On the Plaine de la Crau northwest of Marseilles, Salon-de-Provence is a town steeped in history. In ancient times, the Romans created salt marshes on the Hill of Valdemech, and the town also has origins from the time of Charlemagne.
During the medieval era, the Archbishops of Arles built the fortress-like Château de l'Empéri ("Emperor's Castle"), which dominates the townscape. This 12th-15th century château has some of the best-preserved fortifications in Provence and a lovely Romanesque church, the Chapel of Saint-Cathérine.
The Maison de Nostradamus is a historic landmark where Nostradamus spent the last 20 years of his life and is now a museum that displays original editions of Nostradamus' prophecies and a reproduction of his study.
Salon-de-Provence is well known for its artisanal olive oil and fragrant soap products that are sold throughout Provence and other cities in France. To learn more about the history of soap production in Salon-de-Provence, tourists can visit the Marius Fabre Soap Factory and Savon de Marseille Museum.
For those who want to commune with nature in the nearby Luberon Natural Regional Park, the Hostellerie à Salon de Provence is a romantic place to spend a few nights. The hotel occupies a converted 12th-century Abbaye de Sainte Croix, a marvelous example of Romanesque architecture, surrounded by 20 hectares of wild scrubland, lavender fields, and olive groves.
