Mollégès lies at the foot of the Alpilles hills, amid green plains. Cyclists will find two distinct route options: the EuroVelo 8 long-distance cycling route and an easy circular route with a specified distance. The village’s history also offers a range of points of interest—from the Saint-Thomas Chapel to the Monument du Cheval, which pays tribute to the role of draft horses. You can therefore choose whether to focus your trip on cycling, architectural history or agricultural traditions.
Cycling Between the Plains and the Alpilles
The EuroVelo 8 long-distance cycling route, “La Méditerranée à vélo,” passes through Mollégès. A different type of route is the easy “Balade sur les routes provençales”: this 23-kilometre circular route runs between Orgon, Mollégès and Plan-d’Orgon along small roads lined with canals and beside the Massif des Alpilles. While EuroVelo 8 places the village on a long-distance cycling route, the circular route has a specific distance and named itinerary.
These differences can help you choose the focus of your cycling trip: if you’re looking for a connection to a long-distance route, EuroVelo 8 passes through Mollégès; if you prefer a circuit described as easy, there’s a 23-kilometre route linking three named places. The landscape along the circular route combines small roads beside canals with the Massif des Alpilles.
The Chapel and Church: Different Historical Points of Interest
The Saint-Thomas Chapel is the village’s oldest monument and dates from the 11th century. It was fully restored in 2023 on the initiative of the local council. The parish church of Saint-Pierre-es-Liens was built in 1864 to plans by the architect Henry Revoil. Its bell tower silhouette was inspired by the surviving Roman mausoleum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
The two religious buildings therefore differ both in when they were built and in their historical associations: Saint-Thomas is notable as the village’s oldest monument, while Saint-Pierre-es-Liens stands out for its construction date and the architectural inspiration of the mausoleum. Those interested in architectural history will find more than a single historical reference point in Mollégès.
Agricultural Traditions and Local History
The Monument du Cheval was created by Camille Soccorsi. It honours the role of draft horses in Mollégès’s agricultural history. Saint-Eloi is another link to the area’s agricultural traditions: in Provence, he is regarded as the patron saint of farmers and carters; in Mollégès, he has been celebrated for more than two centuries.
The monument and the festival tradition offer different perspectives. The Monument du Cheval recalls the work of draft horses, while Saint-Eloi is associated with the people and occupations shaped by them. Together, these points of interest offer insight into local agricultural history, showing that the village’s past is not limited to religious buildings.
Washhouse and Animal Park
The Lauron des Femmes washhouse adds a glimpse of everyday life to the historic buildings. It dates from 1860, was restored in 2018 and is located at a spring known as Lauron. Its construction date and later restoration mark two distinct periods in its history.
L’Arche de Méo, a six-hectare animal park in Mollégès, offers a very different focus. Its features include bodies of water and domestic and farm animals, including wallabies and ostriches. A half-day animal keeper experience is also available; check in advance whether it is available on your preferred date. This offers a distinctive animal-related reason to visit, alongside cycling and local history.
Discover more destinations: Moulès, Marseille, Saint-Martin-De-Crau, Cuges-Les-Pins, Chateaurenard, Boulbon, Fos-Sur-Mer, Mallemort.
For the broader travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.
