Must-sees of the region
Le Mas des Baïsses is the ideal starting point for discovering the treasures of Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Marseille, charming villages and the iconic landscapes that inspired Cézanne… Every day is an invitation to explore Provence before returning to the comfort of the mas.
Near the mas
Saint Chamas est à 6 kms
Miramas le vieux est à 13 kms
Salon de provence est à 13 kms
Salon de provence à 13 kms
Aix and its surroundings
Aix en Provence est à 30 kms
La Rotonde
Avignon and its surroundings
Avignon est à 70 kms
Avignon
Villages of the Luberon and the Alpilles
Les baux de provence sont à 40 kms
Les Baux de provence
Gordes est à 56 kms
Gordes
Saint Remy de provence est à 59 kms
Saint Remy de provence
Lourmarin est à 60 kms
Chateau de Lourmarin
Marseille and its surroundings
Marseille est à 40 kms
Marseille
Cassis and La Ciotat
Cassis est à 70 kms
Cassis
La Ciotat est à 80 kms
La Ciotat à 80 kms
Arles and the Camargue
Arles est à 52 kms
Arles
La camargue est à 80 kms
La Camargue
Manosque and its surroundings
Manosque est à 80 kms
Manosque
Our favourites, close to the mas
Less famous than the great classics, these places can be visited in half a day and enjoyed all year round, far from the summer crowds.
The Roquefavour aqueduct — 20 km
The largest stone aqueduct in the world (1847), 83 metres high above the Arc valley, between Ventabren and Aix. An easy walk at the foot of the arches, superb at the end of the day.
Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Martigues and the Miroir aux oiseaux — 25 km
The ‘Provençal Venice’: colourful houses, fishing boats and canals. The Miroir aux oiseaux quay inspired Ziem and Corot. Ideal for a fish lunch by the water.
Photo: Benjamin Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Silvacane Abbey — 30 km
One of the three ‘Cistercian sisters’ of Provence, in La Roque-d'Anthéron. Pure architecture and absolute silence; in summer it hosts concerts of the International Piano Festival.
Photo: EmDee, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
And also…
- Château Calissanne (5 km): a historic wine and olive estate on the Étang de Berre, with tastings at the property.
- Château La Coste (40 km): a vineyard with an open-air trail of contemporary art and architecture.
- LUMA Arles (52 km): Frank Gehry's tower and the Parc des Ateliers, to combine with a visit to Arles.
- Carrières des Lumières (40 km): immersive exhibitions in the former quarries of Les Baux-de-Provence, perfect on a grey day.
Right next to the mas
Saint-Chamas — 6 km
A small fishing harbour on the Étang de Berre, with troglodyte dwellings carved into the cliff and the Pont Flavien, a 1st-century BC Roman bridge framed by two arches. Les Cabassons beach, right next door, is perfect for a family swim.
Photo: Tanis 13, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Miramas-le-Vieux — 13 km
A medieval village perched on its rocky spur: quiet lanes, castle ruins and a wide view over the Étang de Berre. A lovely walk at the end of the day.
Photo: Abubiju, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you only have 3 days
Three days to see the essentials of Provence from the mas: an art city, hilltop villages and the Mediterranean. Every evening, back to the calm of the hamlet and the pool.
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Day 1
Aix-en-Provence and the Sainte-Victoire
Mas → Aix-en-Provence (30 min) → Le Tholonet (15 min) → back to the mas (40 min)
- Morning: Place Richelme market, the old town, the Cours Mirabeau and its fountains.
- Lunch: lunch on a terrace in a shady square in the centre.
- Afternoon: Cézanne's studio, then the Route Cézanne towards Le Tholonet, facing Mont Sainte-Victoire.
- Way back: via the Roquefavour aqueduct, beautiful at the end of the day.
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Day 2
The villages of the Luberon
Mas → Gordes (55 min) → Sénanque Abbey (10 min) → Roussillon (25 min) → Lourmarin (35 min) → back to the mas (45 min)
- Morning: Gordes, a hilltop village of dry stone, then Sénanque Abbey (lavender in bloom from late June to mid-July).
- Lunch: lunch in Gordes or Roussillon.
- Afternoon: the Roussillon ochre trail, then Lourmarin and its château.
- Evening: dinner in Lourmarin before heading back.
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Day 3
Marseille and the calanques
Mas → Marseille (40 min) → Cassis (40 min) → back to the mas (1 h)
- Morning: the Old Port, the Panier district, the MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean.
- Lunch: a fish lunch at the Old Port or in the Vallon des Auffes.
- Afternoon: Cassis and a boat trip into the calanques (Port-Miou, Port-Pin, En-Vau).
- Option: sunset from Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde.
Approximate driving times from the mas, outside traffic jams.
A week in Provence: our favourites
The places you really shouldn't miss if you stay a week at the mas. Days alternate between major visits and calmer moments, and no journey takes more than an hour and a half.
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Day 1
Around the mas, at a gentle pace
Mas → Saint-Chamas (10 min) → Miramas-le-Vieux (15 min) → Salon-de-Provence (15 min) → back to the mas (15 min)
- The Pont Flavien, a two-arched Roman bridge, and the little harbour of Saint-Chamas on the Étang de Berre.
- Miramas-le-Vieux, a hilltop village overlooking the lagoon.
- Salon-de-Provence: Château de l'Empéri, Nostradamus' House, big market on Wednesday mornings.
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Day 2
Aix-en-Provence and the Sainte-Victoire
Mas → Aix-en-Provence (30 min) → Le Tholonet (15 min) → back to the mas (40 min)
- Place Richelme market, the old town and the Cours Mirabeau.
- Cézanne's studio, then the Route Cézanne facing Mont Sainte-Victoire.
- Back via the Roquefavour aqueduct.
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Day 3
The Luberon
Mas → Gordes (55 min) → Sénanque Abbey (10 min) → Roussillon (25 min) → Lourmarin (35 min) → back to the mas (45 min)
- Gordes and Sénanque Abbey, surrounded by lavender from late June to mid-July.
- The Roussillon ochre trail.
- Lourmarin, its Renaissance château and its terraces; market on Friday mornings.
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Day 4
The Alpilles
Mas → Les Baux-de-Provence (40 min) → Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (15 min) → back to the mas (45 min)
- Les Baux-de-Provence, hilltop village and castle, then the immersive show at the Carrières des Lumières.
- Saint-Rémy-de-Provence: the ancient site of Glanum, the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole monastery where Van Gogh stayed; market on Wednesday mornings.
- A stop at an olive-oil mill in the Baux valley.
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Day 5
Marseille
Mas → Marseille (40 min) → back to the mas (40 min)
- The Old Port, the Panier district and the Vieille Charité.
- The MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean, linked by a footbridge.
- Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde for the view, then dinner in the Vallon des Auffes.
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Day 6
Cassis, the calanques and La Ciotat
Mas → Cassis (1 h) → Route des Crêtes → La Ciotat (30 min) → back to the mas (1 h)
- A boat trip or hike to the calanques of Port-Pin and En-Vau.
- Lunch on the harbour in Cassis.
- The Route des Crêtes and Cap Canaille, then the old port of La Ciotat.
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Day 7
Arles and the Camargue
Mas → Arles (45 min) → Pont de Gau (40 min) → Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (10 min) → back to the mas (1 h 20)
- Arles: the arena, the ancient theatre and places painted by Van Gogh; big market on Saturday mornings.
- Pink flamingos at the Pont de Gau bird park.
- Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, its beaches and its Camargue horses.
Approximate driving times from the mas, outside traffic jams. Remember to check opening times before you go.