Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hike over the bridge for a closer look and the best views. Steps lead up a high trail
(marked
panorama
) to a superb viewpoint (go right at the top; best views are soon after
the trail starts descending). You'll also see where the aqueduct meets a rock tunnel. Walk
through the tunnel and continue for a bit, following a trail that meanders along the canal's
path.
Back on the museum side, steps lead up to the Rive Gauche side of the aqueduct,
where you can follow the canal path along a trail (marked with red-and-white horizontal
lines) to find some remains of the Roman canal. You'll soon reach another
panorama
with
more great views of the aqueduct. Hikers can continue along the path, following the red-
and-white markings that lead through a forest, after which you'll come across more re-
mains of the canal (much of which are covered by vegetation). There's not much left to
see because of medieval cannibalization—frugal builders couldn't resist the precut stones
astheyconstructed areachurches(stonesalongthecanal wereeasier toretrieve thanthose
highupontheaqueduct).Thepathcontinuesforabout15miles,butthere'slittlereasonto
go farther. However, there is talk of opening the ancient quarry...someday.
The hilltop town of Les Baux crowns the rugged Alpilles (ahl-pee) mountains, evoking a
tumultuous medieval history. Here, you can imagine the struggles of a strong community
that lived a rough-and-tumble life—thankful more for their top-notch fortifications than
for their dramatic views. It's mobbed with tourists most of the day, but Les Baux rewards
those who arrive by 9:00 or after 17:30. (Although the hilltop citadel's entry closes at the
end of the day, once you're inside, you're welcome to live out your medieval fantasies all
night long, even with a picnic.) Sunsets are dramatic, the castle is brilliantly illuminated
after dark, and nights in Les Baux are pin-drop peaceful.
Getting to Les Baux
By Car:
Les Baux is a 20-minute drive from Arles: Follow signs for
Avignon,
then
Les
Baux
.
By Bus:
From Arles,
Cartreize
bus #59 runs to Les Baux (daily July-Aug, in June
and Sept Sat-Sun only, €2.20 one-way, 6/day, 35 minutes, via Abbey of Montmajour,
Fontvieille, and Le Paradou, destination: St-Rémy, see timetables at
www.cg13.fr/
The appealing town of St-Rémy, about seven miles north of Les Baux, is a workable
transit point for those home-basing in Avignon: Ride the Cartreize #57 bus from Avignon
