The Chateau des Baux-de-Provence is a castle that stands above the village of the same name, in the centre of the Bouches-du-Rhone department in Provence. You will reach the castle as part of your visit to the village of Les Baux-de-Provence: the castle entrance is at the highest point in the village and can only be accessed by walking through the village.
Explore the Castle of Les Baux-de-Provence
The castle is on a large raised rock promontory and the castle and surrounding grounds occupy about seven hectares: quite an extensive area! The admission price includes an audio guide (available in French, English and several other languages) that explains the history of the castle and of the lords of Les Baux as you explore.
This raised area has always been attractive to people looking to defend themselves, and has been inhabited since neolithic times. In one part of the castle you can see the marks left on the walls when it was a quarry in the first century! The first castle was built here by the 9th century, and greatly fortified during the four centuries that followed.
As you enter the castle grounds you will notice a small chapel. This was built in the 12th century and constantly shows a film called "Provence Seen From the Sky", which includes footage of various other important sites in Provence.
The principal buildings you see in the Chateau des Baux-de-Provence are the 13th century donjon (tower), and several troglodyte rooms, passages and a chapel as well as a pigeonniere carved into the wall of the donjon and three towers around the donjon. The stairways that climb the towers are open to the public but care is needed: 800 years of footsteps has made the steps extremely eroded in places!
In various places around the castle buildings you will also notice full scale reconstructions of medieval weapons such as the battering ram and the catapult. These are interesting to see - I thought the protective roof over the battering ram to stop things being dropped on the soldiers from the castle walls was a good idea!
The other major attraction of the castle are the impressive views across the valleys around Les Baux-de-Provence and across the village: these views are really quite spectacular, and even better when you go up the towers of the castle.
Entrance to the castle costs around 10 euros, and a combined ticket to enter both the castle and the Carrieres de Lumieres in Les Baux-de-Provence is 18 euros. Small reductions are available for children, students and the unemployed.
Attractions nearby
The other principal attraction here, apart from the village of Baux-de-Provence itself, is the remarkable sound and light spectacle in the Carrières de Lumières.
See more castles in France. You can find more travel ideas in the Bouches-du-Rhone guide and the Provence guide.
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Places to visit near Château des Baux-de-Provence
Baux-de-Provence
The village of Baux-de-Provence is small but exceptionally picturesque, and has beautiful views across the Provencal countryside. Unmissable!
Baux-de-Provence guide
Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence
The Carrieres de Lumieres is a sound and light spectacle based around famous artists works, in the village of Les Baux-de-Provence
Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence guide
Maussane-les-Alpilles
Maussane-les-Alpilles is a small and traditional Provençal town
Maussane-les-Alpilles guide
Glanum
Glanum is a historic site in the Alpilles with an excavated Roman town to explore
Glanum guide
Saint-Remy-de-Provence
The historic monuments here are a testament to St-Remy-de-Provence's claim to be one of the oldest towns in France, and the time that Van Gogh spent here is also celebrated
Saint-Remy-de-Provence guide
Fontvieille
This town near Arles has a small historic centre to explore when you are passing
Fontvieille guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Bouches-du-Rhone
The French version of this page is at Château des Baux-de-Provence (Francais)