Fontvieille & Daudet

Collectors of the famous coin can obtain one or more copies of “Les Alpilles d’Alphonse Daudet” (2006 model) from the tourist office and at the Château de Montauban (direct sale € 2) or by mail order only at the Town Hall of Fontvieille by following the following procedures:
– send the request to the Town Hall of Fontvieille 8, rue Marcel Honorat – 13990 Fontvieille
– payment by check ONLY payable to the PUBLIC TREASURY

Two purchasing options:
-1st version at the unit price of 4.50 € which includes the purchase of a part and the shipping costs –
2 nd version at the unit price of 2 € which includes the sending of a part only (attach a stamped envelope for order return)
town [email protected]

Fontvieille and Alphonse Daudet

This young Parisian journalist of Nîmes origin returned to the south of France driven by the desire to rediscover an atmosphere, an ambiance that he believed he had lost in the capital of culture and the arts that Paris represented. the invitation made by one of our most prestigious writers, one of the seven legendary founders of “Félibrige”, Frédéric Mistral, who warmly welcomes him to Maillane. Then, he will come to stay in Fontvieille during the summer of 1860 at the Château de Montauban hosted by his cousin Louis and his wife Octavie Daudet (née Ambroy). Since that day, he will come for thirty years on vacation in our village, a true land of inspiration for the characters in his works.

He will come to Fontvieille for the last time in the winter of 1891, in order to see his dear friend Timoléon Ambroy for the last time, who is very ill.

Montauban castle

Leaving the main street of the village, you will continue the walk taken so many times by Alphonse Daudet, on the way to the Château de Montauban, bordered by holm oaks, pinion pines, stone walls, trenches dug in the rock. Along the way, you will come across mills: the Ramet mill, the Tissot Avon mill and the Ribet mill.

The Château de Montauban is a beautiful building dating from the end of the 18th early 19th century located in a park of twelve hectares.

It was the residence of the Ambroy family who welcomed the writer and poet Alphonse Daudet.

Nowadays, this place is open to the individual public in season and all year round for groups.
Information from the municipal tourist office 04 90 54 67 49

The Château de Montauban hosts the Alphonse Daudet museum and the exhibition

This exhibition presents the themes of Provençal traditions and more particularly of Fontvieille. The place itself, relates the rich historical heritage of our village (as evidenced by many ancient and medieval monuments).

The first room honors Alphonse Daudet, whose stays in Fontvieillois remind him of this “blessed house” where he was so well received.

The second room is dedicated to Léo Lelée (painter from Arlésiennes) and to the Provençal costume that he helped to highlight at the start of the 20th century. More recent interpretations of the costume will support Lelée’s classic model.
The third room is dedicated to the Camargue race and bears the name of the famous raseteur Manolo Falomir.
The fourth room presents a Provençal crib and the works of the Fontvieillois santonniers.

Since 2012, the Alphonse Daudet museum has been presented within the castle through the major works of the writer and the translations of his world famous book “Les Lettres de mon Moulin”.

Nowadays, this place is open to the individual public in the summer season and all year round for groups.

A shop offers the major works of the writer as well as Arterra santons representing the most famous characters from his books. You can also purchase the souvenir medal (2006 model) from the Monnaie de Paris.

For all group visits, you can consult our service to professionals section.
Information and reservations at the municipal tourist office of Fontvieille at +0033 (0) 4 90 54 67 49
or [email protected]

TV Maritima talks about the exhibition “Fontvieille in stories”

See the link: http: // www.maritima.info/tv/programmes/le-grand-forum/6118/le-grand-forum-09-05-12.html

The walk in the footsteps of Alphonse Daudet for families and individuals

Whether you are traveling with your family, as a couple, with friends or on a solitary getaway, this walk is available to you all year round.
You will undoubtedly be enchanted by this unusual visit through the scrubland, land of inspiration for Alphonse Daudet.
A real fun walk through which you will discover the places that influenced our dear writer, starting with the Château de Montauban (the writer’s holiday resort) open to the public from April to September.

As Alphonse Daudet said, our path is “a pretty pine wood all sparkling with light tumbling down in front of me to the bottom of the hill… .that’s the spot I was looking for, a little fragrant and warm spot… and so many pretty things around me. ” so do not hesitate any longer and come visit this place with the sweet scents of Provence.

Virtual tour of the Alphonse Daudet mill: http://www.pays-arles.org/visite-virtuelle/#/20/

Tissot mill – Avon

It is the closest to the castle of Montauban. Originally, this mill was called Tissot, but its last owner, a miller by trade, was named Avon. This explains the name “Tissot-Avon”.

It was built at the beginning of the 19th century and operated until 1905.

It is an integral part of the “Si Alphonse Daudet m’ait conté” walking tour.

The Ramet mill

Erected at the beginning of the 19th century, it is located in the center of the mill site, between the Daudet mill and the Tissot-Avon mill.

It is an integral part of the walk in the footsteps of Alphonse Daudet.

It definitively ceased its activity at the beginning of the XXth century.

The Ribet Saint-Pierre mill

The Ribet mill also known under the name Moulin Saint Pierre, stands on the highest of our hills. It was built in 1814 and will operate until the First World War. In 1935, the Société des Amis des Moulins de Daudet decided to create a museum dedicated to the writer in the lower part of this mill.
Since 2012, visitors can discover the Alphonse Daudet museum within the castle of Montauban which was for a long time his holiday resort.

A path allows you to approach the mill which stands in the heart of our pine forest. You will be able to appreciate and photograph our Provençal scrubland which, as Alphonse Daudet said is “a pretty pine wood all sparkling with light … a fragrant and warm corner”.

