An idyllic slice of rural landscape, the Luberon Regional Natural Park ( Parc Naturel Régional du Lubéron) is an off-the-beaten-path part of Provence’s Haut-Vaucluse. This nature reserve, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is located in the rugged mountainous area of the Lubéron. The 120,000 hectare reserve includes limestone mountains, rolling hills, serene valleys, orchards and farms. Medieval hilltop villages and historic towns are the highlights of the Luberon, and old ‘bories’ huts (centuries-old shepherd buildings) are scattered everywhere.
The picturesque villages of the Luberon are some of Provence’s most charming, unspoilt tourist destinations. Exploring this area requires a driving route, but it is worth it. Stroll through the charming towns and stroll along cobbled streets while soaking up the Provencal atmosphere. Enjoy beautiful views of the landscape and taste authentic regional cuisine. Cavaillon melons are known for their delicate taste. Ménerbes is home to prized truffle dishes and the bread and goat cheese market, and Cadenet offers artisanal products and specialties such as grilled quail with tapenade, chestnut soup and cherry clafouti .
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1 Gordes: a picture-perfect hilltop village
This beautiful hilltop village is rightly listed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France (Most Beautiful Villages in France). The beautiful surroundings of the village (40 kilometers from Avignon) have attracted famous artists including Victor Vasarély and Marc Chagall. Like a typical village perché (perched village), Gordes stands dramatically on a steep promontory overlooking the landscape. The elevated location was protected from invasions in the Middle Ages. The 16th century Château de Gordes dominates the village with its immense fortifications and medieval towers. The castle is open to the public and houses the Pol Mara Museum . Close to the castle on Place du Château tourists will enjoy the lively atmosphere of the cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops.
A must-see attraction five kilometers outside Gordes is the Abbey of Sénanque . This 12th-century Cistercian abbey enjoys a peaceful setting of lavender fields and rolling hills. The abbey is still a working monastery, but tourists are welcome to attend the religious services in the chapel and explore the grounds. Visitors can also visit the abbey on a guided tour.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Gordes
2 Ménerbes from one year in Provence
Listed as one of France’s ” Plus Beaux Villages ” (Most Beautiful Villages), Ménerbes is a characteristic Provencal hilltop village approximately 40 kilometers from Avignon. Due to its beautiful natural surroundings and charming village atmosphere, the village began to attract writers and artists in the 20th century. famous writer Peter Mayle who really put this village on the map with his novel A Year in Provence (published in 1989), which took place in Ménerbes.
The atmospheric streets of the village are lined with old houses and historical monuments. Be sure to see the 14th century Parish Church ; the 18th century Chapelle Saint-Blaise; and Le Castelet , the village castle built on the ruins of a medieval fortress. Ménerbes is a vibrant community with many local craft shops and lively events and festivals throughout the year. There is an open-air cinema festival in July and August. On November 8 and 9, the Santon Fair prepares visitors for Christmas with a market of traditional manger figurines. Ménerbes is also known for its gastronomy. The Bread and Goat Cheese Market takes place on May 11 and a Truffle Market is held on December 28.
3 Lourmarin: Provencal festivals and Art de Vivre
Lourmarin, another of the Luberon’s Most Beautiful Villages , offers a taste of Provencal art de vivre (the art of Living). In a protected valley at the foot of the Luberon Mountains, Lourmarin is sheltered from the Mistral winds and enjoys pleasant, sunny days. The village is filled with sidewalk cafés, lively bistros, excellent restaurants and inviting hotels, as well as artisan boutiques and art galleries. Get lost wandering the ancient streets, relax in peaceful fountain-decorated squares and discover the historical monuments. Be sure to visit the Eglise Saint-André et Saint-Trophime , founded in the 11th century and renovated in the 16th century in Romanesque and Gothic styles. The village also has an interesting Protestant temple , an austere house of worship built in the early 19th century. On Fridays you can enjoy the authentic village atmosphere at the traditional Provencal market .
A highlight of Lourmarin is its Renaissance Château de Lourmarin . The castle stands majestically on a hilltop overlooking the Lourmarin Valley, the Durance Plain and the Montagne Sainte-Victoire. Views from the castle tower are exceptional. In the summer the castle organizes two music festivals. The Festival des Musiques d’Ete in July, August and September offers an extensive program of classical music concerts at the castle. The Festival Yes! takes place at the castle and at various locations in the village. This trendsetting musical festival features hip-hop, pop, rock, punk and electronic music performances. The Robert Laurent-Vibert Foundation supports an Artist in Residence program, which brings talented painters, sculptors and musicians to the castle during the summer months.
