The chapels path

The landscape of the Alpilles has been shaped by centuries of grazing. In the mountains, sheep and goat flocks or cattle herds all play an important part in the maintenance of the natural area: by eating the grass and some of the tree sprouts and shrubs, they slow down the overrunning. The area thus remains open and grasslands are maintained. This practice helps to protect the forest against fire and the preservation of the Mediterranean biodiversity.

Under the authority of the counts of Provence, a castrum (fortified site) was built in the 13th century to defend Tarascon and the traffic routes. The number of soldiers present varies depending on the events until the end of the 16th century. Today, only the main tower and vestiges remain. The facing of the tower is adorned with a remarkable boss. On the blocks of stones, the different signs makes it possible to identify the stone carver and to pay him accordingly.

L'artiste Yoann Crépin a utilisé des matériaux locaux et naturels glanés dans les Alpilles (cyprès, génévrier, olivier, clématite et asperge sauvage) pour constituer son petit troupeau de chèvres du Rove qui rend un hommage poétique à cette race caprine patrimoniale qui se rencontrait fréquemment au sein des grands troupeaux de Provence. Dans les massifs forestiers, elle joue aussi un rôle important : friande d’épineux délaissés par les moutons, elle participe à réduire le risque incendie.

In the early Middle Ages, a first church was erected in the place of a former place of pagan worship. Dedicated to the archangel Gabriel, it is a milestone in the Way of St James trail. The present chapel was built in the 12th century and reflects the splendour of early Romanesque art in Provence, as shown in its architecture: its Antique façade, monumental gate, sculpted friezes, or its oculus decorated with symbols of the four Evangelists.

The Atlas cedar is a coniferous tree of the Pinaceae family. It is native to the Atlas, mountainous massif of North Africa. First introduced in public gardens, it grows naturally today in the south of France. Also known as blue cedar or silver cedar, Atlas cedar is a tree with a majestic and imposing look that can reach a height of 30 to 40 meters. If its shape is pyramidal when it is young, it becomes tabular when adult.

Located in the Lèque valley, the Saint-Peire-d'Entremonts chapel is a medieval building of the twelfth century. This priory was affiliated to the Saint-Gilles Abbey and then to the Chartreuse d'Avignon. The first mention of this chapel dates back to 1213. The remains of buildings are currently being restored by the association "Apier ou le Mur à des Oreilles" which organizes volunteer projects. ;

The flambé is a large triangular butterfly, with a wingspan of 50 to 70 mm (the male is smaller than the female) and recognizable by its large hovering flights. Its name comes from the coloring of its wings by black bands. Flambé lays eggs from April to August. The black larva becomes green after the second moulting. It winters as a chrysalis, then flies from late March to September. There is one, two, or three generations a year.

A bird's eye view allows to observe, the Lèque valley with its isolated dwellings and its large pine forest that extends from north to south. Further, this decor gives way to agricultural plots that go to the Val d'Enfer des Baux-de-Provence, and in clear weather, it is possible to see the summit of Opies, the Alpilles highest point. On the right stand two reliefs that close this valley, including Mount Valencia and its 234 m.

PEFC is an international association established in 1999. Her goal is to fight for the forests to be respected and well maintained. For this, it has put in place precise rules, enshrined in the principles of sustainable development, for the wood chain actors : from the forester who maintains his forest to the store that sells wood or wooden objects. The association then ensures that these rules are respected. Today, one in three French forests is PEFC certified.

The Rove goat is a countryside breed, easily recognizable with his lyre-shaped horns. It is generally found within large sheep flocks of Provence, which in summer, transhumance on foot towards the Alps. They had multiple roles: leading the sheep flock, feeding lambs, food subsistence for shepherds with goat milk and goat meat. After nearly disappearing in the 1970s, the breed now exceeds 10 000 goats.