A 15th-century château, a crypt containing the tomb of Sainte-Marthe, and a museum dedicated to textile printing give Tarascon several tangible ways to explore its heritage. If you’re looking for accommodation for your stay, you can consider whether architecture, religious history, crafts or Tarasque traditions should shape your trip in particular. You can take these different themes into account when planning without turning them into a fixed itinerary.
Getting there and planning your stay
Tarascon is served by TER trains and has a landing stage for river traffic. If you plan to arrive by train, check the connections before travelling. For river traffic, take the landing stage’s operating conditions into account. This lets you combine your travel arrangements with the places and themes that interest you most, rather than planning your time around a single attraction.
If your stay focuses on heritage, you can choose from several distinct themes: historic buildings, religious history, textile printing and the recurring Tarasque traditions. The dates of the Fêtes de la Tarasque are also relevant when planning your schedule; check the programme and exact dates for the year in question.
Architectural history and monuments
The Château du Roi René in Tarascon dates from the 15th century. The Chapelle Saint-Gabriel dates from a different period: it is a 12th-century chapel on the ancient site of Ernaginum, which stood at the crossroads of the Via Agrippa and the Via Domitia. Comparing the construction dates—the 12th and 15th centuries—makes the different historical layers in Tarascon tangible.
The city’s cultural heritage also includes its theatre history. The Théâtre de Tarascon is one of the most notable Italian-style theatres in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. By decree dated 11 March 1980, the Théâtre municipal and the remains of the former Dominican church were listed as historic monuments. This listing brings together two distinct architectural landmarks without equating their individual character.
Religious heritage and Sainte-Marthe
The crypt of the Église Sainte-Marthe contains the famous tomb of Sainte-Marthe. The history of the religious heritage also includes the Collégiale royale Sainte-Marthe de Tarascon, which was included in France’s first list of historic monuments in 1840. The crypt and the collegiate church therefore offer two tangible points of reference if you’re interested in Tarascon’s religious history.
Textile printing and Tarasque traditions
The Musée Souleiado traces the development of the Souleiado manufactory and the passing down of textile-printing skills through the generations. It also presents a selection from its exceptional collection of 50,000 printing blocks. The collection adds the tools used for printing to the history of the craft. If you’re planning a museum visit, check the current booking requirements.
The Tarasque is also part of the cultural calendar in Tarascon. Every year at Pentecost and on the feast of Sainte-Marthe, a figure representing the Tarasque is carried in a procession. The Fêtes de la Tarasque take place every year on the last weekend of June; their current form dates back to 1946. In 2005, UNESCO recognised the festivals as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. If you’re travelling for these dates, check the programme and event dates for the year in question.
Tourist information
The Bureau d’Information Touristique de Tarascon provides tourist information and a bicycle repair kit. If you’d like to take this service into account when planning, check the current conditions before your visit. This practical information complements the cultural highlights without requiring you to limit your trip to a single attraction or event.
Discover more destinations: Rognac, Puyloubier, La Fare-Les-Oliviers, Ceyreste, Les Baux-De-Provence, Saint-Paul-Lès-Durance, Gardanne, Cornillon-Confoux.
Go to the regional travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.
