Independent guide: this is not the official website of the village of Tourtour or of the tourist office.
TourtourThe guide to the village in the sky
 FRDE Activities
Menu
Aerial view of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a stone village at the foot of two cliffs split by a gap
The Verdon

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie: what to see in half a day

Updated · Independent guide, sourced information

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie at the foot of its cliffs. Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a village in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, at about 630 m, built at the foot of two cliffs linked by a 135 m chain holding a 115 cm golden star. Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, it is famous for its faience, revived in 1925 after more than half a century's break. It lies north of Lake Sainte-Croix, 45 km and 50 minutes from Tourtour. Half a day is enough for the village, to combine with the lake or the gorge.

Key facts

  • From Tourtour: 45 km, about 50 minutes.
  • The star: 115 cm, hanging from a 135 m chain between two cliffs.
  • Faience: a 17th-century tradition, revived in 1925.
  • Labels: Most Beautiful Villages of France, Villages et cités de caractère.
  • Time needed: half a day, to combine with Lake Sainte-Croix.

Moustiers in figures

Landmark Value
Department Alpes-de-Haute-Provence
Village altitude about 630 m
Population 683 residents (2023)
Labels Most Beautiful Villages of France, Villages et cités de caractère
From Tourtour 45 km, about 50 min

The hanging star

This is the image of Moustiers: a golden star 115 cm across, hanging from a 135 m chain (about 150 kg) stretched between the two cliffs that frame the village. The current star is a 1957 copy. It has fallen at least eleven times; in 1995 it was found at the bottom of the ravine, regilded and put back. It now has only five points.

The legend, recorded by Frédéric Mistral, makes it a votive offering from the knight of Blacas, a prisoner at Damietta in 1249, who vowed to hang it if he made it home. There are 17 versions of it.

Moustiers faience

Moustiers gave its name to a renowned faience. Tradition credits the secret of the glaze to a monk from Faenza, in Italy. At the end of the 18th century, twelve workshops were running in the village. The last kiln went out in 1873, and Marcel Provence revived production in 1925.

What to see in the village

  • The lanes of the village, at the foot of the cliffs.
  • The climb to the Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir chapel, below the star, for the view over the village and the valley.
  • The faience, the craft that made the village’s name.

Combining it with the lake and the gorge

Moustiers lies north of Lake Sainte-Croix, not far from the Verdon Gorge. From Tourtour, a typical day:

  1. In the morning, a swim or a boat on Lake Sainte-Croix (Bauduen or Les Salles).
  2. At lunchtime and in the afternoon, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
  3. In the late afternoon, the view over the canyon from the Route des Crêtes, if you still have an hour.

Practical tips

  • In summer, arrive early: the village is very busy.
  • Shoes: the lanes are steep, and so is the climb to the chapel.
  • Return: allow 50 minutes to get back to Tourtour.

Next, see the Verdon Gorge from Tourtour.

Book an activity

Tours and activities around Moustiers

All activities on GetYourGuide

"From" prices checked on 8 November 2026 and may have changed.

Affiliate links: Tourtour.org earns a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. "Show live prices" loads the GetYourGuide module, which sets its own cookies (learn more (in French)).

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to visit Moustiers-Sainte-Marie?

Half a day is enough for the village, its lanes, the star and the faience shops.

What is the legend of the Moustiers star?

According to the tradition recorded by Frédéric Mistral, the star is a votive offering from the knight of Blacas, a prisoner at Damietta during the Crusades in 1249, who vowed to hang it if he came home. There are 17 versions of the legend.

What is Moustiers-Sainte-Marie known for?

Faience. Twelve workshops were running at the end of the 18th century; the last kiln went out in 1873, and Marcel Provence revived the craft in 1925.

Where is Moustiers-Sainte-Marie?

In the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, north of Lake Sainte-Croix, not far from the entrance to the Verdon Gorge. 45 km and about 50 minutes from Tourtour.

Sources

Information checked against the sources below. Opening times and dates change: confirm before you travel.

Keep exploring

More to see around Tourtour

The Grand Canyon du Verdon from above, pale cliffs and forest
The Verdon

Paragliding

A tandem first flight above Lake Sainte-Croix: take-off sites, flight time and indicative prices.

 The village of Aiguines with its tiled roofs clinging to the hillside, cliffs and forest behind
The Verdon

Aiguines

The hilltop village above Lake Sainte-Croix, start of the gorge's cliff road on the Var side.

 Aerial view of Lake Sainte-Croix, a stretch of blue water between plateaus and wooded hills
The Verdon

Lake Sainte-Croix

2,200 hectares of turquoise water 34 minutes from Tourtour: lifeguarded beaches, villages, electric boats.

 The turquoise Verdon canyon between two limestone cliffs, with Lake Sainte-Croix in the distance
The Verdon

Verdon Gorge

25 km of canyon, up to 700 m deep: a one-day driving route from Tourtour.

 Looking down from a Route des Crêtes viewpoint into the Verdon canyon and its limestone cliffs
The Verdon

Route des Crêtes

The loop of 14 viewpoints above the canyon, from La Palud-sur-Verdon: direction, duration, winter closure.

 The Galetas bridge at the entrance to the Verdon Gorge, turquoise water and cliffs behind
The Verdon

Boat hire

Licence-free electric boat, pedalo or paddleboard: where to hire on Lake Sainte-Croix and go up the gorge.