Istres: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes
On the southern shore of the Étang de l’Olivier, the Oppidum du Castellan is situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the city of Istres and the Étang de l’Olivier. The site was inhabited from the 6th century BC until the Early Middle Ages. Today, a Gallic rock inscription and traces of a road worn down by wagon wheels can be seen there.
Those who choose Istres as a travel destination can opt to rent a holiday apartment.
Culture
The Chapelle Saint-Sulpice is an important example of Provençal Romanesque architecture and has been listed in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments since 1942. It offers an exhibition programme of fine and visual art throughout the year.
The Château des Baumes is a fully restored Italian-style manor house. Its ground floor hosts conferences, tours, themed evenings and other tourism-related events. More than 40 dinosaurs can be seen at Dinosaur’Istres park, including Spinosaurus, Diplodocus, Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptors.
Nature
The Étang de l’Olivier has a preserved ecosystem consisting of reed beds and Safre cliffs, which provide a habitat for numerous birds and fish. Provençal water jousting, a traditional sport requiring strength and skill, is also practised at the Étang de l’Olivier.
On the shore of the Étang de l’Olivier lies Le Labyrinthe de l’Olivier, a free-to-access plant maze. It offers a 750 m family trail with paths, twists and detours between plant hedges 1.5 m high.
Active Adventures
Section A10 of the GR2013 runs from Plage du Ranquet to Port des Heures Claires in Istres, covering 3.2 km along the shore of the Étang de Berre and passing beaches and coves.
The “Istres: Entre ville et nature” route passes through the historic centre and the city, leads to viewpoints overlooking the Étang de Berre, and follows the shore past protected coves. The “Parcours Cyclotourisme pour découvrir Istres” cycle route uses available cycle paths and quiet roads and passes near the city’s main tourist attractions.
At Plage de la Romaniquette, visitors can enjoy jet skiing, towable tubes, flyboarding, paddle boats, pedal boats, canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboarding.
Local Life
The Marché d'Istres takes place on Tuesday mornings in the city centre and offers Provençal specialities. Traditional foods available include salted cod for Aïoli, vegetables for Soupe au pistou, olives and paella.
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