A car-free weekend in Moustiers!
Do you want to get away for a weekend, without the constraint of a car ? Welcome to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a village where everything invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment to the fullest.
Between picturesque streets, the grandiose landscapes of the Verdon and the Provençal atmosphere, it is quite possible to discover Moustiers in a different way: on foot, by bike or by public transport. For a weekend, let yourself be guided and live a gentle experience, at the rhythm of the village and the surrounding nature.
Your arrival in the village
The train is often the easiest way to reach the region.
The closest train stations to Moustiers are:
- Manosque – Gréoux-les-Bains railway station
- Aix-en-Provence TGV station
- Marseille-Saint-Charles train station
From these stations, you can reach the Verdon thanks to the regional bus lines. Several lines serve Riez all year round, a village near Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
- From Manosque, bus 132 runs daily.
- From Marseille – Gare Saint Charles and Aix-en-Provence – Gare routière, line 67 connects with Riez every day
Finally, to connect Riez to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, you will have to take the ZOU 450 line. It runs all year round as a school bus and then several times a day and to Castellane in season.
Check the timetables and connections on the website of the South region: zou.maregionsud.fr.
You can also choose the carpooling option (Maïre car park) or the taxi!
And once there?
Discover one of the most beautiful villages in France
Take the time to stroll through the cobbled streets, stop at an earthenware shop, taste a dish made with local products, learn the secrets of the village with a guided tour, marvel at the Adou flowing through the center of the village…
A hike in the territory
After taking the time to discover the village, it’s time to go on an adventure ! From the centre of Moustiers, three hikes are possible: The Botanical Trail of Tréguier from which you will have a view of the Lake of Sainte-Croix, the Tour of the village by Les Claux to admire the village and the Verdon, and for the more adventurous require it the Path of the Chain to touch one of the links of the chain suspended above the Chapel of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir! For a longer hike, head towards the Riou to start the Vincel Circuit. From the centre of the village, you will climb to the Vénascle plateau to discover the peaks of the Verdon and privileged views of the Lake of Sainte-Croix!
For even more sporty hikes, starting from our village, go to the Hikes and Trails page.
Discover the Gorges du Verdon
If you want to walk in the heart of the Gorges du Verdon, this is the Sentier du Blanc-Martel ! This route allows you to enter the deepest part of the canyon. During the one-way route, you will come across many lookouts. As the tour is a one-way trip, a shuttle service is set up from April to October. The shuttle bus takes you from the car park in La Palud-sur-Verdon to the starting point of the hike (the Chalet de la Maline). The shuttle picks you up at the Point Sublime at the end of your walk to take you back to La Palud-sur-Verdon.
In season, between July 1st and August 31st, the ZOU 450 Riez-Castellane bus line coordinates with the shuttle bus so that you can do the most famous hike in the Verdon.
Take a trip to the Lake of Sainte-Croix
From Moustiers, you can reach the Lake of Sainte-Croix and the nautical bases on foot.
After a 5km hike along the Quinson path, you will arrive at the La Cadeno Nautical Base, an ideal place for an afternoon at the beach or to sail on the lake.
If you walk another two kilometres towards the Galetas Bridge, you will find the Base Nautique de l’Étoile. From this point, rent a boat and enter the immensity of the Gorges du Verdon and its 700m high cliffs.
Rent an electric bike
Finally, to go on the Route des Crêtes to see the most beautiful panoramas of the Gorges du Verdon or to smell the lavender of Provence on the Plateau de Valensole, think about renting an (electric) bike! The Tourist Office has a charger for electric bikes.
