PDO olive-growing area
Aix-en-Provence
In the heart of Provence, the Aix-en-Provence Olive Oil Protected Designation of Origin (AOP) defines an exceptional terroir where olive trees have thrived for two thousand years. Thus, olive cultivation in the Aix-en-Provence region dates back to time immemorial. As early as the 4th century BC, certain authors were already referring to it.
Sainte Victoire, Sainte Baume… what lovely, evocative names to illustrate the unique diversity of this terroir. It comprises a rugged landscape, dotted with hills and limestone ridges running east to west, and enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Spread across three areas, the olive groves are mainly situated in the Arc and Touloubre valleys and on the slopes of the Trévaresse.
© France Olive
The Aix-en-Provence production area PDO covers the south-western part of the limestone region of Lower Provence. It is bordered to the north by the Durance valley, to the west by the Alpilles and the Crau, to the south by the Mediterranean, and to the east by the imposing Jura massif of Sainte-Baume and Sainte-Victoire.
This area covers 73 municipalities, 70 of which are in the Bouches-du-Rhône and 3 in the Var. All stages of production, from olive harvesting to oil production, take place here, ensuring a close link between the product and its terroir. From Salon-de-Provence to Aubagne, via La Fare-les-Oliviers, small and large farms alike bring this region to life with the same high standards, producing olive oils that reflect the character of the places where they are made.
