15 kilometers to the east of Arles lie the limestone hills known as the Alpilles. They are the heart of Provence : between the Luberon and the Mediterranean Sea their jagged white peaks jut into the blue sky.

 The chain is home to many picturesque Provençal villages : Les  Baux-de-Provence, the glorious and legendary belvedere sung by Mistral and Daudet, Fontvieille, Paradou, Maussane les Alpilles, Mouriès, Eygalières and Saint Rémy de Provence. All along the chain of blue hills can be seen olive groves and rich vineyards. The valley of Les Baux is now known for its olive oil and its green cracked olives. The wines from the wine cellars in Les Baux are among the best Côtes-du-Rhone. A dozen vineyards have received the A.O.C. Côteaux des Baux label, and several of them accept visitors.

The Alpilles tourist train takes you from Arles to Fontvieille, the town made famous by Alphonse Daudet. On the way you will pass at the foot of Montmajour Abbey, the medieval gateway to the Alpilles hills. The ride is peaceful and bucolic, at a medium speed of 20 km/h.

The Alpilles are also famous for their birds, of which the Bonelli eagle is the most characteristic. The wooded hills are covered with hiking paths including some marked trails where you will meet hikers, bikers or horseback riders who have stopped to admire the breathtaking scenery. But the pine forests and underbrush known as “garrigue” are very fragile and forest fires fanned by the mistral wind are dangerous. Building a fire is thus absolutely forbidden in summer and hiking is forbidden in certain posted zones during the hottest months. (Ask local tourist offices for details).

The Montagnette, a smaller chain of limestone hills, has picturesque landscapes where you can smell the Provençal herbs, thyme and rosemary. Nearby is the city of Tarascon, with its mythical Tarasque and the fabulous hunter Tartarin made famous by Alphonse Daudet. On the hillside you can visit the Saint Michel de Frigolet Abbey, where Father Gaucher created the legendary Frigolet liqueur.