Peynier

Forest town located 40 km from Marseille and 20 km from Aix-en-Provence, Peynier small Provencal village, covers 2476 ha between the Sainte-Victoire mountain in the north, and the chain of Regagnas (716 m) East, in the heart of the Upper Valley of the Arc, in the department of Bouches-du-Rhone.

The town, which remained around the castle and the church now has over 3000 inhabitants and tends to grow towards the road of Michels and along entrances to the village, especially to drive from Marseille.

Municipality	Peynier
Postcode	13790
Latitude	43.4486220 (N 43° 26’ 55”)
Longitude	5.6401570 (E 5° 38’ 25”)
Altitude	From 211m to 500m
Surface area	24.76 km²
Population	3641 inhabitants
Density	147 inhabitants/km²
Prefecture	Marseille (43 km, 37 min)
Insee code	13072
Intercommunality	ME Métropole d'Aix-Marseille-Provence
Department	Bouches-du-Rhône
Territory	Provence
Region	Provence-Alps-French Riviera

Municipality

Peynier

Postcode

13790

Latitude

43.4486220 (N 43° 26’ 55”)

Longitude

5.6401570 (E 5° 38’ 25”)

Altitude

From 211m to 500m

Surface area

24.76 km²

Population

3641 inhabitants

Density

147 inhabitants/km²

Prefecture

Marseille (43 km, 37 min)

Insee code

13072

Intercommunality

ME Métropole d'Aix-Marseille-Provence

Department

Bouches-du-Rhône

Territory

Provence

Region

Provence-Alps-French Riviera

Trets	4.1 km (7 min)
Rousset	4.3 km (8 min)
Châteauneuf-le-Rouge	8.6 km (9 min)
Fuveau	9 km (13 min)
Belcodène	9.1 km (12 min)
La Bouilladisse	9.5 km (14 min)
Puyloubier	10.6 km (17 min)
Pourrières	12.1 km (16 min)
Beaurecueil	12.5 km (16 min)
Gréasque	12.6 km (17 min)
Cadolive	13.3 km (19 min)
Saint-Antonin-sur-Bayon	13.4 km (21 min)
La Destrousse	13.5 km (18 min)
Peypin	13.7 km (19 min)

4.1 km (7 min)

4.3 km (8 min)

8.6 km (9 min)

9 km (13 min)

9.1 km (12 min)

9.5 km (14 min)

10.6 km (17 min)

12.1 km (16 min)

12.5 km (16 min)

12.6 km (17 min)

13.3 km (19 min)

Saint-Antonin-sur-Bayon

13.4 km (21 min)

La Destrousse

13.5 km (18 min)

Peypin

13.7 km (19 min)

Castle:

The castle is the main element of the architecture of the village. Built in the mid 16th century by Matheron (Family lords Peynier), it is typical of the architecture of the Renaissance Provence. Two large round towers flanking the main facade, which were drilled at the time of cross windows. In the small courtyard, M formed by bricks on the ground in the middle of the calade remember the name of Matheron. The castle then passed to the family Isoard Chenerilles then to Arbaud Matheron, before becoming the property of Thomassin Peynier the mid 17th century.
In the 18th century, the Marquis Louis Thomassin Peynier the redevelopment entirely. He make decorations plasterwork in the lounge, is redeveloping the gardens by adding a beautiful monumental gate in 1769 (date engraved on the pillar). The interior has retained some of its monumental staircase (similar to those found in Aix mansions) and a French ceiling in the great room, and marble fireplaces.
The castle remains the property of Peynier Thomassin and their descendants until 1933, when it was sold to the Archbishop of Aix. It now houses a private school education. Recently, it was bought by the municipality.

The village:

The village retains many vestiges of the Middle Ages. Besides the novel bedside bottom of the tower, it is worth noting the presence of the tower at the end of the 12th century, built a house in the Rue de Provence and the impasse des Remparts. The former rectory mansion equipped with a terrace overlooking the church square, is actually a part of the old castle Clastre, which housed the priory of Saint-Julien, of the abbey of Saint- Victor. It still has to bow next to the front door elements of medieval architecture, including a fragment of window frames ...
The walls are partly preserved. We see some in the rue des Remparts and the Rue de Provence. It is the bulwark of the twelfth-thirteenth century turreted 14th century. The homes of Saint-Eloi Avenue form as a belt around the village. They are actually the remains of the second wall, built in the 14th century, the time of the plagues and the Hundred Years War. The village then had three fortified gates, all but disappeared.
The Jeoffroy Street is one of the oldest Peynier. Many houses date back to the Middle Ages. One of them, at number 17, the 14th century. Some have stone arches in their cellar.
From the medieval period also date back several buildings outside the village. This is the case of the well Cordeù on the banks of the stream Badarusse mentioned in the 15th century. La Bastide Saint-Jean, on the road to Rousset, dates back to the 13th century. There seems to be a fortified farm.
Peynier has an unusually high number of high valley of the Arc pigeon. One of them, the loft of the Ferrage behind the Jeu de Boules is mentioned in the 16th century. It was then the property of the lords and part of the grounds of the castle. It has the distinction of being the only pigeon across south-east of France to have been built on four pillars (now the space between the pillars was closed, but we clearly distinguish the arches formed by the pillars).

