A two-day Provençal Christmas weekend between Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, Tarascon and Les Baux-de-Provence, 2026 season

A Provençal Christmas: a weekend of castles from Villeneuve-lès-Avignon to Les Baux, between santons and markets

Two days in Provence during the festive season: the Fort Saint-André and the Philippe-le-Bel tower overlooking the Palais des Papes, the Château de Tarascon and the citadel of Les Baux, with Christmas markets and the Salon des Santonniers in Arles.

Editorial journal · Carte des Châteaux · 2 November 2026

Saison calendale 2026

In Provence, Christmas is not confined to a single evening. The festive season begins in early December and stretches until Candlemas. This year, the santon-makers are even getting ahead of themselves: the International Salon in Arles opens on 14 November, Avignon’s place de l’Horloge market stalls return on 28 November, and Tarascon hosts its santon market the same weekend. Between these events, the Rhône is lined with fortresses that remain open throughout winter: the tower and fort that the kings of France erected facing Avignon, the château where King René entertained his court, and then the citadel of Les Baux, perched on its rocky outcrop in the Alpilles. Here is a two-day itinerary to link them all, with winter opening hours verified for each stop.

BOUCHES-DU-RHONE · Les Baux-de-Provence

Château des Baux

Cradle of the powerful House of Baux, which claimed descent from the Magus king Balthazar, the castle of Les Baux-de-Provence, mentioned as early as the 10th century, ruled over as many as 79 Provençal towns before being dismantled on Richelieu's orders in 1631. In 1642 the fief became a marquisate, a title still held by Prince Albert of Monaco. Today it is a major tourist site in Provence, welcoming nearly two million visitors a year, and since 2007 it has displayed three reconstructed siege engines, including a trebuchet unique in Europe.

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BOUCHES-DU-RHONE · Tarascon

Château de Tarascon

Rebuilt in the first half of the 15th century on the banks of the Rhône, the Château de Tarascon was the favourite residence of Good King René, who held festivities and meetings there and had the closoirs (the boards between the joists) of its larch-wood ceilings painted; they can still be seen today. Alongside its historical tour, the monument now also houses the Centre d'Art René d'Anjou, devoted to contemporary creation.

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Did you know? Three princes behind these walls

René d'Anjou, dit le bon roi René

1409-1480

Duke of Anjou, Count of Provence from 1434 and King of Naples without a kingdom, René spent the latter part of his life between Aix and Tarascon, which he made the setting for his festivities. He also owned the château of Boulbon and in 1437 sold the castrum of Montpaon in the Alpilles to Jean d’Arlatan. On his death, Provence passed to his nephew Charles of Maine, then to the King of France in 1481.

Philippe IV le Bel

1268-1314

King of France from 1285 to 1314, he turned Villeneuve-lès-Avignon into a royal outpost facing a Provençal bank that did not belong to him. The 1292 pariage with the abbot of Saint-André enabled him to build the tower that bears his name; the fort on Mont Andaon, begun in his reign, was completed by his successors.

Honoré II Grimaldi, prince de Monaco

1597-1662

By placing Monaco under French protection in 1641, Honoré II received from Louis XIII in 1642 the lands of Les Baux, elevated to a marquisate. The title of Marquis of Les Baux has remained in the princely family and is today held by Prince Albert II.

Planning your winter weekend

“Thirteen, yes thirteen, no more if you wish, but not one fewer.”

Dr Joseph Fallen, 1925, on the thirteen desserts, cited by the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage

The route on the map

From Mont Andaon to the Alpilles

The route follows the Rhône southwards: Fort Saint-André and the Philippe-le-Bel tower in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, the Château de Tarascon on the riverbank, then the citadel of Les Baux in the Alpilles, around twenty kilometres further east.

Markers follow the suggested visiting order. Select a castle to open its page.

Sources

Ministère de la Culture – PCI Inventory: Christmas celebrations in Provence ↗City of Avignon – The Christmas market returns to place de l’Horloge ↗Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourism – Salon des Santonniers in Arles ↗Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourism – Château des Baux-de-Provence ↗Château des Baux-de-Provence – History of the château ↗Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourism – Château de Tarascon ↗Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Tourism – Exhibition ‘Medieval Fashion: Elegance and Prestige at the Court of King René’, Tarascon ↗Gard Tourism – Fort Saint-André ↗Gard Tourism – Philippe-le-Bel Tower ↗Fréquence Sud – Santon and Provençal traditions market in Tarascon ↗Les Baux-de-Provence – Midnight Mass and pastrage ↗Fréquence Sud – Marseille Santon Fair 2026 ↗

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 1: Villeneuve-lès-Avignon and Avignon

Morning at Fort Saint-André on Mont Andaon, afternoon at the Philippe-le-Bel tower by the Rhône, then evening at the Christmas market on place de l’Horloge, on the other side of the river.

Fort Saint-André Tour Philippe-le-Bel

Day 2: Tarascon and Les Baux-de-Provence

The Château de Tarascon as soon as it opens in the morning, then the drive up into the Alpilles and the citadel of Les Baux, to be visited before its 17:00 closing time. A possible detour via Arles and its Salon des Santonniers.

Château de Tarascon Château des Baux