Traverse de La Treille

Slipping through time, imagine 17th-century Marseille. Families arrive, seeking solace and fresh air. They settle in a quaint hamlet nestled at the foot of the Garlaban massif. They name their new home “La Treille.” This is where our story begins, right here at Traverse de La Treille. Traverse de La Treille. This unassuming passage holds the echoes of centuries, whispering tales of a simple village life that captivated the heart of one of France’s most beloved storytellers. La Treille became synonymous with Marcel Pagnol, the writer and filmmaker who immortalized the region’s charm. His childhood memories, etched in the landscape, painted vivid pictures of sun-drenched hills, vibrant characters, and the timeless beauty of Provence. Traverse de La Treille was a pathway to his heart. Contrary to popular belief, the iconic Bastide Neuve, Pagnol’s childhood vacation home, wasn’t actually in La Treille. It resided in the neighboring commune of Allauch. However, the journey to Bastide Neuve always took the Pagnol family through La Treille, a detail Pagnol humorously recounted in “My Mother’s Castle.” He described how his father insisted they were going further than La Treille, to a place beyond, much to the bewilderment of those who believed nothing existed past this small village. La Treille was a gateway. It was where Lili des Bellons, a character who captured young Marcel’s heart, would wait for him. It was also where his father, Joseph, proudly displayed his hunting trophies. The canal that flowed near Traverse de La Treille, however, wasn’t the same one featured in Pagnol’s stories as the family’s shortcut. Pagnol’s connection to La Treille deepened in his adulthood. He rented a villa, the Pascaline, seeking refuge and inspiration for his writing. He even filmed scenes from his early movies, like “Cigalon,” right here in La Treille. The village’s essence seeped into his work, becoming the model for the “Bastides blanches” in his two-part novel, “Manon des Sources.” Even the village fountain, now known as “Manon’s fountain,” bears the mark of his stories. Today, Traverse de La Treille remains a tranquil escape. The church of Saint-Dominique, with its unique tiered bell tower, stands as a testament to the village’s enduring spirit. The echoes of Pagnol’s laughter, his stories, and the footsteps of his characters still linger in the air. Marcel Pagnol rests in the cemetery at the foot of La Treille, alongside his mother, daughter, and wife, forever bound to the place that shaped his life and legacy. As you leave Traverse de La Treille, carry with you a piece of Pagnol’s world, a world where the simple joys of life were celebrated amidst the breathtaking beauty of Provence.