La Roque-D'anthéron brings together a range of things to explore: the old town and Silvacane Abbey reveal the area’s architectural and settlement history, while trails along the Durance and through the garrigue put the landscape and nature centre stage. For planning your visit, the key question is therefore not how long a list to make, but which perspective interests you. You can discover the culture through historic sites, architecture and changing events; the trails offer themes ranging from riverside vegetation and birdlife to botany and viewpoints.
Art, the Old Town and the Abbey
If you are interested in architecture, an exploration trail through the old town lets you discover different types of Provençal village buildings. The trail also explains why monks settled here in the 11th century and how the village grew after the Waldensians arrived in the 16th century. In this way, the buildings offer a view of local history spanning several centuries.
Silvacane Abbey was founded in 1144 on the banks of the Durance. It is the youngest of the three Cistercian abbeys in Provence. The church, dormitory, cloister, chapter house, refectory and warming room are open to visitors. The abbey also offers a varied cultural programme, with changing exhibitions, concerts, theatre and circus. The Jean-Marc Bourry Gallery and the exhibition space at the tourist office also regularly showcase contemporary art.
Château History and Summer Music
Château de Florans was built in several phases: a small château was commissioned in 1598. Seven years later, work began on an extension, completed in 1667. In summer, concerts of the International Piano Festival are held in the grounds of Château de Florans. The festival takes place every year and lasts four weeks. The château’s long building history and its current music programme offer two different ways to experience the site: architectural history on the one hand, and a seasonal concert programme on the other.
River Landscapes and Trails
La Durance à Vélo is a greenway connecting La Roque-D'anthéron with Sénas. It is suitable for bicycles and can also be used on foot or on horseback. The route passes through protected areas that provide suitable habitats for more than 100 bird species. So if you want to explore the Durance landscape, you will find both a specific route and a connection with nature here. When planning your visit along the Durance, take the river conditions into account.
The Sentier des Iscles runs through the main bed of the Durance, across agricultural land and alongside riverside vegetation. Plants found here include reeds, sea buckthorn, willows and poplars. This gives the trail a different focus from the botanical trail, whose information panels offer an opportunity to learn about the flora and fauna of the Chaîne des Côtes. Seasonal regulations in the massif may affect access to the botanical trail.
The Sentier des crêtes offers a different view of the landscape. It lies in the heart of the garrigue, among Mediterranean plant species, and offers views of Montagne Sainte-Victoire, the Luberon and Mont Ventoux. Access is subject to seasonal regulations. The trails therefore have distinct themes: riverside vegetation on the Sentier des Iscles, nature information panels on the botanical trail, and garrigue and distant views on the Sentier des crêtes.
Chapel and Viewpoints
On the Plateau de Manivert above La Roque-D'anthéron stands the Romanesque Chapelle Sainte Anne de Goiron, built in the 11th century. It became a place of pilgrimage in the 16th century; around the chapel are graves carved into the rock, part of a cemetery. The Bassin Saint Christophe offers views of the Chaîne des Côtes and the Luberon. It was built in 1882 after the death of architect Montrichet and is one of the three major structures of the Canal de Marseille, which was built to purify its water.
Discover more destinations: Pélissanne, Saint-Étienne-du-Grès, Saint-Estève-Janson, Alleins, La Destrousse, La Bouilladisse, Mallemort, Jouques.
Go to the main travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.
