Visits
Visits
Nestled in the heart of Provence, the Luberon promises a total change of scenery! Halfway between the Alps and the Mediterranean, its luxuriant fauna and flora have made it a Regional Natural Park since 1977.
To visit the Luberon is to discover colourful landscapes where the mauve of the lavender blends with the red of the cliffs, which in turn blends with the golden hues of the region’s picturesque villages.
The Domaine de la Santonne is surrounded by villages classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France.
These typically Provençal places will fill your eyes and amaze you at any time of the year.
Bruoux Mines
Take a trip to the heart of ochre! Vertiginous cliffs with flamboyant colours and labyrinth of galleries make up a unique and mysterious setting where man's labour the beauty of the Provençal landscape. Enter these old underground quarries, 15m high, and discover the riches of this preserved place, a vestige of the glory years of the ochre industry. Wonder and good humour guaranteed!
The Abbey of Sénanque
The Abbey of Notre-Dame de Sénanque is an active Cistercian monastery located in the commune of Gordes. Founded in 1148, it became an abbey in 1150 and, along with the Abbey of Silvacane and the Abbey of Le Thoronet, is one of the "three Provençal sisters", which bear witness to the great influence of the Cistercian order in Provence. Today, the monastery is still occupied by a community of Cistercian monks from the Cistercian Congregation of the Immaculate Conception.
The castle of Lacoste
The castle of Lacoste is a jewel of the Luberon. The castle can be visited from June to September. From the esplanade of the castle, accessible all year round, the view of the castle, the Luberon and the village is worth the diversions! Built in the 11th century, it was until the 16th century the property of the Simiane family from the House of Agoult before becoming the property of the Marquis de Sade. The famous Marquis had an "extraordinary attachment" to this fortress in which he found refuge on several occasions. Pierre Cardin, the famous fashion designer and businessman, took over the castle, which was then in ruins, in 2001 and undertook to restore part of it in order to open it to the public later on.
Fountain of Vaucluse
The Fountain of Vaucluse, source of the Sorgue, is the most important exsurgence in mainland France. It is ranked fifth in the world with an annual flow of 630 to 700 million cubic metres. This exsurgence is used as a reference in hydrogeology for the characterization of a type called "Vauclusian spring". Museums to see at the Fontaine de Vaucluse: - Vallis Clausa Paper Mill - Santon Museum
The village of Gordes
Gordes is one of the most visited villages in the Luberon Regional Nature Park. It is located on the borders of the Park, precisely in the Monts de Vaucluse, which face the northern slopes of the Luberon mountain. Perched on a rock, the village is a member of the association Les Plus Beaux Villages de France for its rich and varied heritage: two abbeys, a castle, many old hamlets, and several hundred dry-stone huts or bories, several water and windmills, fountains, washhouses and aiguiers.
The village of Goult
Goult is an old village that will delight lovers of old stones and beautiful nature. Restored with care, the village has beautiful stone and ochre buildings. You will be delighted to stroll through its small streets, after passing the church you will fall under the charm of its vaulted passages, its arcades and old doors. You will discover the remains of ancient ramparts as well as the castle of the d'Agoult family emerging from the rock. Large squares shaded by hundred-year-old hackberry trees will welcome you to share the gentle Provencal way of life that reigns in Goult.
Lourmarin and its castle
Lourmarin is well worth a visit, to appreciate the charms of this lively village all year round, but also to visit the surrounding area, which is full of treasures. You can also appreciate the typical Mediterranean architecture of the village: The magnificent belfry, known as the "salt box The fountains of different styles and periods The restored Romanesque church The Renaissance castle "Villa Médicis de Provence" The Temple, a listed building, sober, completed in 1816 The vintage houses, with their Renaissance facades
The village of Oppède le Vieux
Oppède le Vieux is an ancient and beautiful village perched on a foothill of the Luberon. Oppède is a village that has kept its historical architectural heritage intact, which gives a great charm to this Luberon village... an ideal holiday destination to visit the historical heritage of the Luberon. Superb panorama from the castle and the old village over the Cévennes, the Basses-Alpes and the Mont Ventoux. Old Sainte-Cécile terraces, landscaped garden: set of 15 terraces where more than 80 hardy species grow.
The village of Saignon
Saignon attracts all the curiosities of visitors from the valley of Apt located just 4 km away. A very large shape can be seen. A castle in Saignon? ! No, even more atypical, it is a fortified rock! It is called the Belle-Vue rock, because as its name indicates, from it you have a magnificent panoramic view. It is easy to get there on foot, thanks to the steps. For heritage lovers, Saignon conceals a multitude of treasures that you can see while strolling through the small sloping streets and flowery squares decorated with fountains.
The Ochre Trails
The village of Roussillon is classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France and is part of the Luberon regional nature park. A few hundred metres from the heart of the village, don't miss the ochre trail, which ranges in colour from yellow to purple. This path, marked out and decorated with educational signs, allows you to discover the particular flora of the ochre hills as well as the astonishing landscapes formed by the old quarries: This trail is marked out and decorated with educational signs, allowing you to discover the special flora of the ochre hills and the astonishing landscapes formed by the old quarries: the action of man but also of erosion sculpting these fairy needles above the famous "chaussée des géants". The Colorado de Rustrel, classified as a Historic Monument, is also worth a visit. Take advantage of the two marked trails all year round.
