The Magnanerie is a place loaded with history. The property, which has been passed down from generation to generation, has been home to the breeding and cultivation of silk worms, vineyards and finally olive trees. An abundance of old implements tell of past agricultural activity: from ox ploughs to weaving looms.

        The sloping stony fields, reclaimed from native woodlands, are a testimony to the will of farmers to develop and sustain agriculture. Far from the fertile land and deep soil of the plains, the olive trees grow here in a difficult and relatively untamed environment. It is under these circumstances that this noble tree must use its ability to adapt.

        This land is nevertheless ideal for cultivating olive trees: a soil of clay and limestone, an altitude of over 400m which favours the development of aroma but keeps the olive flies at bay, the day/night temperature range, the hot and dry summer weather, and the cold winter months (it is important for the trees to get a certain amount of vegetative rest).

The estate covers 10 hectares, i.e. 3000 olive trees planted in 6m x 5m patterns. Since all the trees are not ready for production, we only produce 3000 bottles of oil per year. 10 hectares of woodland (Holm oaks, white oaks and pine trees) surround the estate. The area is classified as a wildlife reserve.

Many a cave nearby shows us what the ground is really like, the most famous being the cave "de l'Aven d'Orgnac", 1.5km away, which is known as one of France's great sites. It really must be visited in order to appreciate the beauty of the subterranean world and to understand the geology that underlies the estate and its surroundings.