Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
- WHAT TO DO
- WHAT TO SEE
- WHAT TO EAT
Sitting ninety minutes northeast of Aix-en-Provence by car, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie clings to a limestone cliff above the Adou ravine. It is famous for tin-glazed faience ceramics and the gilded star suspended high over the gorge. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is worth visiting if you want artisan pottery workshops, steep stone stairways, and direct trail access into the Verdon gorge. Look elsewhere if you need flat terrain, railway connections, or late-night bars.
Last updated 16 Sept 2026
Field notes
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What to do in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
The village stacks vertically against pale limestone bluffs, sliced in half by a rushing mountain torrent. Your day here revolves around footwork: climbing worn stone lanes, poking into small faience ateliers, and eating outdoors under plane trees. It suits travellers who appreciate slow mornings, historic masonry, and early starts on the trail before the midday heat reflects off the bare canyon rock.
24 hours in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Start early with a climb up the polished stone steps to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir. By noon, settle on Rue de la Bourgade for Daube Provençale. Spend the afternoon browsing tin-glazed faience workshops before paddling a rental kayak into the mouth of the Verdon canyon at Lac de Sainte-Croix, five minutes down the hill. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
A second day lets you drive the Route des Crêtes loop above the canyon, watching griffon vultures ride the morning thermals from the cliffs. Return via the historic village of Riez for wood-fired pizzas, local tapenades, and an evening stroll through Moustiers after day-trippers depart. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Three days give you time to hike the Sentier Blanc-Martel into the deep gorge floor without checking your watch. Follow it with an unhurried afternoon tasting olive oils around the Valensole plateau, finishing over trout and Coteaux de Pierrevert wine at a quiet village inn.
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France itineraries by interest
Craft Traditions in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Watch potters brush cobalt glaze onto tin-enameled faience at Atelier Mufraggi and visit the Musée de la Faïence on Place de l'Église.
Hiking in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Climb 262 cobblestone steps to Notre-Dame de Beauvoir or take the Sentier Martel along the limestone cliffs of the Verdon gorge.
Regional Dining in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Order Sisteron lamb with thyme, caillette pork terrine, and lavender honey ice cream along the cobbled terraces of Rue de la Bourgade.
Lakes & Waterways in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Rent an electric boat or kayak at Lac de Sainte-Croix where the cold turquoise water meets the limestone mouth of the Verdon canyon.
Sacred Architecture in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Examine the twelfth-century Romanesque bell tower of Notre-Dame de l'Assomption and the high clifftop chapel of Beauvoir.
Markets & Produce in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Visit the Friday morning market on Place de l'Église for Banon goat cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves, olive oil, and cured sausages.
Scenic Drives in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Drive the Route des Crêtes along the north rim of the Grand Canyon du Verdon, stopping at the Belvédère de l'Escalès.
Village History in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Trace fifth-century monastic origins and the legend of the knight Blacas, who strung the village star between two cliff faces.
Local Produce in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Sample Valensole plateau lavender honey, cold-pressed Picholine olive oil from local mills, and crisp AOP almond confections.
Geology & Canyons in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Study 700-metre limestone ravines carved by the Verdon river, with accessible vantage points and ancient tufa caves below the village.
Wine & Apéritifs in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Sip crisp Coteaux de Pierrevert rosé and herbal RinQuinQuin peach apéritifs at shaded village bistros near the waterfall.
Day Trips in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie Provence-Alpes-Côte+d'Azur France
Head twenty minutes west across the Valensole plateau for summer lavender fields and the quiet medieval streets of Riez.