Rocher Mistral
Rocher Mistral
4
About
Rocher Mistral is a one-of-a-kind leisure parc in Provence. It takes you on an extraordinary journey through time with 12 shows and numerous activities to share with your family. Stunts, comedy, dance, sword fights, sound and light shows amaze the public at the heart of the thousand-year-old castle of La Barben. During the day or in the evening, live the adventure at Rocher Mistral!
Duration: More than 3 hours
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4.0
711 reviews
Excellent
345
Very good
138
Average
87
Poor
69
Terrible
72
Romain B
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Family
Excellent quality, and more than the average visit of a castle. We get immersed in the history of Provence through technology and an exceptional decor. Most of the activities and performances are new to the park (some started this year in 2022), so it has now become more than just the guided tour of the castle. Hats off to Double Tranchant (the stunt performance).
To be noted: we visited in the summer, and due to the risk of forest fires, parts of the park were closed (market, gardens, and the night performance). It was a shame that we couldn’t access the whole park, but on the bright side, we had zero waiting time.
A good way to kick off the visit are the immersive experiences of Forbin and Cascavèu to get some quick background history, before moving on to the longer performances.
Also, we did not visit the park with babies or toddlers. If you do, you might want to consider the fact that the park is not flat, and might not be ideal with a baby stroller. That said, the staff seemed very helpful and always here to help.
To be noted: we visited in the summer, and due to the risk of forest fires, parts of the park were closed (market, gardens, and the night performance). It was a shame that we couldn’t access the whole park, but on the bright side, we had zero waiting time.
A good way to kick off the visit are the immersive experiences of Forbin and Cascavèu to get some quick background history, before moving on to the longer performances.
Also, we did not visit the park with babies or toddlers. If you do, you might want to consider the fact that the park is not flat, and might not be ideal with a baby stroller. That said, the staff seemed very helpful and always here to help.
Written 26 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Roman,
We are delighted to see that you enjoyed your experience at Rocher Mistral. Thank you for this great route idea. We hope to see you again very soon.
Have a nice day.
Written 27 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
IntlTvlr1963
Summerville, SC201 contributions
May 2012 • Friends
This chateau is supposedly one of the oldest in Provence and dates back to around 1054. You can also reserve a room and dinner but we did not stay, only did the tour. It is truly a "castle" even though it is not huge, but contains art, furnishings and artifacts that are as magnificent as you will see in some of the larger more well known chateaux. Check for tour times in advance (may change by season), the tour takes about an hour. The grounds are beautifully mantained. Situated less than an hour from Aix en Provence it is well worth the visit. Situated next to a small zoo if you are traveling with children. Not recommended if you have any problems walking
Written 11 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SandraSE
London, UK75 contributions
I went there last weekend and was impressed by the castle as really in the middle of the nature. We went to the zoo which was nice but would recommend a visit to the castle at night. They organise special events.
Written 13 October 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jason K
New Jersey758 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
We stopped off here from Provence on our way to Nice. It was well worth it. The grounds and the view are lovely. At the bottom of the long drive way has a great garden with a pound. As you talk the walk up the inclined drive way and pass under the overhang of what was a gate and guard tower you feel like you're walking back in time. They have a nice gift shop where you can find some home items that I haven't seen much of in other places. The tour was in both French and then English but they give you a nice book to follow as the guide speaks. She was very nice and did a great job giving details. I enjoyed hearing it in French while I was reading the booklet. The house is lovely but not all the rooms are open to the public. The family lives here and they have youngs kids( hide and seek must take all nite). The furniture and details that were put into the Castle are great. The dungeon is not open to the public but on the large outdoor patio that has amazing views of the mountains and countryside you can see where they would throw down people into a tower pit filled with spikes. This Castle must have some amazing history behind those walls. An interesting place to visit on your way to your next destination.
Written 14 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nigel W
Agde, France624 contributions
Jun 2016 • Friends
On arriving in the vast grounds of this beautiful castle set on its enormous rock between mounts and vale one has the feeling of entering an 18th century painting. It is imposing without being ominous. The French gardens are small but well maintained and are used as the setting for weddings and other ceremonies when required, as part of the castle can be rented for such occasions. Our guide was a pretty young maid who if she lived at the period of her costume would no doubt be wandering knee deep in the hearts of the knights who had sworn to lay down their lives for her love. She kept us riveted by her anecdotes both historical concerning the castle and its owners as well as concerning the objects and furniture (for example the bed which is so heavy that it could only be installed in the one room which is built directly on the rock) in each of the many rooms we visited. For instance did you know why the copper bath tub, such as that fatally used by Marat, was lined with sheets? No? Go visit the castle!! You will also learn a lot about its internal and external decorative and structural features. The view from the different terraces to which the public has access is breathtaking and we envy the owners who are privileged to this magnificent spectacle at all times of the year and in all types of weather. A wonderful experience. If you have the time which we unfortunately did not, you should also visit the very nearby zoo which is also run by the owners of the château.
