It’s a subtle fragrance, both fruity and herbaceous, that lingers in the air as you drive along the small roads lined with olive trees in the Alpilles. Here, in the heart of a sunlit and refined landscape, olive oil is more than just a local product: it is an art, a tradition, a culture. The Olive Oil Estates Route invites you on a sensory and gourmet journey, between centuries-old mills, golden-stone bastides, and charming villages. A precious escape for food lovers, the curious, and all those who cherish authentic Provence.

AOP Vallée des Baux-de-Provence Olive Oil

Renowned for its exceptional quality, AOP Vallée des Baux-de-Provence olive oil is one of the most prestigious in France. Protected by a designation of origin since 1997, it guarantees authenticity, geographical origin, and production methods that respect local traditions. Made from at least two of the four main varieties (Salonenque, Béruguette, Grossane, Verdale des Bouches-du-Rhône), it comes in two styles: **green fruitiness**, intense and vegetal, or **black fruitiness**, smooth and confit-like.

👉 Learn more about AOP Vallée des Baux-de-Provence

Villages Along the Olive Oil Route

**Maussane-les-Alpilles, Mouriès, Fontvieille…**

The Olive Oil Route winds through some of the most emblematic landscapes of the Alpilles. Maussane-les-Alpilles, with its shaded squares and lively terraces, is one of the main hubs of olive oil production. Nearby, Mouriès — the historical cradle of Provençal olive growing — hosts a popular green olive festival every year. Further east, Fontvieille enchants visitors with its hills and its famous mill, immortalized by writer Alphonse Daudet.

Bathed in sunshine and scents, these villages are poetic stops where time seems to stand still.

👉 Explore the region on the Provence Tourisme – Alpilles website

Mills and Estates to Visit

Guided Tours and Tasting Workshops

More than just a purchase, a visit to an olive estate is a full sensory immersion. Among the must-sees:

- **Moulin Jean-Marie Cornille** in Maussane: a cooperative mill founded in 1924, preserving ancestral know-how while embracing innovation.

- **Château d’Estoublon**: a majestic estate combining prestigious olive oils, a wine cellar, a luxury boutique, and fine dining.

- **Moulin Castelas**: renowned for its powerful green fruitiness, offering educational tours and guided tastings.

Olfactory workshops, tasting initiations, and walks through the orchards offer a complete experience, blending knowledge, terroir, and pleasure.

Suggested Itinerary for a Gourmet Day

Begin your morning in Fontvieille with a visit to Daudet’s mill, then head to Maussane for a coffee break on the village square. Continue to Moulin Cornille for a guided tour and olive oil tasting. Stop at Château d’Estoublon for lunch in its chic bistro, then explore the orchards of Moulin de Mouriès. End your day at Moulin Castelas, with sweeping views of the Alpilles at sunset.

A short but sensory circuit, rich in encounters, that will make you want to return… or settle here for good.

Olive Oil Tourism: Between Tradition and Modernity

Olive oil tourism is booming, attracting gastronomy enthusiasts and culture lovers alike. It highlights the meticulous work of producers — often organic or sustainable — who are committed to preserving the landscape, biodiversity, and quality. Today, many estates combine olive groves with charming guesthouses, boutiques, exhibitions, and gourmet dining. Olive oil thus becomes the starting point for a refined, healthy, and sustainable art of living — quintessentially Provençal.

👉 Explore more addresses: France Oléotourisme

Where to Buy Quality Local Olive Oil?

The weekly markets of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Eygalières, or Les Baux are full of small local producers. For those seeking exceptional finds, estate boutiques such as Castelas, Estoublon, or Cornille offer premium selections, often awarded in international competitions. Olive oil becomes a true gift — to give or to keep — like a bottled fragrance of the South.

👉 Guide to certified producers on France Olive

Living Among the Olive Trees: What If This Became Home?

Waking up facing a silver olive grove, hearing cicadas through the shutters, buying your olive oil directly from the neighboring producer… This idyllic Provençal setting, so many dream of, could become your daily life.

In the Alpilles, real estate offers a rare balance between nature, heritage, and lifestyle. Whether you are drawn to a restored mas with a pool, a character-filled village house, or a property nestled among olive trees, exceptional opportunities exist here.

👉 Discover houses for sale in the Alpilles with Agence des Alpilles and make Provence your everyday life.