Sightseeing & heritage

Autel La Coquille

Lieu dit les Taillades, 13990 Fontvieille

A taurobolic altar carved directly into the cliff face. For a long time, the fluted shell crowning the altar’s base led pilgrims on the Way of St James to believe that it was a sign intended to show them the way. PLEASE NOTE: THIS SITE IS ON PRIVATE LAND

The site was probably part of a place of worship dedicated either to a water deity (a drainage channel ran nearby beneath the quarries to join the Gaude d’Auge) or linked to quarrying operations (numerous marine fossils are visible in the local stone, hence the shell motif). It is situated between Paradou and Fontvieille on the D17, along an unpaved track leading to a private property known as ‘Le Mas des Taillades’. In the Middle Ages, this site became a landmark for pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela. HOWEVER, to this day, the altar is situated on private land and is therefore not open to visitors.....

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Listing provided by Régie Tourisme de la CC Vallée Des Baux-Alpilles (updated by the source on 12/08/2025).

Tourist office data: DATAtourisme, Licence Ouverte (French open licence), updated 28 October 2026.