The hills of Pagnol | Pays d'Aubagne et de l'Étoile

After a 45-minute walk from the Domaine de la Font de Mai, you’ll arrive in the area that was so dear to Marcel Pagnol and you’ll find yourself facing the Barres de Saint-Esprit.

Marcel Pagnol bought 25 hectares of hills and garrigue, corresponding to the site of the Barres de Saint-Esprit and the Vallon de Marcellin). He intended to build a film city there, a “Provençal Hollywood” to shoot his films. With the help of his friend, master mason Marius Broquier, he built film sets, the remains of which can still be seen today.

Angèle was filmed with Fernandel and Orane Demazis in 1934 in the Marcellin valley. On the bars of Saint-Esprit, he had the village of Aubignane built for the filming of Regain in 1937, based on the work of Jean Giono.

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Portrait Maison Natale Marcel Pagnol Oti Aubagne

I bought plots of land with no crops on them, but lots of poetry.

Marcel Pagnol, talking about Vallon de Marcellin

The Taoumé and the Grosibou cave

From the Col d’Aubignane, a short 15-minute walk will take you to all the emblematic places that Marcel Pagnol described in his childhood memories.

As a child, little Marcel would come here to join his father and uncle Jules in the company of his little brother from the hills, the famous Lili des Bellons, to share a meal during the famous hunting parties.

In front of you, you can admire the Pic du Taoumé (667 m), the summit of childhood memories, which can only be climbed by experienced walkers.
The Taoumé peak is home to the world-famous “Grotte du Grosibou”, the owl’s cave in which little Marcel and his friend Lili des Bellons took refuge during thunderstorms.

Still looking at this panorama from “Souvenirs d’enfance”, you will see, on your left, the caves of the plague victims, the hunting grounds of Joseph and Uncle Jules and the first houses in the village of La Treille.

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Grotte du Grosibou - Taoumé
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OC OTI Aubagne

Manon’s Grotto

It will take you around 30 minutes from the Col d’Aubignane to get to the place where Manon and Baptistine lived in the 1952 film: the Grotte du Plantier or“Manon’s Grotto“.

Various paths will then take you to the massif that dominates the Huveaune valley: Garlaban. This Garlaban was made famous by Marcel Pagnol: “I was born in the town of Aubagne under the Garlaban crowned with goats in the days of the last goatherds…”.

Raimu’s Well

Located just a few minutes from the Domaine de la Font de Mai, Raimu’s Well is on the exact spot where Marcel Pagnol filmed “La Fille du Puisatier” in 1940 with Raimu, Fernandel and Josette Day.
The well was built much later, in its current form.

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Fleurs Garlaban Massif De L'etoile Nature Oti Aubagne
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JPVallorani

Le Garlaban

Take the paths starting from the Grotte de Manon to get close to the majestic Garlaban, made famous by Marcel Pagnol. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can climb to the summit, where you’ll find the orientation table and cross.

Garlaban is an enormous tower of blue rock, standing on the edge of the Plan de l’Aigle, an immense rocky plateau overlooking the green Huveaune valley.

Marcel Pagnol - The glory of my father

La Treille

Situated in Marseille’s 11th arrondissement, the village of La Treille is about a quarter of an hour from Aubagne.
In the narrow streets of this Provencal village, it’s easy to imagine little Marcel strolling around the square, taking the Chemin des Bellons and running to the famous ‘Bastide Neuve’.

Another memory of Aubagne is playing boules under the plane trees on the Cours. My father, among other giants, would make prodigious leaps and throw an iron sledgehammer unimaginable distances.

Marcel Pagnol - The glory of my father

Marcel Pagnol’s birthplace

How can we talk about these emblematic places without first mentioning the house where Marcel Pagnol was born in Aubagne. A reconstruction of Professor Joseph’s working flat awaits you, along with photos, illustrations and more.