The town
Moustiers Sainte-Marie is located at the entrance of the Gorges du Verdon and is a good base from which to explore the area. With a few restaurants and hotels, it’s by far the most populated town in the region.
12th-century parish church
The cliffs loom over the town.
The village is tucked between two limestone cliffs with an aqueduct at the base.
Houses line the river
A sunny morning
Street sign
Moustier is the capital of faïence , or ceramics, which have been produced here since the Middle Ages. When the French kingdom melted silverware to mint currency, Moustier stepped in and supplied the palaces with ceramics. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the town became wealthy off ceramics.
None of the ceramics were our taste, but there’s no shortage!
Ateliers
Even today, every other storefront is an atelier.
Around a sunny corner
View from the hilltop
Moustier is surrounded by olive groves and is also known for its olive oil.
Typical street
Buildings line both sides of the rushing river
Though the area was first inhabited about 30,000 years ago, the village was officially established in the 5th century when Lérin monks moved into caves in the cliffs. The caves later came in handy in the 10th century when residents hid from the invading Moors. Today, bats are the sole residents.
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