The church

The parish church of Saint-Julien is mentioned for the first time in the property of the abbey of Saint-Victor de Marseille in 1079 and again in 1098 with her sisters chapels Saint-Pierre and Saint-Victor. This time, it retained only the bottom wall of the tower. In the 12th century it was completely rebuilt. Today's bedside novel is the base of the tower.
At the end of the 17th century, the nave was rebuilt in baroque style. A new door is built, still visible in a side alley. The tower was built in 1711-1713. But it remains unfinished and then with a campanile. Finally, in 1786, further expansion took place with the construction of the collateral Notre Dame. In the 19th century, the direction is reversed. Two doors are provided on the site of the church, while the two former are walled. The chorus is then transferred to the west of the building.
In the 18th century, a balcony and a church built in the door allowed the lords to come attend the service directly from their castle without going through the streets. The family members of Thomassin Peynier had develop their graves in the St. Joseph side chapel. In 1787, their daughter Louis Thomassin Peynier, Marquis, erected a plaque in honor of his ancestors. Broken during the Revolution, it was restored and sealed in a pillar at the end of the 19th century tomb of Lords is now in the sacristy.
The bell tower, with four bells, a bumblebee 1694 Historical Monument, watch over the houses and picturesque streets of the village.

The Chapel of Saint-Pierre:

The Chapel of Saint-Pierre, listed building, was built behind the present cemetery in a very open mound. In 1098, it is mentioned in the property of the abbey of Saint-Victor de Marseille. It was rebuilt in the 12th century in an architectural style of transition between the Romanesque and Gothic art, as evidenced by its so-called Lombard arches. But the plan meets the canons of Provençal Romanesque art, with a single nave and a semicircular apse is. 12th century, it retains a font.
In the 17th century, a hermit settled there. Between 1734 and 1740, the chapel was closed because it threatens to collapse. Strong buttresses are then constructed. In the 19th century it was owned by the family Maurin. Several members of this family are buried there, and four tombstones are preserved.
In 1720, during the Great Plague of Marseille, residents Peynier had vowed to come in procession every year to the chapel where St. Peter protected them from this evil. There was no victim of the plague in Peynier and since a Mass is said every year at the chapel on Sunday, following the Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens on August 1. It was at this time in 2003, a new bell was blessed and installed in the small bell.

The oratory:

Many shrines are scattered throughout the countryside around the village. Some niches are also found in the walls of some houses in the village. A path oratories toured the village with shrines dedicated to St. Peter, St. Victor, St. Joseph ....
In the field Branguier, Stations of the Cross, consisting of 14 stations oratories. It begins at the foot of the Notre-Dame-de-Branguier, near which there is also a chapel dedicated to the Virgin.

La Garenne:

Place where all Peyniérens enjoy walking, sports or have a good time.
This leisure wooded has a football stadium, tennis courts, a fitness trail, a hall for weddings, baptisms, etc.. (Leased to the town hall), a nature trail (the Association Estello di wind), a cross field, tables for picnics, a barbecue, a dojo, spaces for play petanque, a theater green, etc.. A campsite nearby.

Performance halls	Festival Hall of Peynier

Last name	Activity type	Rate	City
Outdoor show: Letters from my Windmill	Entertainment	17 €	Le Tholonet (13 km)
Segway Tour of Aix-en-Provence – 2 hours	Entertainment	50 €	Aix-en-Provence (17.9 km)
Tour a Distillery and Visit the Lavender Fields	Arts and Crafts	125 €	Aix-en-Provence (18 km)
Excursion to Provence : Hilltop Villages and Markets	Entertainment	135 €	Aix-en-Provence (18 km)
In the Footsteps of Van Gogh : Saint Remy de Provence, Saint-Paul de Mausole, Les Baux and Arles	Culture and education	125 €	Aix-en-Provence (18 km)

Last name

Activity type

Rate

City

Outdoor show: Letters from my Windmill

Entertainment

17 €

Le Tholonet (13 km)

Segway Tour of Aix-en-Provence – 2 hours

Entertainment

50 €

Aix-en-Provence (17.9 km)

Tour a Distillery and Visit the Lavender Fields

Arts and Crafts

125 €

Aix-en-Provence (18 km)

Excursion to Provence : Hilltop Villages and Markets

Entertainment

135 €

Aix-en-Provence (18 km)

In the Footsteps of Van Gogh : Saint Remy de Provence, Saint-Paul de Mausole, Les Baux and Arles

Culture and education

125 €

Aix-en-Provence (18 km)

Last name	Outing type	Difficulty	Duration	Departure municipality
Hiking and biking trails in Gréasque	Mountain bike itinerary	Easy	1:00	Gréasque (7.6 km)
Between Sainte-Victoire and Sainte-Baume	Hike	Easy	4:00	La Destrousse (8.5 km)
Sainte-Victoire Mountain - Saint-Ser Chapel	Hike	Intermediate	1:30	Puyloubier (8.9 km)
Water fountains of Aix-en-Provence	Hike	Easy	55 min	Aix-en-Provence (18 km)
To the choirs of Aix-en-Provence	Hike	Easy	1:05	Aix-en-Provence (18 km)

Last name

Outing type

Difficulty

Duration

Departure municipality

Hiking and biking trails in Gréasque

Mountain bike itinerary

Easy

1:00

Gréasque (7.6 km)

Between Sainte-Victoire and Sainte-Baume

Hike

Easy

4:00

La Destrousse (8.5 km)

Sainte-Victoire Mountain - Saint-Ser Chapel

Hike

Intermediate

1:30

Puyloubier (8.9 km)

Water fountains of Aix-en-Provence

Hike

Easy

55 min

Aix-en-Provence (18 km)

To the choirs of Aix-en-Provence

Hike

Easy

1:05

Aix-en-Provence (18 km)

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Bouches-du-Rhône

Geographical information

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Peynier

Peynier

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Bouches-du-Rhône

Geographical information

Nearest cities & towns

Things to see and do

Places of interest

Weather

Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Outings

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

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Peynier