Why Visit Moustiers-Sainte-Marie a Beautiful Provencal Village

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a picturesque village in the département Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, within the breathtaking Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon, whose headquarters are in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. It was our final stop on our exploration of Les Gorges du Verdon. Like Tourtour, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is one of  Les Plus Beaux Villages de France  ~ the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France.’ With its pastel tiles, giggling fountains, ancient chapel, 12th-century church and crumbling ramparts, the village is steeped in history. Hovering over it, suspended between the surrounding cliff tops, a mystical star is strung, adding to the enchantment of this magical place. Continue reading here for Caroline’s original article and photos of lovely Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

Things to do in Moustieres

• Admire the star that is suspended between the cliffs. As Caroline writes, it is not the first star (perhaps the 11th) and plenty of legends surround it.
• Visit Notre-Dame de Beauvoir, a chapel above the village, up a long set of stairs. The view is worth the climb.
• Stop at the 12th-century Our Lady of the Assumption church with its impressive 22-metre bell tower.
• Discover the faïence pottery workshops.

About Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Flanked by towering cliffs, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie resembles a Provencal nativity scene protected by a 150kg gold star suspended between the bluffs. In 1981, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie joined the ranks of France’s beaux villages, attracting visitors year-round.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie @perfectlyprovence

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a hamlet with roughly 700 residents, but with visitors, that number swells in the high season. Straddling two departments, the Var and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Moustiers is the gateway to the Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon and part of the UNESCO Géoparc de Haute Provence. The scenery is stunning, with the Gorges du Verdon and Lac de Sainte Croix as centrepieces. The area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts.

Many visit the town for its reputation for exceptional ceramic artisans. Walk around the village centre visiting the workshops where artists create traditional earthenware – faïence – high-quality porcelain with opaque glaze.

Guide to Ceramics and Pottery in Provence

Visitor Information

Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon (website)
The English portion of the website was under construction at the time of this writing. The website contains helpful information on local products, current events, maps, guided visits, and more.

Visitor Guide to Villages of Provence Verdon

Tourist Office (website)
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Place de l’Eglise
04360 Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

The Var is a large geographical and administrative department in Provence. It includes varied terrain from seaside towns to the Îles d’Hyères Archipelago (including Porquerolles) to France’s Grand Canyon – the Gorges de Verdon. From the Mediterranean to the foothills of the Southern Alps, this region offers lots to discover, including swaths of untouched nature, beautiful villages and some wine-tasting opportunities. Here are many reasons to visit and discover Dracenie Provence Verdon.

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Caroline Longstaffe

A traveller at heart, Caroline says she was most probably born under a wandering star. This English girl lives in California, but has a soft spot for France. After living in Provence for 18 months, she admits that she is now torn between the towns of Uzes and Lourmarin - she cannot decide which is her favourite. During her stay in Provence, Caroline launched her blog Shutters and Sunflowers. Her blog is about passion, about living the journey not waiting to get to the destination.