The Sourdon mill

He is the oldest of the four mills in Fontvieille. It is on the small hill on the right as you go up the Allée des Pins. A notarial deed specifies that it already existed in 1791.

It definitively ceased its activity around 1870. It was one of the first to lose its roof. Since then it has been nicknamed the “fallen mill”.

Alphonse Daudet’s promenade in summer on a day classified as red

Today it is RED, please inquire at the tourist office.
The Municipality of Fontvieille tells you that the walk in the footsteps of Alphonse Daudet is closed from 11:00 am today due to bad weather conditions.
Take the village route to reach the Moulin de Daudet or the Château de Montauban.

Today it’s RED. The tourist office and the Municipality of Fontvieille inform you that the hill is Opened from 6 to 11 AM this day because of the meteorological bad conditions. Take the main street of the village to join the Windmill of Daudet or the Castle of Montauban.

Heute ist ROT. Informieren Sie Sie im Büro von Tourismus. Das Rathaus von Fontvieille zeigt Ihnen an, daß der Spaziergang im Wald heute geöffnet ist von 6 bis 11 Uhr morgen, weil des schlechten Benehmens Wettervorhersage. Nehmen Sie die Strasse beim Dorf, für die Mühle von Daudet oder das Schloß von Montauban verbinden.

Hoy esta ROJO. El oficio de turismo o la Municipalidad de Fontvieille le señalan que la colina ES ABIERTA AL PÚBLICO de las 6 a las 11 de la mañana este día debido a las malas condiciones meteorológicas. Tome el itinerario por pueblo to reunite el Molino de Daudet or el Castillo de Montauban.

Oggi è ROSSO. The ufficio di turismo o la Municipalità di Fontvieille vi indicates the hill è Aperta Al Pubblico di 6 ore alle 11 della mattina questo giorno a causa della cattive condizioni meteorologiche. Chiedete in prestito l’itinerario per villaggio per raggiungere il Mulino di Daudet or il Castello di Montauban.

Alphonse Daudet’s walk in summer on a day classified as black

Today it is BLACK, please inquire at the municipal tourist office. This color indicates that the walk in the footsteps of Alphonse Daudet is closed today due to bad weather conditions.
Take the village route to reach the Moulin de Daudet or the Château de Montauban.

Today it’s BLACK. The tourist office and the Municipality of Fontvieille inform you that the hill is closed this day because of the meteorological bad conditions. Take the main street of the village to rejoin the Windmill of Daudet or the Castle of Montauban.

Heute ist SCHARWZ. Informieren Sie Sie im Büro von Tourismus. Das Rathaus von Fontvieille zeigt Ihnen an, daß der Spaziergang im Wald heute geschlossen ist weil des schlechten Benehmens Wettervorhersage. Nehmen Sie die Strasse beim Dorf, für die Mühle von Daudet oder das Schloß von Montauban verbinden.

Hoy esta NEGRO. Informese usted al oficio de turismo o la Municipalidad de Fontvieille. The señalamos que la colina esta cerrada este día debido a las malas condiciones meteorológicas. Tome el itinerario por el pueblo to reunite el Molino de Daudet or el Castillo de Montauban.

Oggi è Nero. Informatevi all’ufficio di turismo or all Municipio di Fontvieille. The accesso alla collina è chiuso questo giorno a causa delle cattive condizioni meteorologiche. Chiedete in prestito l’itinerario per il villaggio per raggiungere il Mulino di Daudet or il Castello di Montauban.

During the summer of 1860 …

His first visit to our village would be in the summer of 1860. It was in this house that he made the acquaintance of various figures such as Audiberte the cook and servant, Mitifiot (aka Pistolet) the rural guard, Quenin said ” Lou Roudeirou “, Bugasse le bayle-pastre and many others. But all had the pleasure of the word, that of the storytellers of Provence. During his stays in Fontvieille, he met a good number of inhabitants, some of whom, with the help of the stories told to him during the evenings at the castle, would become the characters in his tales.

30 years of loyalty to Fontvieille

He came regularly to Fontvieille for 30 years. His last visit took place at the end of 1891 when he came, despite his state of health, to the bedside of his “lifelong” friend Timoléon who had been hospitalized in Arles. After his visit, he decided to take the diligence to join Fontvieille in order to contemplate the vast horizon one last time from the top of one of the mills. That same evening, he left for Arles to take the train that brought him back to Paris.

Whether this is true or even a legend does not matter, but the fact is, that this writer was truly in love with our Provence and especially with the village of Fontvieille.

Daudet, Mistral’s friend

The charisma of this man, and probably the descriptions with the accents of the South which he made of his Provence, incited the young Daudet to return towards our regions. First of all, he made a long stop at Maillane, warmly welcomed by Mistral and the ever-growing circle of felibres. Another invitation, this one made by his cousin Louis and his young wife Octavie Daudet (née Ambroy), forced him to leave his new friends for Fontvieille and the Château de Montauban.

The village discovery trail

Cet itinéraire propose une balade à faire en famille, au coeur du village. En continuité du Parcours Daudet, cet itinéraire mène le visiteur jusqu’à la Tour des Abbés et la vieille Font, noyau historique de Fontvieille. Chaque lieu est l’occasion de comprendre l’origine des oeuvres d’Alphonse Daudet et de Léo Lelée. Cette découverte ludique sera l’occasion de saisir des détails pittoresques, sculptures ou puits,de renouer avec les petites histoires qui ont fait ce village provençal si typique. Le parcours prend environ deux heures depuis le château de Montauban jusqu’au retour au Moulin Ribet, agrémenté par une trentaine de panneaux descriptifs.