Les Baux de Provence lies in the heart of the mountainous region of Bouches-du-Rhône. Situated on a rocky hill crowned with a ruined castle, it has a reputation as one of the most picturesque villages in France. Legend has it that the spectacular rock cliffs around the town inspired the images of Purgatory presented by Dante Alighieri in his famous Divine Comedy. In summer, visitors to the ruins of the château can admire the biggest Trebuchet catapult in Europe, which performs authentic shootings. The village has never had a large population, but today the number of inhabitants in the old part of Les Baux de Provence totals only 22.