Our Blog - Les Baux

Les Baux, or more precise, Les Baux-de-Provence, is another one of the most beautiful villages in France. The 22 residents in the upper town and 436 total residents welcome over 1.5 million visitors per year. Traces of habitation have been found and dated to 6000 BC. in the Costapéra cave which was discovered in 1928 and which houses a collective burial ground from the early Bronze Age. In the Middle Ages the area became the stronghold of a feudal domain covering 79 towns and villages. The fortress was built from the 11th to the 13th century over seven hectares. As we were arriving, you can see the remains of the fortress up on the top of the rocks.

Post Tenebras Lux window has the inscription "Post tenebras lux 1571", meaning "After darkness, light - 1571", which is a Calvinist motto.

The old chapel of St. Blaise (12th century), was built by the guild of weavers and carders in honor of their patron saint, Saint Blaise.

The Church of St. Vincent Baux, also from the 12th century, was partly dug into the rock and overlooks a square planted with elms and hackberries.

They also have several rebuilt war machines: several trebuchets, a ballista, a ram and three catapults capable of performing firing. These three machines perform live fire demonstrations with real projectiles.

The former Castle of Baux is mostly in ruins now. But it was a semi-troglodyte castle and had several rooms cut into the rocks that it sat on.