Les Pénitents, Natural rock formation in Les Mées, France.
The 114-meter-high puddingstone cliffs extend for 2.5 kilometers, forming a continuous wall of cone-shaped rocks above the Durance Valley.
The erosion process shaped these geological formations over millions of years, creating distinctive patterns in the sedimentary rocks from Alpine debris.
Local inhabitants named these formations after monks due to their appearance, resembling hooded figures standing in a continuous line along the ridge.
A marked 4-kilometer hiking trail leads visitors around the formations, offering access to viewpoints and geological observation spots within 3.5 hours.
In 2019, heavy rainfall caused one of the rock formations to collapse onto three houses in the village, leading to structural reinforcement measures.
Location: Les Mées
Height: 114 m
Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible
Made from material: puddingstone
Address: Les Pénitents, 04190 Les Mées, France
GPS coordinates: 44.02730,5.98550
Latest update: June 23, 2025 09:40
France contains notable geological formations from the chalk cliffs of Normandy to the limestone gorges of Provence. The landscape includes natural bridges, cliffs, canyons, and islands. The geological features range from white chalk cliffs in Étretat to the limestone plateau of Mont Aiguille.
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region combines medieval villages, historical fortifications, and natural areas between the Mediterranean coast and the Alps. The landscape ranges from the lavender-covered plateaus of Valensole to the steep limestone cliffs of the Calanques and alpine passes above 8,900 feet (2,700 meters). Geological formations like the mushroom-shaped Demoiselles Coiffées de Théus and the reddish sandstone rocks of Annot show millions of years of natural shaping. Monasteries such as Abbaye de Sénanque and Thoronet Abbey preserve Cistercian architecture, while villages like Gordes and Les Baux-de-Provence maintain their medieval layouts. The coastal settlements of Èze, Menton, and Gourdon sit on rocky perches above the Côte d'Azur, their narrow streets leading to viewpoints overlooking the sea. The Lérins Islands off Cannes and the Îles d'Hyères offer quieter coastal landscapes with Mediterranean vegetation. Inland, hiking trails like Sentier Martel pass through the Verdon Gorge, while the Vallée des Merveilles displays prehistoric rock engravings in an alpine setting. Fortifications including the Citadelle de Sisteron, Fort Carré in Antibes, and the ruins of Fort de Buoux document centuries of military history at strategic passages and heights.
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2.2 km
Barrage de l'Escale
6.8 km
Église Saint-Donat de Montfort
5 km
Château de Château-Arnoux
7.6 km
Monument aux morts de Château-Arnoux
7.8 km
Château de Malijai
4 km
Chapelle Sainte-Madeleine
7.3 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Olivier
817 m
Hôtel de Crose
712 m
Prieuré Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens (Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban)
7.3 km
Église Saint-Roch de Peyruis
3.8 km
Portail Saint-Félix
716 m
Chapelle Saint-Roch de Peyruis
4.1 km
Église Sainte-Madeleine de Montfort
4.2 km
Extérieur du Prieuré de Ganagobie
7 km
Église Saint-Bernard de Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban
7.6 km
Monument to the 1851 Insurgency
805 m
Église Saint-Florent de Chénerilles
6.8 km
Maison en bois à portique, 3 rue de la Colline (Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban)
5.1 km
Monument to Louis Pasteur
826 m
Chapelle Saint-Roch des Mées
560 m
Chapelle Notre-Dame de la Salette des Mées
457 m
Chapelle Saint-Jean de Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban
7 km
Chapelle Saint-Elzéar de Puimichel
6.4 km
Maison en bois à portique, 9 rue de la Colline
5.1 km
Chapelle Saint-Christol de Mirabeau
6.6 km
Chapelle Saint-Nicolas d'Augès
6.3 km
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Champlan
2.7 kmReviews
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