PROVENCE and LUBERON

This wonderful region is a protected natural park area, where grapevine grows side by side with lavender fields, olive groves, orchards, cedar trees and red ochre quarries.

From vineyards to uphill villages... Discover all of Luberon...
Provence has a rich History and offers many a tourist attraction: the lover of architecture will enjoy the remains of such a rich background, whether it be the roman ruins in St Remy (where Princess Caroline elected to live), the Luberon castles from the Middle Ages to the XVIIIth century (Lacoste, les Baux…), romanesque abbeys (Sénanque, Silvacane…), those mysterious stone huts called bories sometimes gathered in full villages, or more simply our perched villages each one unique (Gordes, Bonnieux, Ménerbes…).

The road of uphill/perched villages:

GORDES

Gordes:
Standing on a cliff, this village, also known for its mysterious "bories", is located on the edge of the Vaucluse plateau, dominating Immergue and Calavon valleys.

OPPEDE, LACOSTE, MENERBES, BONNIEUX

These are typical of the villages situated in the Luberon foot hills. Often perched on a rocky spur from where one could easily survey the plain underneath and communicate through signals.

Lacoste:
Well-known village. The impressive castle in ruins once belonged to the Marquis de Sade family. Its walls have been partially rebuilt. At the foot of the ruins, houses of the village buit on terrace levels. The narrow streets are paved with tightly assembled cobblestones. The site offers an exceptional view out on the Ventoux, Luberon, Vaucluse mountains. A lyrical art festival takes place in the month of july.

Menerbes is one of the most famous and beautiful perched villages of Luberon. It therefore should not be missed. Its name comes from the greek "Minerve" Goddess of the arts. It is a place that attracted many writers and painters such as Camus, Francois Nourrissier, Nicolas de Stael and even Picasso settled there in 1953. Its 13th century citadelle, rich of history, offers an amazing view on Calavon's valley, Gordes, Roussillon and Ventoux.

Between OCHRE and LAVENDER, SENANQUE ABBEY, ROUSSILLON, APT

Senanque Abbey:
Notre-Dame de Senanque is a unique example of a twelfth century Cistercian abbey

Roussillon is not only one of the most famous "perched villages" in the Luberon mountains, it is also an old renowned centre where ochre used to be extracted and processed. A guided tour of the ancient factory Mathieu is well worthwhile.

Incredible colors of ochre rocks and red earth. Stupendous landscapes of quarries and rock formations.The "sentier des ocres" is a path that will lead you to the discovery of these landscapes' flora.

PROVENCE

Provence always has been an artist's paradise. Many of those who came here for a longer or shorter period were famous, such as Cézanne, van Gogh, Vasarely; the writers, Petrarch, Daudet (author of “Letters from my windmill”), Peter Mayle (“A year in Provence”), stars from showbiz, too many to be named, others mere amateurs.

		Les Baux de Provence...
Lourmarin...
	Daudet's windmill Daudet is the author of “Letters from my windmill”	Saint Sixte

		wild horses in Camargue

AVIGNON

Avignon, the Popes’city is half an hour away, famous for the Popes’ palace, its bridge, of course, but also its theatre festival.

ARLES

Situated on the Rhône banks, this antique roman city, unique for its architectural background also inspired artists and poets. Mostly famous for its arena, ancient roman theater used for plays and gladiator combats, it is now essentially used for corridas.

FONTAINE de VAUCLUSE and l'ISLE sur la SORGUE

Fontaine de Vaucluse and l'Isle sur la Sorgue afford canoeing. You may also go riding or play golf. Isle sur la Sorgue with its weekend flea market and hundreds of antique shops is the absolute rendezvous of worldwide treasure hunters.

l'Isle sur la Sorgue
			Fontaine de Vaucluse