Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Is Moustiers-Sainte-Marie worth visiting?

Yes. It is the prettiest stop on any Verdon day, and the one with the most to do on foot: a chapel climb, a museum and lanes of workshops.

The village stacks up the slope between two cliffs, with a stream running down through it. Coaches are banned from the village centre from April to October, according to the tourist office, so groups walk in from the edge. Wear shoes with grip: the lanes are steep and cobbled.

Is it touristy? In summer, yes. It is still worth it.

What is the star in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie?

A gilded star on a chain of more than 200 metres strung between the two cliffs above the village. Legend says a crusader knight hung it there.

The story goes that the knight Bozon de Blacas, held prisoner during the Crusades, vowed to hang a star over Moustiers if he ever came home. The chain has broken more than once over the centuries; after the last break the star was put back by helicopter.

You can see it from the lanes if you look up. The chapel path takes you closer.

How many steps to the chapel in Moustiers?

262 stone steps, once 365, lead from the village to the chapel of Notre-Dame de Beauvoir. It is free and open every day in daylight.

The chapel was built at the end of the 12th century, with Gothic bays and a choir added in 1536. Along the path, fourteen Stations of the Cross replaced seven older oratories in 1860, and were later decorated with faience tiles by Simone Garnier. The regional tourist board has one warning: bring good shoes, the steps are slippery.

If you only have an hour in Moustiers, spend it here. The view back over the roofs and down the valley is the best in the village.

What is Moustiers faience, and where can you see it?

Glazed earthenware painted in blue on white, made here since Pierre Clérissy opened the first workshop around 1679. See it in the Musée de la Faïence and in the workshops along the lanes.

The Clérissy workshop made its blue-on-white pieces until about 1730. The craft then faded: after the war of 1870 and industrial competition, no workshop was left by 1927. Marcel Provence revived it by rebuilding a kiln, and the museum opened on 15 September 1929. Workshops in the village still make and sell it today.

Source: the museum's listing with the regional tourist board. Note the lunch break: on a tour that stops in Moustiers between 12:30 and 2 pm, the museum is shut.

How much time do you need in Moustiers?

Two hours to climb to the chapel, see the museum and eat without hurrying. Most tours give about an hour, which covers the chapel or lunch, rarely both.

The budget trip from Nice lists about an hour in Moustiers, and guests on the Nice tours report it is not enough to explore and have lunch. With one hour:

• Climb first, while your legs are fresh: the chapel and back.
• Walk down through the lanes past the faience shops.
• Eat on the move, or have lunch at the lake later if your tour stops there.
• Skip the museum unless it is open and you have spare time.

Free time in Moustiers with lunch, a Valensole producer on the way and a swim in the lake after. From Aix, eight guests at most.

★ 4.6 · 9.5 hours · from $182

Explore the day trip from Aix → Tour details

Where do you park in Moustiers?

In the signed car parks around the village; the centre is closed to coaches from April to October. Blue zones give 1 hour free with a €2 parking disc from the tourist office.

• Blue zone: 1 hour free with a disc showing your arrival time. Some spaces are reserved for residents in season.
• Market day: the P1, P2 and P3 car parks are free on Friday mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., until 25 September 2026.
• Motorhomes: a dedicated area at €15 a night for two in 2026, with a Pass'Etapes card at €5.

On a tour, none of this is your problem. That is one of the better arguments for one.

How do you get to Moustiers from Nice, Aix or Marseille?

By car: about 2 h 15 from Nice, 2 h from Marseille and 1 h 45 from Aix. By bus: seasonal Zou! lines through Riez. Most visitors come on a day tour.

Driving times are from the Moustiers tourist office. From the A51, leave at exit 18 for Manosque and Valensole, or exit 17 for Vinon-sur-Verdon, Gréoux and Riez.

Without a car, the bus works for a stay, not a day trip. See the Verdon without a car.

What else is near Moustiers?

Lac de Sainte-Croix and Pont du Galetas below the village, and the Route des Crêtes and Point Sublime along the north rim to the east.

The tourist office suggests a 5 km walk on the Quinson path down to the La Cadeno boat base on the lake, then 2 km more to the boats at Pont du Galetas. The Route des Crêtes starts from La Palud-sur-Verdon: a loop of about 23 to 24 km with 14 viewpoints, 1.5 to 3 hours with stops. Its middle section closes in winter; this winter's dates.

For the water itself, read pedal boats and swimming.

Frequently asked questions