Saint-Étienne-du-Grès, Alpilles
Porte des Alpilles, the village is at the crossroads of the roads going from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to Tarascon and Arles on the one hand, from Arles to Avignon on the other. The commune covers both the northwestern part of the Alpilles and the Crau plain. Two territories with very different landscapes. This picturesque village has kept the calm, the tranquility it has always claimed.
What makes this village special?
The commune having been detached from Tarascon only in 1935, it is undoubtedly the reason for which its configuration is not traditional. It is especially for the eastern part of Saint-Étienne that the visit is worth the detour. You can admire very pretty old bastides and restored farmhouses as well as splendid properties, private mansions surrounded by magnificent landscaped parks.
To the south-east of the village, take a walk on a pedestrian path which starts at the oratory and which will take you to the top of the hill. At its summit, after having contemplated sumptuous panoramas over Tarascon, Arles or Châteaurenard, you will find Notre-Dame-du-Château, from the 11th century, the oldest chapel in the region, listed as a historical monument.
In Saint-Étienne-du-Grès, there are many activities: it is an opportunity to practice hiking or cycling on the paths and paths of the Alpilles massif. You can also try your hand at other activities in the Bouches-du-Rhône department: horse riding, golf, via ferrata, tree climbing, paragliding...
Finally, the town gives pride of place to the terroir with a fruit and vegetable market which takes place at the end of the afternoon three times a week, in general: Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
From Saint-Étienne, it is easy to explore the region. Tarascon and its castle are a few kilometers away and are worth the detour. Don't miss the spectacle of the famous Carrières de Lumières, in Les Baux-de-Provence, and take the opportunity to visit the village, one of the most picturesque and touristic in Provence. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is not far either…
