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The landscape and its natural and historical heritage

Les Tourades is equally fortunate in terms of its interesting history, habitats and landscapes.

The house, which was a former coaching inn for the postal system, has some beautiful stones that date from the era when it was used to keep horses 'mal en train' (i.e. needing rest), at the gates of Arles (the house was originally called Malentrain).

The well at the bottom of the garden is one of the curiosities which merit some attention... For several years it was thought to be remnants of a cool box. However, a visiting expert has explained that the well had huge upper stones because in the past a water wheel was used (turning the wheel was most commonly carried out by a horse).

Looking beyond the garden the impressive Montmajour Abbey is silhouetted to the north. This monument reminds us of the Christian past of the country; in the 10^th century the abbey attracted numerous pilgrims going there to meditate. In 2003 the oldest church in France was discovered in Arles, a basilica from the early 4^th century!

The Montmajour Abbey also leads one to reflect on our natural heritage: surrounded by wetlands and built on a small, rocky island a few kilometres from Arles, it marks the beginning of the Vallée des Baux. These wetlands in the Vallée des Baux are where A Rocha has been working for many years, and they show remarkable biodiversity.

The Montmajour monks and their serfs already benefited from the great resources by hunting as well as fishing. It was also the monks who started to drain some of the wetland in order to free the region from malaria, as well as to allow farming in some areas. For more information: http://www.marais-des-baux.fr/

The wetlands which surround us can be seen from the garden, as well as sightings of magnificent birds: flamingos cross the summer sky at sunset, greylag geese, and also herons, kites, harriers, Cetti's warblers...

On the horizon to the east are the Alpilles, the limestone mountain range which is home to the garrigue (scrubland) and its treasures; flowers, insects and birds. To the west, on a clear morning you can see the city of Arles, dominated by its arenas and its multiple steeples.

A walk in the nature garden, 'Between Heaven and Earth' allows you not only to admire the different landscapes, but also to appreciate the different habitats they are made up of.

If you are interested in the ecological development of your garden, it is always very instructive to take an interest in the surroundings... they give one valuable information concerning the habitats in the area, the nature of the soil, the wild trees and flowers which flourish. The history of the district can also give clues which allow one to respect the identity of the area