès. Its restoration was completed in 2023. Together with the mills and direct-sale businesses, it showcases different facets of the olive theme: historical significance, processing, and sales.

Archaeology and local history

The Oppidum des Caisses de Jean-Jean is a 14-hectare archaeological site dating back to the 7th century BC. Information panels installed there in 2024 help visitors understand life in an oppidum. The site’s appeal therefore lies not only in its age, but also in the explanations that bring its former way of life into context.

The Eglise Saint Jacques le Majeur also offers a glimpse into different historical periods. The present-day church was completed in 1783 and stands on the site of an earlier Saint-Jacques chapel. This chapel is mentioned in 11th-century archives. The two dates therefore refer to different building phases: the archival mention of the earlier building and the completion of the present-day church.

Arenas and bullfighting events

The Arènes municipales de Mouriès are horseshoe-shaped, a design created by the Marquis Folco de Baroncelli. The arena is particularly suited to performances by Cocardiers. At the Arènes André Blanc, the Club Taurin Mouriésen organizes Camargue races and other bullfighting events throughout the year. Specific dates may vary. The distinctive architecture of the arena and the year-round program of events thus offer different cultural experiences.

Landscape and regional context

The “MOURIES - Au cœur d'une oliveraie” route follows the former Salon-Arles railway line and showcases the landscapes of agricultural Provence. It adds a landscape perspective to the local themes of olive growing and heritage. Mouriès is located between Arles and Salon-de-Provence; its connection to the Alpilles landscape is also reflected in its membership among the 17 municipalities of the limestone massif.

Discover more destinations: Rousset, Saint-Martin-De-Crau, Senas, Saint-Chamas, Fontvieille, Charleval, Vernègues, Aix-En-Provence.

For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.