Allauch combines marked trails in a hilly landscape with Provençal cultural heritage and Santon craftsmanship. A simple choice can help you plan: should nature be the main focus, or are you more interested in the chapel, the mill and Christmas traditions?
Hills and trails in the Parc de Pichauris
More than two thirds of Allauch’s municipal area consists of hills. One specific natural area in this landscape is the Parc départemental de Pichauris: it covers 1,368 hectares and lies within the municipality. Several marked trails lead to different viewpoints across the surrounding landscapes. They are designed for walking and cycling; the park also has orienteering courses.
This offers a choice of different ways to get around: you can explore a marked route on foot or by bicycle, or try orienteering. The hills describe the municipality’s landscape as a whole, while Pichauris is a single, named natural area. This distinction helps you understand the nature experiences available in Allauch without presenting the different trails as one single circuit.
Provençal Christmas and Santons
The annual Descente des Bergers is part of the Provençal Christmas season. It attracts thousands of visitors to the village each year. Gilbert Orsini’s animated nativity scene is also associated with this season: Orsini created it in 1978; it depicts a procession of 600 Santons and can be seen from late November to January in the exhibition gallery of the Usine électrique. Opening dates may vary slightly from year to year. Before visiting, check the current dates, and check the date and programme of the Descente des Bergers each year.
The village’s Grand Marché de Noël offers regional and handcrafted products, food and gift ideas. The exhibitors change from year to year. Another Provençal Christmas tradition is the Veillée Calendale, which brings together songs and stories from Provence with a tasting of the thirteen desserts. Together, these customs show different sides of the Christmas season: communal celebrations, a nativity tradition and regional products.
Santon craftsmanship is not limited to the seasonal nativity scene. At Gilbert Orsini’s workshop in the traditional Provençal village, traditional Provençal Santons are made, modelled, painted and dressed. Santons de Provence Gilbert Orsini also offers the refurbishment and restoration of old Santons, as well as their display, purchase and sale. The subject therefore ranges from crafting the figures to caring for older ones.
Chapel, views and local history
The Notre-Dame du Château chapel stands at an altitude of 310 metres, dates from the 12th century and was once the church of the castrum. The climb offers panoramic views of the Bay of Marseille and the Frioul Islands. The chapel also houses a unique collection listed in France’s preliminary inventory of artistic treasures. It tells the story of the local community from the 17th century to the present day.
Another historic building is the Moulin Louis Ricard: Louis Ricard built the mill in 1729. The chapel, collection and mill each highlight a different aspect of local history; the views of the bay and the Frioul Islands add a landscape perspective to a visit to the chapel.
Planning a stay in Allauch
If the nativity scene or a celebration is central to your plans, take its seasonal dates into account when choosing when to travel.
Discover more destinations
Rognac, Châteauneuf-Le-Rouge, Auriol, Fuveau, Gréasque, Saint-Andiol, Port-De-Bouc, La Penne-Sur-Huveaune
For the main travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.
