Vitrolles: Holiday Apartments and Houses

The Plateau de Vitrolles covers almost 50 % of the municipality and displays shades ranging from white limestone to red clay and sandstone. The plateau is suitable for walking, horse riding and cycling; visitors can also observe Mediterranean flora and numerous bird species in their natural habitat.

Those who choose Vitrolles for their stay may wish to rent a holiday apartment there.

Nature

The Chappe telegraph, a historic relic dating from 1821, has been preserved on the Plateau de Vitrolles. At the Étang de Berre are the Salins du Lion, a 53-hectare natural bird sanctuary. The Salins du Lion can be reached on foot from the Chemin Saint-Bourdon, where there is also a car park.

Lac de la Tuilière boasts great biological diversity both in and out of the water. It is suitable for refreshing walks and family fishing, provided that the applicable regulations are observed.

Paths and Water

The Sentier du littoral de Vitrolles is a developed coastal path along the Étang de Berre that combines experiences in nature with discoveries related to local history. As an urban route, the Chemin vert is used for walking, cycling and travelling with pushchairs. A bridge over the Ravin d’Aix makes it a loop. Motorised traffic and parking are generally prohibited along the route; exceptions apply to certain vehicles.

Le Rocher is a residual hill formation created by the erosion of the cliff face and is almost 65 million years old. Climbing the stairs to the summit of Le Rocher offers panoramic views of the area around the Étang de Berre and Sainte-Victoire.

History and Culture

The Vieux Village can be explored independently with a free audio guide. A Gallo-Roman villa dating from the first centuries of the Common Era was discovered in Parc du Griffon. It had an exceptional heating system and included private baths.

In the 1830s, the Domaine de Fontblanche was a large agricultural estate; today, it is an important cultural venue in Vitrolles. Numerous cultural events take place there every year.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Vie was built around the year 1000 during the early Romanesque period and can be reached via a staircase carved into the limestone. The annual Notre-Dame-de-Vie pilgrimage takes place on the evening of 14 August by torchlight. During the procession, the statue of Notre-Dame-de-Vie, dating from the 17th century, is carried down from its chapel on the rock to the Church of Saint-Gérard.

More local pages: Le Grau-Du-Roi, Barbentane, Saint-Martin-De-Crau, Jouques, Carro, Velaux, Pélissanne, Graveson

To the overarching travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.