In Cornillon-Confoux, Romanesque religious architecture, public art and rural dry-stone heritage come together. There are also different options for walks: the Parcours des bories is eleven kilometres long and can be shortened along the way; Entre eau et pierres covers 15.9 kilometres. Gardens and a cultural centre add to the choices. This lets you organise your explorations around the subjects that interest you most.
Churches, sculptures and historic buildings
The Church of Saint-Vincent was built in the Romanesque style in the 12th century. Its furnishings include a wooden Christ from the 17th century and a statue of Saint Vincent from the 15th century. Another Romanesque church is the Chapel of Saint-Vincent, built in the 11th century by the monks of Montmajour. The two buildings thus offer a glimpse into different periods of the town’s history.
Outside the church stands the statue Vierge enceinte, erected in 1865. It depicts the pregnant Virgin Mary; there are eleven such depictions in France. The village belfry, also known as the Tour de l’horloge, dates from 1852. Ikaria adds a much more recent touch: the bronze sculpture by Igor Mitoraj was given to Cornillon-Confoux in 2007.
Other buildings also evoke different periods. The Château de Confoux is a former fortress, probably built in the 13th century. The Château du Lys was built in the 17th century at the southeastern foot of the rocky outcrop. Ceramic fragments from the Gallo-Roman period attest to the existence of an archaeological site there. The Roman tomb associated with the Saint-Vincent necropolis is classified as a historic monument. The Château du Lys is privately owned and cannot be visited.
Bories, views and walking routes
The rural heritage is especially evident in the bories and the bee wall. Around fifty dry-stone bories once served as resting and sheltering places for shepherds. The bee wall, also called an apier, has 56 niches and is 60 metres long. It is described as the second-longest bee wall in France. Together, these two examples make dry-stone construction a common theme: in one case, small shelters; in the other, a long wall with niches.
Two orientation tables on the Baou offer views of the Touloubre Valley, the Luberon, Mont Ventoux, the Pays Salonnais and the Trévaresse range. The circular route Parcours des bories covers eleven kilometres and can be shortened at several points. At 15.9 kilometres, Entre eau et pierres is longer; the route runs partly alongside the Touloubre and leads to castles and wash houses. The routes therefore differ both in length and in the subjects mentioned along the way.
Gardens and cultural centre
Visitors interested in plants will find the Jardin extraordinaire, which focuses on Mediterranean species. The Jardin partagé is a communal space: the fruit, vegetables and aromatic herbs grown there can be tended and harvested. Shaded areas are available for picnics. The two gardens offer different experiences—Mediterranean plants in one, communal gardening and harvesting in the other.
The L’Oppidum cultural centre offers exhibitions, performances, and educational and sporting activities; its programme may vary. It also has a flexible-use hall and an exhibition foyer. If you would like to include cultural venues in your plans, it is advisable to check the current programme in advance.
Plan your journey
Cornillon-Confoux is easily accessible via the A54 and A7 motorways. Road conditions and access routes may change, so check the latest traffic information before travelling. When planning your day, consider your preferred route length and the themes of the individual walks alongside the cultural venues and gardens.
Discover more destinations: Raphèle-Les-Arles, Paradou, Plan-D'orgon, Maillane, Trets, Lambesc, Noves, Marseille
Back to the regional travel guide: Bouches Du Rhone.
