Mollégès

Discover the charming village of Mollégès in the Alpilles.

Nestled between the Alpilles and the Durance River, Mollégès stands apart from the rest of the world—quiet, serene, almost hidden away. This small village in the Bouches-du-Rhône has never tried to charm visitors. It didn’t need to.

Nestled in the heart of Provence’s “golden triangle,” between the Rhône, the Alpilles, and the Durance, it exudes a gentle way of life that major tourist resorts have long since lost.

The road leading to the village winds through orchards, cypress-lined avenues, and plane trees. You arrive without rushing. You stop for no particular reason. And you quickly understand why some visitors end up settling here for good.

Twelve kilometers from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, nine from Cavaillon, and within easy reach of Les Baux-de-Provence and the Alpilles Natural Park, the town offers an ideal location for discovering the most authentic Provence. Remains of the 13th-century abbey, a Romanesque-style cemetery chapel, a monument to the draft horse—the historical heritage is there, humble and very real, far from the crowds.

A village with character

Once in Mollégès, you’ll discover a village full of charm and character, with narrow streets crisscrossing alongside old houses, antique wooden doors, flower-adorned windows, and shutters faded by the sun.

As you stroll through the village, you’ll pass by several beautiful houses, some with small gardens that look very pleasant. You’ll then arrive at a small, delightfully shaded square next to the church, surrounded by small stone houses with harmonious proportions.

As you walk around the church, you’ll notice a large, old house that has been restored and tastefully renovated; you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the gardens surrounding the church and the town hall square right next to it, with its vast flower beds and immaculate lawns.

A peaceful life

Everything is calm and peaceful; everyone knows each other, and the villagers are always smiling. You can hear the children at school; their parents work in St. Rémy, Cavaillon, Châteaurenard, Orgon, or Salon. During the day, you’ll come across those who aren’t working—the retirees. The women chat among themselves while a cat rubs against their legs; the men, for their part, sit in the shade on a bench and watch the rare passersby go by.

It was in the village of Mollégès that French actor Guy Marchand was buried in December 2023. He lived in the village.

The Feast of Saint Eloi

The feast of Saint Eloi, patron saint of carters, is held on the second-to-last weekend of June. This is not a reenactment of folklore for visitors—it is a living tradition, deeply rooted in the village’s identity.

On Saturday evening, about fifteen horses gallop into the village, harnessed to the carreto ramado—a cart adorned with poplar branches—and dressed in Saracen-style tack. On Sunday, the blessed cart sets off again in a procession pulled by some fifty horses, while the village women don the traditional Arlésienne costume. A moment that belongs to another era—and that is precisely what makes it unforgettable.