Les Baux-de-Provence : virtual tour of the old village

The history of Les Baux-de-Provence

Les Baux-de-Provence is one of the most beautiful villages of France. It is located on a rocky outcrop, the first foothills of the Alpilles mountain range, overlooking by 200 m the southern plains which lead towards Arles and the Camargue.

The defensive capabilities of the Baux-de-Provence have always made them an attractive site. Traces of habitation have been found and dated -6000 BC. The place was also used by the Celts as a fort or oppidum around the 2nd century BC.

In the middle ages, Les Baux-de-Provence became the stronghold of a feudal domain controlling up to 79 cities and surrounding villages. The fortress was built from the 11th to 13th century, over a wide area of seven hectares. The princes of Baux ruled the Provence for many years and won a high reputation. They pretended to descend from King Balthazar, adding to their armorial, a silver star with sixteen branches, to remind the one that, according to the Gospel, guided the three kings to Bethlehem and their motto was “Haphazardly, Balthazar”.

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Medieval stronghold, the fortress has experienced a turbulent military history and was the object of all covetousness and the object of numerous assaults. In the 12th century, the lords of Baux had to surrender after the outcome of Baussenque Wars (from French Guerres Baussenques, meaning "wars of Baux"). The great castle began to be renowned for its highly educated and chivalrous court. The domain finally extinguished in the 15th century after the death of the last princess of Baux.

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The castle of Les Baux, as well as the Provence, is then attached to the crown of France under the impulsion of the Manville family. The village became a center of Protestantism and even attempted an uprising against the crown that led the Cardinal Richelieu, in 1632, to order the demolition of the castle and its walls.

In 1642, the city was given to the Grimaldi family as marquisate after they had expelled the Spanish out of Monaco. The title of Marquis of Baux is still nowadays attached to the Grimaldi family. If the village is entirely French, the title of Marquis of Baux is traditionally given to the heir of the crown of Monaco. The current Prince of Monaco, Albert II, bears among his many titles, that of Marquis of Baux.

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The quarry of Les Baux-de-Provence

In 1822, a red aluminum ore is found, around the village of Baux-de-Provence, by the geologist Pierre Berthier. The latter gives to the ore the name of bauxite named after the village. Ironically, the name of this village comes from the Provençal dialect “Baux” and means “white mountain”, the color of limestone around the village. The ore will be intensively exploited to extinction in the late 20th century.

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Cathedral of Images of Les Baux-de-Provence

The Cathedral of Images has become over the years and successful performances, one of the major tourist attractions of the Bouches du Rhone.

External links

• The site of the village of Les Baux-de-Provence
• The site of the castle of Les Baux-de-Provence
• The site of the association “Brothers in arms 1380” who animates the castle of Les Baux-de-Provence
• Article on the village of on Wikipedia encyclopedia.

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