According to the Plus Beaux Villages de France association, Moustiers Saint-Marie (also known as Moustiers) is one of the most beautiful villages in France (there are 161 villages in total with this designation). And, I have to agree (it’s definitely one of the most beautiful villages I’ve ever visited…period).
We visited Moustiers during our 7-day road trip through Provence, and it was one of our favorite stops during the entire trip! The village is small and caters to tourists, but has managed to retain an authentic, Provencal-style charm. It’s definitely worth making a pit-stop here if you happen to be visiting the region of Provence. Check out these 15 photos that will inspire you to visit Moustiers!
Related Post: Lavender Fields in Provence
Moustiers is situated at the base of a rocky mountain, and is conveniently located between the lavender fields of Valensole and the crystal blue waters of the Lake of Saint-Croix. A rushing mountain stream divides the village in half, and a few stone bridges connect the two sides.
In the center of the village is the 12th-century Notre Dame Church, and the town’s main square. A variety of shops, cafes, and restaurants line the side lanes of Moustiers. Many of the restaurants offer outdoor terrace seating, perfect for a lazy afternoon lunch or a romantic sunset dinner on a warm summer evening.
Many of the village shops specialize in ‘faience’ pottery, a glossy tin-glazed pottery detailed with fine hand-painted images (usually floral or landscapes). It was so hard to resist buying a few of the plates!
Suspended high in the air, connected to an iron chain that has been fastened to either side of the village gorge is the “star”. This golden star has become a symbol of local legend and history – rumor has it, the star is linked to a local knight at the time of the Crusades, who vowed to fight and then return to his beloved village (and supposedly, he did return).
Because of it’s location, perched along the sides of a rocky mountain, Moustiers offers sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding valley.
To get the best views of Moustiers, we made a steep climb up 262 stone steps to the Notre-Dame de Beauvoir chapel. This tiny 8th century chapel is situated right at the edge of a cliff, high above the town. Although most tourists end their climb at the chapel, we continued onward, up a steep and semi-hidden footpath for a short distance. This was such a good decision on our part, because we found the best viewpoint overlooking the chapel. Being at the viewpoint by ourselves, looking down over the chapel and the valley, felt almost other-worldly. It was one of the most peaceful and serene settings I’ve ever witnessed.
An amazing dinner option in Moustiers is Alan Ducasse’s world-famous farmhouse retreat/restaurant, La Bastide de Moustiers. Personally, I think the cheese plate alone warrants a visit to this restaurant and tiny little town. Read more about this mind-blowing cheese plate here.
RELATED POST: Where to Eat: La Bastide de Moustiers in Provence
Situated a short 5-minute drive from the entrance of the Verdon Regional National Park, Moustiers is the perfect resting base for those looking to visit the Lake of Saint-Croix and the Gorges du Verdon. The turquoise green waters of the Gorges du Verdon are nature at it’s very best – we spent a day exploring the area by kayak and by car. It’s honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.
TIP: If you’re interested in renting a kayak to explore the Gorges du Verdon, make sure to go early! It’s a very popular activity during the peak summer season, and kayaks can sell out by 11am!
Have questions or need help planning a trip to Moustiers? Leave me a comment below!
Sharing is caring! Check out these Pinterest-friendly images below!
Hello Jessie I will be in Paris for 10 days the first week of September and had already planned on visiting Nice for a couple of those days and then I saw pictures of Moustiers and Gorges de Verdon…now I’m wondering about what the most time efficient way to also get there! What’s the closest train station to Moustiers to arrive at from Paris (and then road trip to Nice)? Or Should I just take the train to Nice and rent a car to road trip to Moustiers and back to Nice? Thank you in advanced!
Hi Irene! To be honest, Moustiers is not very accessible by public transportation. I would recommend taking the train to Nice and renting a car for a road trip around the area (about a 2 hour drive between Nice and Moustiers). Hope that helps! And have so much fun, September will be a lovely time to visit.
Hi, this place I want to visit when the time is right. Im not very rich, so all tips for visiting this place make me happy! Riitta
Hi Riitta – I’m sure you will love Moustiers when you get a chance to visit! I can understand being on a tight budget – my best advice is to just try to save up whatever you can over time. Visiting Moustiers itself is free, but you will likely need a rental car to get there, so do keep that in mind! As far as cheap lodging goes, there are several campsites and hostels in the various villages of Provence so would check those out!