Our Favorite Reasons to Visit and Return to Salon-de-Provence

Our visit to Salon-de-Provence was filled with fun discoveries and delightful sights. Our hotel, Hotel de la Poste faced the gate to the old town. This gate is part of the 17th century clock tower with a magnificent clock that marked the hours of our days. I would have to say that this family run hotel was about as perfect as any hotel can be.

Don’t worry, the bell did not keep us awake at night nor did it wake us too early.

Porte de l’Horloge, clock tower gate

Across from the hotel was a square lined with restaurants and another mossy fountain like the ones we saw in Aix.

We followed the pedestrian road through the gate and into the old town where we explored every possible corner. Salon is a delightfully walkable town filled with history and lovely little shops.

I thought these trompe l’oeil were delightful. The building is the former court of justice, circa 1655.  The persons represented are from the 1200s – 1500s, including the niece of the governor of the Château, and the archbishop of Arles.

Onward to the Château de l’Empéri, which we already knew was not open. However, it is in the center of the old town so a must find. It definitely has a strategic location.

Two Savonneries were on our list of things to do in Salon-de-Provence.

Our first stop was the Rampal Latour Factory Store. The shop was small but contained a vast selection of soaps with delicate scents. In an adjacent room we were free to explore their small museum which we found fascinating.

There is nothing quite equal to the soap made in Provence!

Rampal Latour Factory Store

Next stop in Salon-de-Provence was the soap factory of Marius Fabre. The museum here was marginally larger and definitely different from that of Rampal Latour.

However, it was the factory tour that was the highlight. Unfortunately all I can say is “don’t miss this tour” because they would not allow photography on the tour thus no photos to share. Marius Fabre has been making savon de Marseille (Marseille soap) since 1900 and  four generations of families.  Their soap is made using traditional craft skills and all natural products.

Outside the factory racks and racks of bars of soap were curing in the Provence air.

Inside the museum we found this block of soap that made it into the Guinness book of world records in 1998!

It is the largest cube of Savon de Marseille in the world.

One last look at some of our favorite street views of Salon.

Hôtel de Ville

Église St Michel

Porte du Bourg Neuf

Thanks so much for reading along and please be sure to share with your friends and family!