A Mediterranean adventure on the Routes of the Olive Tree

At Bize-Minervois, just a short distance from Béziers, you can visit the l’Oulibo olive grove and oil mill. During this “Olive Tree Odyssey” you’ll walk in the olive grove, visit the museum, taste the products and even embark on a treasure hunt. 

Your journey then continues to Montpellier where you won’t forget to fill your picnic basket with local specialities.

If you happen to make the trip in September, you’ll enjoy the vibe of the  festival Arabesque, which showcases the cultural diversity of Montpellier. 

If you come even later in the season, you can make the most of the Mediterranean cinema festival, CinéMéd, held in Montpellier at the end of October. 

If you’re here in autumn and miss the Routes of the Olive Tree, no worries! Continue to Aigues-Mortes, a few kilometres away, for a tasting session and explanations on the expertise surrounding olives, at the Oliveraie de Paul,! Don’t hesitate to stay overnight at the gîte, also on the premises.

Head towards Nîmes and stop on the way at Marguerittes to visit la Maison de la Garrigue et des Terroirs de l'Olivier. Here’s your chance to learn about the different olive-growing methods and products. 

Then visit the moulin du Calanquet in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. This oil mill is well-known for the quality of its production and boasts the “Haute Valeur Environnementale” certification label. 

Your last stop is Mouriès, the very first olive oil-producing village in France with some 90,000 olive trees. 

Save the dates! The green olive festival takes place on the third weekend of September, while the first weekend in December celebrates the arrival of the first olive oil of the season. 

For dinner, we recommend a lovely guinguette called Tata Simone, where olives take pride of place.

Spend the night at the Lou, guesthouse, set in three hectares of grounds with a view over the Baux valley.

After breakfast, continue on the Routes of the Olive Tree to Salon-de-Provence, to explore the musée du savon de Marseille to learn about traditional Marseille soap made from olive oil. 

Then enjoy a delicious break at the restaurant L’Olivier. 

Next, make the short trip to Marseille where you can visit the soap factory, la Licorne and the Mucem, to see some fascinating collections on the topics of local foods, craftsmanship, trade and industry. 

The Maison Montgrand has rooms with a view over the Old Port.

After a good breakfast admiring the stunning view of the Mediterranean Sea, you’re all set for a quieter day on the Routes of the Olive Tree. Today’s programme begins with a short drive to Manosque, where you can take your time visiting the écomusée de l’Olivier, tucked away in the Luberon nature park. 

Enjoy a rest at the Bastide de l’Adrech in Manosque. This gîte stands in the heart of an olive-growing estate that is also open to visitors.

Your first stop of the day is the Maison de l’Olivier in Le Val, where you’ll find an oil mill dating from 1720. After your visit, head for Lucéram, where the musée du moulin à huile displays some very old items dating as far back as the  17th century. So now you know all there is to know about cultivating olives!

Visit les routes de l’olivier et la Provence

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