Surrounded by the pine-covered hills of Luberon Regional Park, Manosque is the largest town in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It’s home to historic fortifications and serves as a base for L’Occitane, with quintessential Provençal olive groves and lavender fields fringing the town.
Things to do in Manosque
On either side of Manosque’s historic core are imposing gates, which were built to guard the southern and northern entrances to the town. Gaze up at the 14th-century Porte de la Saunerie, which takes its name from the Provençal word for “slaughterhouse” as it was once positioned near the town’s butchers and tanners. Topped by a balustrade and wrought-iron campanile in the north of Manosque is the Porte de la Saunerie.
Several historic churches dot the town’s historic centre, including the lovely Église Saint-Sauveur that dates back to the 12th century. Admire its Romanesque and Gothic-style architecture, then step inside to tour the opulently furnished interior. The Église Notre-Dame-de-Romigier is renowned for its sculpted Romanesque portal and a Black Madonna dating from the 1000s.
Manosque is home to the headquarters of L’Occitane, a renowned beauty brand that offers guided tours of its Provençal factory. See the laboratories and packing lines while hearing what makes L’Occitane’s products unique. Face creams and fragrances are available for purchase in the Boutique Musée while many of the botanical ingredients used by the brand are grown in its Mediterranean-style garden.
Getting around Manosque
Manosque is a 45-minute drive from Aix-en-Provence and just over an hour from Marseille and Marseille Provence Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Trains connect to the Manosque - Gréoux-les-Bains railway station and buses travel throughout the town. Manosque’s historic core can easily be explored on foot.