The market town of Salon-de-Provence is found in the centre of the Bouches-du-Rhone department of Provence, between Arles and Aix-en-Provence.
Whichever direction you approach the town from you will be struck by the olive plantations that cover the surrounding hills and have formed the basis of the towns renowned olive oil industry for the last 600 years.
Exploring Salon-de-Provence
France This Way review: although Salon-de-Provence is quite small and has fewer attractions than famous nearby towns such as Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, the town certainly merits a visit to explore the historic centre if you are exploring the region.
In Salon-de-Provence you will discover an attractive town centre, accessed by one of the original gateways through the walls that once defended the town: the towers of Bourg-Neuf and the clocktower. There are many medieval buildings to admire in the streets, and in the pretty open squares and several other small fountains.
The gateway through the clocktower (La Porte de l'Horloge) is interesting. This tower was built in the 17th century in a classical style design incorporating columns around the base, and topped by the clocktower itself and an intricate campanile. The two sundials on the tower represent astronomical information to do with the moon and planets.
Just outside this gateway you can see the 'mossy fountain' which looks more like a stunted tree or a giant green toadstool than a fountain (more correctly known as La Grande Fontaine).
The main street in Salon-de-Provence is just inside this gateway, and is a charming pedestrian street with lots of cafes.
At the other end of the street you can see a house that is painted with trompe l'oeil decoration representing stone walls and important characters from the history of the town including Adam Craponne and Nostradamus. This fresco was painted in 2016 to replace an earlier version that had become dilapidated.
The main historic site in Salon-de-Provence is the Chateau de l'Emperi whose crenellated walls and tower stand poised above the surrounding streets at the top of a grand staircase. The castle dates its origins back to the 10th century (construction of the current castle was started in the 13th century) and was at one time the residence of the Arles' archbishops.
The castle now contains a large military museum with numerous military related exhibits covering the period from the time of King Louis XIV to the First World War. Even if you are not entering the museum you can enter to see an atractive courtyard surrounded by arcades and to see the lovely view across the town from the castle walls.
The Church of Saint-Michel is also here in the old town below the castle walls and dates from the 13th century (the clocktower was added in the 15th century).
This church is in the roman style and is a charming church with arcades in the belltower, a historic campanile and an entrance surrounded by Romanesque carvings. The golden yellow ceiling brings light and colour to the inside the church, with the rib vaulting of the ceiling another interesting feature.
Another classical style building you will see in Salon-de-Provence is the imposing Town Hall, built just outside the city walls in the 17th century next to the entrance called the Porte Bourg-Neuf, which was built at the same time. The two statues standing above the entrance represent Temperance and Wisdom.
Across the road from the town hall you can see a fountain, built in the 19th century to commemorate the 16th century engineer, Adam Craponne, who devised the method for providing irrigation to the region using a canal and enabling its agriculture to flourish. A statue of Craponne stands on top of the fountain.
A more imposing religious monument, to the north of the centre of Salon-de-Provence, is the Collegiate Saint-Laurent, built over the course of 14th - 15th centuries onwards and incorporating both roman and gothic style elements. It is in this church that the renowned astrologer Nostradamus is buried.
Within the town you can also visit a small museum dedicated to Nostradamus, fortune teller extraordinaire, who lived (and died) in Salon-de-Provence in the 16th century.
Outside the historical centre there is a region of Salon-de-Provence that developed during the 19th century, in particular the region around the Villa Armieux which is now the Palace of Justice in the town. Several grand balconied 19th century townhouses can be seen here such as the Hotel Roche and the Hotel Couderc.
French air force displays
One unusual feature of Salon-de-Provence is that there is a French airbase just outside the town, and it is common for small groups of traditional war planes to fly in formation above the town - this has become something of an attraction, and is a very impressive sight.
These take place between October and May, so not in high summer. Several flights a day take place, but the best option to view the display is to be near the square in front of the castle between 12.00 and 14.00.
Attractions close to Salon-de-Provence
The scenery of the Alpilles can be explored to the north-west of the town, with one of our favourite provencal villages in France at Baux-de-Provence.
Some of the many picturesque villages of the Luberon such as Menerbes, Lacoste and Bonnieux are a little way to the north-east.
You can find more travel ideas in the Bouches-du-Rhone guide and the Provence guide.
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Places to visit near Salon-de-Provence
Collegiate Church Saint-Laurent
The Collegiate Saint-Laurent is an imposing 14th century church that contains the tomb of Nostradamus
Collegiate Church Saint-Laurent guide
Luberon Natural Park
The Luberon Regional Natural Parc includes several of the most beautiful villages in France and stunning scenery. Highly recommended!
Luberon Natural Park guide
Menerbes
One of our favourite Luberon villages, the streets of old Menerbes are overflowing with charm
Menerbes guide
Oppede-le-Vieux
Oppede might be less visited than the more famous of the Luberon villages, but a visit is still recommended - and the crowds rather less!
Oppede-le-Vieux guide
Chateau de Lourmarin
The Chateau de Lourmarin is a castle on the edge of the village of the same name, with both medieval and renaissance elements
Chateau de Lourmarin guide
... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Bouches-du-Rhone
Address: Salon-de-Provence, Aix-en-Provence, Provence, 13300, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 43.6406, longitude 5.09722
Plan your visit to Salon-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhone
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Zoo de La Barben: zoo or wildlife park (9 km)
- Gorges de Régalon: site of natural beauty (15 km)
- Istres: ville fleurie 4* (17 km)
- Jardin de l'Alchimiste: remarkable garden (18 km)
- Abbaye de Silvacane (La Roque-d'Antheron): religious monument (19 km)
- Jardin d'Eguilles: remarkable garden (22 km)
- Menerbes: most beautiful village (23 km)
- Alpilles: regional natural parc (25 km)
- Lourmarin: most beautiful village (25 km)
- Martigues: ville fleurie 4* (26 km)
- Jardin de la Louve: remarkable garden (26 km)
- Baux-de-Provence: most beautiful village (27 km)
The French version of this page is at Salon-de-Provence (Francais)