Close to the village, a picturesque viewpoint at the top of the Great Mount Lubéron offers a beautiful panorama and fantastic photo opportunities. Another worthwhile excursion, about ten kilometers from Lourmarin, is the village of Cucuron , at the foot of the Luberon Mountain. Cucuron is the starting point of a hike to the Mourre Nègre Viewpoint . Other sights here include the Romanesque and Gothic parish church and the Musée de Cucuron (also known as the Musée Marc Deydier) housed in the Hôtel des Bouliers, a beautiful 17th-century mansion.
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Lourmarin
4 Roussillon: a village perched on an ocher cliff
A beautiful village perché (perched village) listed as one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages , Roussillon stands on top of an ocher cliff above the green countryside. This distinct landscape between the Plateau de Vaucluse and the Montagne du Lubéron reveals the intense color of ocher rocks (used to make pigments), which range from violet to light yellowish brown. To enter the old town, visitors must walk through the charming Clock Tower . Continue uphill along the narrow steps of the Rue de l’Arcade and the Place de la Mairie and past the church to the Castrum , an observation platform with an orientation panel. The panoramic view opens to the surrounding forests, the Plateau de Vaucluse and Mont Ventoux. Another great viewpoint is from the Rue des Bourgades .
Roussillon is located 17 kilometers from Ménerbes and ten kilometers from Gordes . Just outside the Roussillon are impressive ocher rock formations, the Chaussée des Géants (Street of the Giants). Another striking formation is the Val des Fées (Valley of the Fairies). Those with a special interest in ocher rocks should check out Rustrel’s Colorado .
Accommodation: where to stay in Roussillon
5 Cavaillon: A Melon Festival and Rich Jewish Heritage
In the sun-drenched landscape on the edge of the Luberon Regional Natural Park, the small provincial town of Cavaillon is the center of melon growing in Provence. The village also has an interesting cultural heritage. The Cathédrale Saint-Véran founded around the 12th century is an example of Romanesque Provencal architecture. The exterior is austere, but the interior is beautifully decorated with capitals in the apse and a beautiful cloister. Cavaillon also has a beautiful synagogue on Rue Hébraïque. The current 18th century building has an arcaded exterior and a lavish Rococo sanctuary. The building is no longer used as a synagogue, but the synagogue’s former bakery now houses a Jewish Museum , illustrating the history of the local Jewish population. The site also has traditional Jewish ritual baths from the 12th to the 13th centuries. In the 18th century Hôtel-Dieu (hospital) there is an interesting Archaeological Museum (Place Castil Blaze) with objects from the Gallo-Roman period, Roman times and the Middle Ages.
To celebrate the melon season, Cavaillon has a Melon Festival in mid-July. The town also has two daily markets: Le Petit Marché , which offers gourmet products, and La Fruiterie (23 Cours Bournissac), which sells fresh fruit. Cavaillon’s traditional Provençal market, the Marché à Cadenet , is held weekly on Mondays.
6 The Bustling Market Town van Bonnieux
A hub of activity in the Luberon, the hilltop village of Bonnieux has many restaurants, cafes and hotels. The village is found on the north slope of the Lubéron mountain, approximately 11 kilometers from Roussillon. The town’s Vieille Eglise (Old Church) is a Romanesque church built between the 12th and 15th centuries and dedicated to Saint Gervais. Surrounded by mighty cedar trees, the church stands high above the town with sensational views of the landscape. The panorama extends from the Bassin d’Apt to Gordes and Roussillon and over the Vaucluse plateau to Mont Ventoux. The old church is a stone’s throw from the Place de la Liberté. Bonnieux also has an interesting museum, the Musée de la Boulangerie , which explores the history of bread and its role in civilization from ancient times to the present day. On Friday mornings, Bonnieux bustles with a lively market Place Gambetta with colorful stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, jam, local cheese, quiches, specialties such as tapenade and Provencal fabrics.