Written 18 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
erinswanson27
Quincy, MA63 contributions
Jun 2015 • Couples
First of all, the price is cheap. We enjoyed appetizers and cocktials on the patio with the owners and other guests at sunset, which was wonderful. Then we moved inside for dinner in the castle kitchen - also wonderful. The room itself was no frills - all antiques. Bed wasn't too comfy. That is my biggest complaint. But, you're sleeping in a castle so who really cares.
One note: I was hot so I opened the window and a bat flew in! If you stay here, don't open the windows at night. It is the rural French countryside after all. (Lesson learned.)
One note: I was hot so I opened the window and a bat flew in! If you stay here, don't open the windows at night. It is the rural French countryside after all. (Lesson learned.)
Written 30 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melanie_In_Chicago
Chicago50 contributions
Oct 2022
Phenomenal! We thought Rocher Mistral would be a cheesy reenactment village that would entertain our kids only, but Rocher Mistral turned out to far exceed expectations - we only wish we could spend another day there to see everything a second time, a sentiment echoed by our kids (ages 6 and 7). It's great for any age - younger kids, teens, and adults.
Rocher Mistral is set at a real castle (Barben) that was converted into the Rocher Mistral attraction in 2021. You can tour the castle interior, which amazingly contains all its original artifacts, furniture and decor as the castle stayed within one family for 500 years and then was sold in its entirety in 1963 and then to its current owners in 2019 (who still use certain rooms that are off-limits to tours). This amazing preservation allows visitors to truly step back in time.
Other parts of the chateau have been turned into 20-minute attractions that tell stories of the castle and its inhabitants at various times in Provence history through phenomenal set design, sound and lighting effects that would rival the newest Disney attractions (but without the roller coasters).
Admittedly it's all in French, but even my non-French speaking family could understand the gist of what was going on, and English placards outside the attractions give an overview of what one is about to see. (We were told that a foreign language audio guide is coming next year, which would be very helpful).
And then there are the shows outside - also remarkably well done with very talented actors in costume. We saw almost all of them and they kept us all entertained. They've kept all shows to 15-30 minutes, which is the perfect time to keep things interesting, particularly for kids, and to keep the day progressing without any boredom.
The staff... Professional, helpful, friendly... ALL of them. From Guillaume the AMAZING manager, the ticket office and the actors to the guys working in the Guinguette cafe, the attraction greeters/tour guides and even the security guards... These are dream employees who seemed to like being there and really contributed to the experience.
Everything was in excellent condition and very clean. They've really taken care of the property and attractions... even the toilets!
Typically we avoid food at places like this as it's generally overpriced and low-quality, but given the high standards at Rocher Mistral and in looking at the menu and the ambience of Auberge Daudet, we were disappointed not to have an opportunity to eat there as they were fully booked for dinner. Instead we ate at La Guinguette de Marius in the market - paninis, salads, nuggets, pizzas, hot dogs. Remarkably they exceeded expectations there too - I can honestly say the food was excellent quality and very reasonably priced. (Extra kudos for the chicken nuggets - way better than any 'nugget' I've ever had).
I also appreciate the fact that they allow you to picnic with your own food, unlike so many other attractions like this that force you to buy theirs to make more money.
I just cannot say enough positive things about this place (and I'm really picky).
Tips for your visit:
- Buy tickets online IN ADVANCE (you cannot purchase online for the same day). The online savings are substantial.
- Plan to spend 4 hours there to see everything.
- They will give you a schedule of all the shows so you can easily plan your day walking from one attraction to the next.
- Most attractions close 1-2PM, so plan accordingly.
- Parking is free and no dogs are allowed. The parking lots don't have shade.
- There are two parking lots (both free). When we realized we went to the parking lot by the zoo, we thought we were in the wrong place. But both lots are equidistant to the chateau, so it really doesn't matter which one you park in.
- The 30-minute nighttime show is great too but it's quite late at night and for kids there's more than enough to wow them during the day. Plus attractions inside the castle are closed at night. So unless you really have a lot of time to spend, focus on the day visit if you've got kids.
- You can bring a picnic but the food there is very good & reasonably priced. There are NO restaurants close-by.
Only negative: Ordering food from the cafe (La Guinguette de Marius) took an excessively long time. Thankfully the kids were watching a show and there were plenty of other activities in the market area to keep them occupied. But each of the two Guinguette counters needed an extra person to help process the orders quicker.
We will tell all our friends about Rocher Mistral - not to be missed!!!
Rocher Mistral is set at a real castle (Barben) that was converted into the Rocher Mistral attraction in 2021. You can tour the castle interior, which amazingly contains all its original artifacts, furniture and decor as the castle stayed within one family for 500 years and then was sold in its entirety in 1963 and then to its current owners in 2019 (who still use certain rooms that are off-limits to tours). This amazing preservation allows visitors to truly step back in time.
Other parts of the chateau have been turned into 20-minute attractions that tell stories of the castle and its inhabitants at various times in Provence history through phenomenal set design, sound and lighting effects that would rival the newest Disney attractions (but without the roller coasters).
