Eygalières is Always worth a Visit

Maybe the panhandlers should have headed to Provence instead of California!

Gold appears to be easy to come by under sunny Provencal skies, according to real estate agents who gush about the chic Cote d’Azur, the star-studded Var and Peter Mayle’s gold-dusted Luberon. The village of Eygalières has the geographic luck of being in the heart of the small Alps, known as the Alpilles. It also forms part of the real estate “golden-triangle” in the Bouches du Rhône.

Regardless or because of housing prices Eygalières is a popular village that has retained most of its original charms. It is the kind of place where French TV personalities and best-selling authors rub shoulders with Provence’s cowboys during the fête du village each August.

With a permanent population of 1,830 (2008 census), the town feels small. That is until you climb to the top of the old village and take a look at the wide swath of housing that stretches to the foot of the Alpilles.

Whether you are just passing through Eygalières or have decided to settle in for a while here, are some resources for your visit:

#Discover

The official website for the marie is here.

The market is on Friday mornings

The place were Resistance leader Jean Moulin spent a night.

Take a walk on the hiking trails in the Alpilles and experience the golden-triangle of biodiversity. The GR6 (Grand Randonnée – long trail) runs right by the village and into the Alpilles. You can follow the trail along the ridge of the mountains all the way to St Remy in about 4 hours or to Aureille in 2 hours.

#Taste

Where there were once two, there is currently only one bakery, and it is not highly recommended. However, fresh baguette and croissants can be purchased at the Épicerie Aqualeria on Rue de la République (the main street). This small grocery store has a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables along with all the staples you need.

Boucherie Fassetta also found on the main street has a very good selection of meats and prepared meals.

There are several cafés, bars and restaurants to choose from (note: this is not an extensive list):

• Café de la Place is a great place for people watching and a drink. They only serve charcuterie boards and salty snacks.
• Le Progress renovated in 2014 this bar/tabac has a full menu with a daily “plat du jour” and large meal-sized salads.
• La Maison Sucrée offers two shaded terraces with a full menu and a large selection of artisanal ice cream
• Gilles Pizza serves thin crust pizza and large salads in a lovely semi-shaded terrace
• Le Bistrot de l’Aubergine has a creative menu and a lovely outdoor dining space.

#Relax

There are many accommodation options in Eygalières from villa rentals to charming village houses to B&Bs and hotels.

For a fun read and some more photos check out this blog post a dog’s view of a visit to Eygalières a village in Provence.