 Alpilles landscape near Le Destet. The three types of landscape forms can clearly be seen: cultivated land on the lower slopes, trees on the foothills and bare rock on the peaks. The Chaîne des Alpilles is a small range of mountains in Provence, southern France, located about 20 km (12 miles) south of Avignon.
The range is actually an extension of the much larger Luberon range. Although it is not particularly high - only some 387 m (1,270 ft) at its highest point - the Alpilles range stands out disproportionately, as it rises apparently sheer from the plain of the Rhône valley. The range is about 25 km long by about 8 to 10 km wide, running in an east-west direction between the Rhone and Durance rivers.
The landscape of the Alpilles is one of arid, dry limestone peaks with dry valleys separating them. The lower slopes are planted with olive and almond trees with kermes oaks and pines also growing there. Much of the range is, however, bare rock or stony ground covered with scrub and maquis.
The highest parts of the range are a nature reserve inhabited by a number of rare species, including Bonelli's eagle, the Egyptian vulture and eagle owl. Some of these species were introduced in the Alpilles in the 1980s.
The Alpilles were immortalised in art by Vincent van Gogh, who painted many images of the Alpilles' landscapes during his time in St-Rémy-de-Provence on the north side of the mountains.
Sights in and around the Alpilles
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