Admittedly it's all in French, but even my non-French speaking family could understand the gist of what was going on, and English placards outside the attractions give an overview of what one is about to see. (We were told that a foreign language audio guide is coming next year, which would be very helpful).
And then there are the shows outside - also remarkably well done with very talented actors in costume. We saw almost all of them and they kept us all entertained. They've kept all shows to 15-30 minutes, which is the perfect time to keep things interesting, particularly for kids, and to keep the day progressing without any boredom.
The staff... Professional, helpful, friendly... ALL of them. From Guillaume the AMAZING manager, the ticket office and the actors to the guys working in the Guinguette cafe, the attraction greeters/tour guides and even the security guards... These are dream employees who seemed to like being there and really contributed to the experience.
Everything was in excellent condition and very clean. They've really taken care of the property and attractions... even the toilets!
Typically we avoid food at places like this as it's generally overpriced and low-quality, but given the high standards at Rocher Mistral and in looking at the menu and the ambience of Auberge Daudet, we were disappointed not to have an opportunity to eat there as they were fully booked for dinner. Instead we ate at La Guinguette de Marius in the market - paninis, salads, nuggets, pizzas, hot dogs. Remarkably they exceeded expectations there too - I can honestly say the food was excellent quality and very reasonably priced. (Extra kudos for the chicken nuggets - way better than any 'nugget' I've ever had).
I also appreciate the fact that they allow you to picnic with your own food, unlike so many other attractions like this that force you to buy theirs to make more money.
I just cannot say enough positive things about this place (and I'm really picky).
Tips for your visit:
- Buy tickets online IN ADVANCE (you cannot purchase online for the same day). The online savings are substantial.
- Plan to spend 4 hours there to see everything.
- They will give you a schedule of all the shows so you can easily plan your day walking from one attraction to the next.
- Most attractions close 1-2PM, so plan accordingly.
- Parking is free and no dogs are allowed. The parking lots don't have shade.
- There are two parking lots (both free). When we realized we went to the parking lot by the zoo, we thought we were in the wrong place. But both lots are equidistant to the chateau, so it really doesn't matter which one you park in.
- The 30-minute nighttime show is great too but it's quite late at night and for kids there's more than enough to wow them during the day. Plus attractions inside the castle are closed at night. So unless you really have a lot of time to spend, focus on the day visit if you've got kids.
- You can bring a picnic but the food there is very good & reasonably priced. There are NO restaurants close-by.
Only negative: Ordering food from the cafe (La Guinguette de Marius) took an excessively long time. Thankfully the kids were watching a show and there were plenty of other activities in the market area to keep them occupied. But each of the two Guinguette counters needed an extra person to help process the orders quicker.
We will tell all our friends about Rocher Mistral - not to be missed!!!
Written 2 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
We are delighted to read your detailed review. We are happy to see that we exceeded your expectations and that you had a great day. We hope to see you again soon. We wish you all the best for this year.
See you soon at Rocher Mistral.
Written 2 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tim C
1 contribution
Jun 2022 • Family
A fantastic afternoon at the Rocher Mistral, we’ll come back for sure next year with our family and friends!
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour monsieur,
Merci pour votre retour. Nous sommes ravis que notre parc vous ait plu !
Nous serons ravis de vous accueillir une nouvelle fois la saison prochaine. ;)
Nous vous souhaitons une belle journée.
Written 14 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Peter2022
2 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
Splendid. We sapent the day at Rocher Mistral with our family. We all has the time of our life!………….
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour monsieur,
Merci pour votre retour. Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez passé un agréable moment en famille au Rocher Mistral.
Passez une belle journée !
Written 14 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
vilambert
Detroit, MI8 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
Amazing place for everyone! Great activities and show! The place and castle are beautiful and people great.
Written 8 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bonjour,
Nous vous remercions pour votre avis et sommes ravis que le parc vous ait plu !
Nous vous souhaitons une belle journée et espérons que vous reviendrez prochainement au Rocher Mistral :)
Written 9 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bonjour,
Y a t il un parking et quel est le tarif ?
Written 13 September 2022
Le parc est il adapté pour les poussettes ?
Et y a t il assez de zones d ombre pour mettre à l abri nos pitchouns?
Written 20 June 2022
Bonjour
La partie basse (le potager) est à l'ombre il y a, sur le lieu du spectacle, des brumisateurs. Pour le reste il y a beaucoup de coins ombragés.
Pour la poussette, en bas et le spectacle du soir, aucun problème, pour le chateau vous pourrez monter au début (pente douce) mais jusqu'en haut du château, il y a des marches qui sont très larges; je pense que vous pourrez vous faire aider.
Bonne visite
Written 22 June 2022
Peut on acheter une entrée sur place avec des chèques vacances ?
Written 17 July 2021
Parc Rocher Mistral
La Barben, France
Bonjour,
Vous pouvez en effet payer par chèques vacances directement en caisse du parc :)
Written 22 July 2021
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