The village of Eguilles is nestled some 300m above sea-level, less than a dozen kilometres to the west of Aix en Provence. The authentic nature of the village has remained intact throughout the years, and its privileged geographic position offers a unique view over the surrounding countryside.

The hamlet of Figons , although some kilometres away, is closely connected with Eguilles.

A Little Bit of History :

Neothlic tracks discovered in Eguilles prove that the site was inhabited as early as the 3rd Century BC; and the area subsequently became a hub of intense activity some two thousand years later with the two Celto-Ligure oppidums of Pierredon and Mourgues.


In the year 124BC both areas were destroyed, along with that of Entremonts, in the hills around Aix.


A little later, in the Gallo-Roman period, a new village grew along the Aurelian Way.
Sadly due to a lack of documents, it is impossible to trace the evolution of the area after the major invasions.

However texts found in the 10th Century do mention a place named “Castrum de Aquila”.

Shortly afterwards, and continuing up until the end of the 16th Century the village was subjected to numerous violent outbreaks between the two neighbouring regions of Les Baux, and Aix. These outbreaks culminated in the destruction of the Castle during the Wars of Religion.

The final family of local lord settled in the area at the beginning of the 17th Century. The famous Boyer family supplied a long line of jurists and humanists. Under their rule the village grew to 180 inhabitants in the year 1790, the same year that Eguilles became the administrative centre of the Canton.

Meanwhile the Castle, and adjacent church had been reconstructed, and their presence dominated the village inhabited mainly by farmers, craftsmen and storekeepers.

As well as grape and olive farming, which had been introduced during the Celto-Ligure period, sheep farming had grown in importance, creating a lucrative wool trade. Eguilles became the centre for the organisation of seasonal migration of livestock, and in 1784, 40,000 Merino sheep from Arles passed through the village.

The 19th Century, and most notably the Industrial Revolution rocked the local economy and led to a population exodus, as local businesses could no longer compete with the improved productivity of their competitors.

In 1936 Eguilles was home to a mere 730 inhabitants, yet today ten times that figure call Eguilles their home. Undeniable proof that the land of Eguilles is fertile, and that the roots hold firm !

Welcome to Eguilles.