Silvacane Abbey was founded in 1144 on the banks of the Durance and is the youngest of the three Cistercian abbeys in Provence. Its church, dormitory, cloister, chapter house, refectory and calefactory are open to visitors. The abbey also offers a diverse cultural programme with changing exhibitions, concerts, theatre and circus performances.
Renting a holiday apartment in La Roque-d'Anthéron can be part of your personal travel planning.
Culture and history
The Jean-Marc Bourry Gallery and the exhibition area at the La Roque-d'Anthéron tourist office regularly showcase exhibitions of contemporary art. On the discovery trail through the old town, visitors can see various types of Provençal village buildings. The trail also explains why monks settled here in the 11th century and how the village grew after the arrival of the Waldensians in the 16th century.
The Château de Florans was built in several phases: a small château was commissioned in 1598, its expansion began seven years later and was completed in 1667. In summer, the Festival International de Piano offers four weeks of concerts in the park of the Château de Florans.
The Romanesque Chapelle Sainte Anne de Goiron was built in the 11th century on the Plateau de Manivert above La Roque-d'Anthéron. In the 16th century, it became a pilgrimage site; around the chapel are cemetery graves carved into the rock.
Nature and trails
La Durance à Vélo is a greenway connecting La Roque-d'Anthéron with Sénas. The path, which is suitable for bicycles, can also be used on foot or horseback. Along the route are protected areas where more than 100 bird species find suitable living conditions.
The Sentier des Iscles runs through the main channel of the Durance across agricultural land and along riverside vegetation with reeds, sea buckthorn, willows and poplars. With its information panels, the botanical educational trail offers an opportunity to learn about the fauna and flora of the Chaîne des Côtes.
The Sentier des crêtes leads through the garrigue, with Mediterranean plant species, and offers views of Montagne Sainte-Victoire, the Luberon and Mont Ventoux.
Landscape and water management
The Bassin Saint Christophe offers views of the Chaîne des Côtes and the Luberon. It was built after the death of the architect Montrichet in 1882 and is one of the three major structures of the Canal de Marseille, which was built to clarify its water.
More places to read about: Meyreuil, Moulès, Eyguières, Aix-En-Provence, Graveson, Velaux, Saint-Martin-De-Crau, Le Grau-Du-Roi.
