Le Paradou

Le Paradou is really tiny but it has everything you could ask for! Once a medieval village, it has very old stone houses, admirably restored, with shutters in pastel tones, flowering gardens in vibrant colours and narrow pedestrian streets that let you stroll around as you please. There are plenty of crafts shops and if you want a bite to eat you have a choice of restaurants and cafés. The Bistrot du Paradou with its daily menus offering simple and typically French dishes has become an institution for the locals. Even Charles Aznavour has his favourite table there and Caroline de Monaco is a regular customer.

But Le Paradou also has a rich history.
In the past, the medieval village was called Saint-Martin-de-Castillon and was situated on the Rochers de la Pène range higher up. This site was already an oppidum in the 2nd century BC. Excavations uncovered a Roman stele, sepulchres, a small altar and the Lion d'Arcoules, a truncated statue from the 1st century BC. The objects today can be seen at the Museum of Antique Arles.
The site continued to be occupied up until the 15th century but only three towers dating from the 13th century still remain from the old castle of Saint-Martin-de-Castillon. The whole area, however, is open to the pubic.