Must-see sites
in the Luberon

Gordes

Gordes is undoubtedly the most famous village in Provence—perched on a limestone cliff overlooking the Calavon Valley, it offers one of the most photographed panoramas in France. Its houses of golden stone stacked on the rock face, its 16th-century Renaissance castle, and its stepped alleyways make it a masterpiece of medieval urban planning. Classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, it attracts a discerning international clientele who have chosen it as a second home.

Nearby, the Sénanque Abbey — whose rows of lavender in the foreground have become the iconic image of Provence — and the Village des Bories, a collection of dry stone huts classified as a Historical Monument, complete a unique heritage offering.

Roussillon

Roussillon is the most colorful village in France—its houses with ochre, red, orange, and yellow facades are built in and on the ochre cliffs that brought wealth and renown to the village for two centuries. The Ochre Trail (2 km) crosses the old quarry and allows visitors to discover spectacular geological formations—fairy chimneys, multicolored cliffs—in a landscape found nowhere else in Europe.

The world's largest ochre deposit lies beneath Roussillon and the surrounding towns. The Colorado Provençal of Rustrel, a protected natural site a few kilometers away, offers a similar experience but in an even wilder and less frequented setting.

Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey

Founded in 1148 by Cistercian monks, Sénanque Abbey is one of the three "Provençal sisters" of the Cistercian order along with Silvacane and Le Thoronet. Nestled in a narrow valley amidst lavender fields, it is permanently inhabited by a community of monks and constitutes one of the most perfect examples of Cistercian Romanesque architecture — austere lines, beauty of stone, absolute balance of proportions.

The view from the road down towards the abbey, with rows of flowering lavender in the foreground and Romanesque buildings in the background, is one of the most reproduced images in the world — and one of the most beautiful realities of Provence.

Bonnieux

Bonnieux is the most elegant hilltop village in the Luberon—its hillside terraces, cascading gardens, and views across the Calavon plain to the Alpilles mountains make it one of the most beautiful panoramas in Provence. The old 12th-century church at the village's summit offers a breathtaking 360° view. The village is also home to the Bakery Museum, a testament to the role of bread in Provençal life.

The Friday morning market is one of the most authentic in the Luberon. Nearby, the Pont Julien — a Roman bridge from the 1st century BC still in perfect condition — spans the Calavon with its three monumental arches.

Ménerbes

Ménerbes is the village made world-famous by Peter Mayle, who lived there and wrote "A Year in Provence"—a bestseller that sparked a wave of property purchases in the Luberon by British and American buyers. The medieval citadel, the quiet lanes, and the views over the valley create a setting of understated and unspoiled beauty. Pablo Picasso also owned a house there.

Lourmarin

Lourmarin is the most vibrant village in the Grand Luberon – its Friday market, restaurants, galleries, and Renaissance castle make it one of the most popular and beloved villages in the region. Albert Camus is buried in the village cemetery – he spent the last months of his life there. The Château de Lourmarin, the first Renaissance castle built in Provence in the 15th century, is open to the public and hosts cultural exhibitions.

Colorado Provençal — Rustrel

Just a few kilometers from Roussillon, the Colorado Provençal of Rustrel is a former abandoned ochre quarry that has been transformed into a spectacular natural landscape—red and orange cliffs, fairy chimneys, and ochre canyons framed by pine trees and Mediterranean vegetation. Less touristy than the Ochre Trail in Roussillon, it offers a wilder and more immersive experience for nature lovers and hikers.

Oppède-le-Vieux

Oppède-le-Vieux is one of the most mysterious and least known villages in the Luberon—a partially abandoned medieval village perched on a rocky spur above the Calavon plain. Its ruined houses, Gothic church, and castle undergoing restoration create a unique and somewhat timeless atmosphere. Artists and architects have established their studios here since the 1950s, drawn by this singular setting.