Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, France

The medieval village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie located in southeastern France has the distinction of being one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (one of the most beautiful villages in France), and deservedly so, as it is nestled in the hills near the beautiful Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon. This tiny town with only 700 residents is a gorgeous place to spend a few days to relax and unwind.

The highlight of the town is the 14th century chapel, Notre Dame de Beauvoir located high in the hills above the city center. You will pass the fourteen stations of the cross as you hike up the steep trail to the tiny chapel.

The view at the top of the village and valley below is amazing.

There are many activities to keep you occupied in Parc Naturel Régional du Verdon including hiking, fishing, canoeing, equestrian sports and much more. One of my favorite activities is wandering through the village and taking photos.

There were many sketching opportunities for theTravelsketcher.

There are just a few hotel options to choose from; we stayed at Le Relais located right in the center of town. Room 14 has an amazing view of the valley.

If you look back at the first photo in this post, you will see a bright object in the upper center of the photo. It is the famous star that hangs between the two cliffs. According to legend, Knight Bazon de Blancas, was held prisoner during the Crusades and vowed to hang the star above the village if he survived, but how it was hung is the big question. C’est un mystère n’est-ce pas?

As always, please leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.

Stay safe and healthy,

Tricia