Open the Aix-en-Provence Itinerary Map for reference while you read about the itineraries.
• Roadmap: Michelin #245.
Aix-en-Provence northeast to Greoux-les-Bains. Mineral hot springs here, in use pretty much continuously since the Romans built them.
Alternate.
From Greoux-les-Bains or St Martin-de-Bromes [map] there's a nice side-trip southeast past the Lac d'Esparron to Quinson (20 km) where you'll find the large, modern Museum of Prehistory (Musée de Préhistoire).
To get back to the original route, it's only another 20 km from Quinson to Riez, so this side-trip is only 45 minutes, plus an hour or so in the museum.
Greoux via St Martin-de-Bromes and Allemagne-en-Provence to Riez is only 20 km. Excellent Roman ruins here, and a well-known truffle market that runs every Wednesday through the winter months.
Riez to Moustiers-Ste-Marie is 15 km, passing through some of the lavender fields of the Valensole Plateau, then down into the valley with a view of Moustiers-Ste-Marie perched in a notch of the rocky cliffs.
If you've taken side trips or done a fair amount of sight-seeing along the way, this could be a good stop for lunch. And if you visit the village properly, including the many faience ceramic shops, it will be time to head back, of find a hotel for the night.
Moustiers-Ste-Marie to Castellane is a 45-minute drive, but you won't be moving fast through the Gorges de Verdon, and you must plan for at least one stop at the Point Sublime.
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