Tarascon (13) - Walks in Orange and around

Tarascon is located on the border of the Rhone river, at a crossroads between Avignon, the Camargue region, and the Luberon. This village is very famous for being TartarinÂ’s hometown. The writer Alphonse Daudet created this colourful character, Tartarin, in 1872. The authorÂ’s house is now open to the public.

You can stroll around the town and discover its old picturesque streets, in particular the Rue des Halles with its arcades, the street Arc de Boqui (totally covered), and the Rue des Juifs (Jew Street).

The King René Castle deserves a visit, it is indeed one of the most beautiful medieval castle in France. The collegiate church Sainte Marthe, not too far from the castle, was built to shelter the relics of the saint woman. The legend says that Marthe, coming back from Palestine, arrived in Tarascon where an amphibian monster, the Tarasque, was terrifying the village. It is said that Marthe bravely and miraculously tamed the monster…

Tarascon is also the home of the famous Souleïado fabric museum, located in a 16th century townhouse. The Charles Demery manufacture keeps maintaining this ancient tradition and spreads all over the world the fashion inspired by provencal folklore.