Mouriès

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Commune of Mouriès
Location
Longitude 04°52'18"
Latitude 43°41'24"
Administration
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Bouches-du-Rhône
Arrondissement Arles
Canton Eyguières
Mayor Pierre Santoire
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Altitude 1 m–280 m
Land area¹ 38.35 km²
Population²
(1999)
2,752
 - Density (1999) 72/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 13065/ 13890
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 mi² or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel).
France

Mouriès is a village and commune of the Bouches-du-Rhône département, in southern France.

Contents

[edit] Economy

Mouriès is known for its olive oil production, calling itself "the olive oil capital of France" (a claim disputed by Nyons, further north). There are still two working olive oil mills in town, including one which allows tours. In December of every year there is a festival celebrating the end of the harvest and the new oil, with a small parade and the benediction of the oil, along with various markets.

Wednesday is market day. The small tourism office in town supplies a list of all of the market days in the area. In winter the market here is much larger than in the other towns in the area (Maussane, Aureille or Eygalières).

[edit] Sights

The town sits on an old Roman road, and there has been a settlement here since the Celto-Ligrian days. The old oppidum of the ligurians is still visible on les Caisses Jean-Jean at the eastern end above the golf course.

[edit] Transportation

A bus with a very odd schedule connects the town with Arles to the west and Salon-de-Provence in the east.

[edit] External links