From Aubagne to La Treille

Aubagne

Marcel Pagnol was born “in the town of Aubagne, under the goat-crowned Garlaban, at the time of the last goatherds”.
On Thursday 28 February 1895, at around 5pm,“little Marcel” opened his eyes on the third floor of 16 cours Barthélemy.
It was in front of his birthplace, now a museum, that he learned to walk and remembers his father, accompanied by giants, playing “la longue” on the Cours.

On the heights of Aubagne’s old town, the high point of a journey through history and clay, you can discover a world of over 200 santons paying tribute to Marcel Pagnol’s literary and cinematographic creations.
Le Petit Monde de Marcel Pagnol is a fun, lively museum where you can discover the exceptional world he left us.

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Salon Maison Natale Marcel Pagnol Oti Aubagne
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Marcel Pagnol’s birthplace

On the route de la Treille ...

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Groupe Scolaires Enfants Chateau Buzine Culture Visite Guidee Pagnol Oti Aubagne
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Chateau De Ma Mere La Buzine Miniature Santons Petit Monde Marcel Pagnol Oti Aubagne
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Groupe Scolaires Visite Chateau Buzine Pagnol Oti Aubagne
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My Mother’s Castle

On your way to the village of La Treille, you’ll come across elements of his life and work: on either side of the road you’ll see the gates of the famous canal, not far from the château evoked in his childhood memories.

Known as “My Mother’s Castle”, Marcel Pagnol’s story is closely linked to that of Château de la Buzine.
When he was young, he used to secretly walk through the grounds to get to the Bastide Neuve. In 1941, he bought it to create his own “Cité du cinéma”, and today the château has been transformed into the “Maison des Cinématographies de la Méditerranée”.
At Château de la Buzine, you can discover the history of the seventh art, from its creation to the success of digital technology, the world of local children and temporary exhibitions.

Further along the holiday route, you’ll pass the Bar-tabac de la Source, known as the“Bar des Quatre Saisons”, the meeting place of François and the Pagnol family, before reaching the Bastide Neuve.

Guided Tour

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La Treille église Oti Aubagne
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La Treille Clocher Rue Oti Aubagne
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La Bastide Neuve

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La Treille Village Clocher Oti Aubagne
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Childhood memories

In 1904, the Bastide Neuve adventure began for the Pagnol family.
Marcel, then aged 9 and a half, embarked on a memorable expedition to the hills of Provence, the cradle of his childhood.

In the small village of La Treille, Marcel learned to know and love nature.
Until 1910, Marcel Pagnol drew his inspiration from these alleys and hills. In the company of his friend Lili des Bellons, he would wander through the garrigues and pine forests that would later fuel his literary and cinematographic works.

Not far from the setting of his films such as“Le Cigalon” or the fountain in“Manon des Sources“, and at the foot of these hills that he made famous the world over, the writer and film-maker is buried today in the small cemetery of La Treille.