7 Archeology and crafts in Apt
This charming village is located on a hill in the heart of the Luberon. The old town is located on the old Roman road (Via Domitia) and the city’s Musée d’Histoire et d’Archéologie has an excellent collection of Gallo-Roman antiquities. Apt was also a thriving trading town during the Middle Ages, benefiting from its proximity to Avignon (53 kilometers away). Be sure to see the Cathédrale Sainte-Anne , originally Romanesque but modified in the 14th and 17th centuries. In the baroque cathedral Chapelle Sainte-Anne there is a reliquary of Saint Anne. The treasury contains relics from Limoges and illuminated manuscripts.
Apt draws crowds to its traditional open-air Provencal market on Saturdays. The city is also known for its artisan crafts, such as hats and ceramics, as well as its handmade fruit preserves.
8 Picturesque Gargas and prehistoric caves
Less than five kilometers away from inclined is the small village of Gargas, found in a beautiful setting of rolling hills. The village’s parish church, the Eglise Saint-Denis is decorated with 17th-century tapestries and paintings. The town is beautiful Château des Condés is now the Hotel de Ville (town hall). Gargas also has one of the region’s best pastry shops, the Confiserie Saint-Denis (in the Quartier des Janselmes), which makes candied fruit the old-fashioned way.
Gargas also attracts many tourists to its Prehistoric caves which were used by Stone Age hunters around 27,000 years ago. At the site, visitors can view the caves and prehistoric artwork, including drawings and paintings of animals. Due to preservation issues, the number of visitors to this site is limited.
9 Cadenet: culture, cuisine and festivals
This medieval hilltop village is located on the banks of the River Durance, about five kilometers away from Lourmarin . Steeped in history, Cadenet has the picturesque ambiance of a Provencal village perché with its idyllic views and quiet old streets. The village is divided into concentric circles around the slopes and dominated by the ruins of an 11th-century castle. Cadenet’s 17th-century parish church is located outside the historic center. The church has a room full of holy relics and a unique baptismal font made from fragments of a marble Roman sarcophagus.
Cadenet is a great place to soak up the local culture and enjoy its cuisine. There are many cultural events and festivals throughout the year . On Mondays, the town’s traditional market attracts locals who come to shop for fresh ingredients and artisan products. Gourmands will want to stop for a meal at the Auberge la Fenière (Route de Lourmarin), a luxury hotel with a Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant. During spring and summer the restaurant patio is lovely.
10 The Abbey of Silvacane
Discover a famous 12th-century abbey seven kilometers from Cadenet. The Abbaye de Silvacane is a former Cistercian abbey in La Roque-Anthéron at the foot of the Montagne du Lubéron. The name of the abbey comes from the Latin words “silva cannorum” (meaning “forest of reeds”) and indicates that the area used to be marshland. The monastery was founded in 1144 and completed in 1230. Previously there had been a monastic community here that looked after the spiritual well-being of travelers crossing the River Durance. The architecture of the abbey reflects the early Gothic style of the 13th century. The monastery and monastery buildings were built later from 1250 to 1300 and the refectory dates from the 15th century.
11 Aristocratic Joucas
The beautiful hilltop village of Joucas is located six kilometers from Roussillon . Joucas belonged to a group of noble families who gave their property to the Knights Hospitaller of Saint John of Jerusalem (they later became the Knights of Malta) in the early 13th century. The village is distinguished by its winding cobbled streets, ancient staircases and elegant old houses decorated with potted flowers. The houses feature typical Provencal architecture with stone buildings with pastel shutters and red roof tiles. Spend time wandering around to discover the charming hidden corners and tranquil squares with refreshing fountains. The village enjoys a pleasant setting on a shady hillside overlooking the patchwork of farmlands in the plains.
12 Lacoste: A Dainty Village Renovated by Pierre Cardin
About eight kilometers from Ménerbes and 13 kilometers from Joucas, Lacoste owes much of its current beauty to renovations funded by famed designer Pierre Cardin . In a beautiful area of the Luberon, this small, charming village enchants visitors. Lacoste is a medieval village perché with an inspiring hilltop, densely packed winding streets and old stone buildings. The village is crowned by its ancient castle , where the infamous Marquis de Sade lived in the 18th century. The castle was also restored by Pierre Cardin. Despite being a small village, Lacoste has an excellent program of cultural events such as classical music concerts throughout the year. The village also has many art galleries and several cozy terraces with picturesque terraces. From Lacoste a gentle walking path runs through the Forêt des Cèdres (Cedar Forest).
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