This old town is nestled in between two steep limestone cliffs. Situated near the Gorges du Verdon, it is a great place to explore, and a great base to explore the area from as well. When we visited in June it was busy, but not throbbing with tourists. As a brief introduction, this town is a centre of pottery that specialises in faïence. This art involved detailed, graceful painting done on delicate earthenware. One isn’t allowed to photograph the designs, so you will have to go and see them for yourself.
The Knight’s Star
This must be the only town to have a gold star hanging above it, glinting in the sunlight. According to legend, the tradition was started in the tenth century by a knight of the Crusades. He was imprisoned by the Saracens and vowed to hang a star over his home village if he was allowed to return there. Ever since, there has always been a golden star hanging above the town.
Things to See
The small town has a shop with necessities (8 à 8). Browse the specialty provençal shops and stock up on local goodness and souvenirs. There are also a number of restaurants to enjoy. Stop for a glass of kir (a French drink made simply with crème de cassis and white wine) in the shade. When you look up towards the cliffs, you will see a beautiful ancient abbey perched on the rocks. Definitely worth a visit, the steep walk will reward you with stunning views.
Finding Adventures
The surrounding area has plenty of adventure activities on land and water. A two hour drive to the south will get you close to the Med. If you travel south-west you’ll end up at Aix-en-Provence. For us, Moustiers was a brilliant base for exploring the Gorges du Verdon by car.
Our next destination is going to be Menton! And then on towards Florence.