Bee wall

On the way to a 10km walk from the cemetery, there are some surprising niches in a well-preserved dry stone wall.
Surrounding the ruins and terraces are some surprising niches built into a well-preserved dry stone wall.

This 18th-century "apié" could contain 25 hives made of wood or cork bark.
These stone edifices protected the bees from temperature variations, bad weather and predators.
Like most apiès, it faces south so that the hives are protected from the Mistral wind and exposed to light for longer.

This architectural heritage bears witness to skills that have been skilfully studied and perfected over time.
A Provençal farmer's manual published in Toulon by Henri Laure in 1837 contains advice for beekeepers of yesteryear.
He recommended placing these buildings in an orchard or on the edge of a wood, near which he advised planting rosemary for better taste results.

Olive trees, on the other hand, seemed to repel bees, while arbutus and heather gave a bitter taste that was not appreciated.