With its quaint villages and diverse landscapes, the Luberon has so much to offer, especially for those who love the great outdoors. Nestled in the heart of sunny Provence, less than an hour from the hillsides of Aix-en-Provence which are home to Château Gassier, this idyllic rural region is the ideal place to relax and unwind. Let’s take a closer look at our favorite 3 villages to visit in the Luberon: Roussillon, Gordes & Fontaine de Vaucluse.
Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in France, the village of Roussillon is situated in what is Europe’s largest ocher mine and you certainly can’t miss it with brightly colored ocher facades. Brimming with narrow, winding streets, quaint squares and undeniable charm, Roussillon is the perfect place to relax and soak up the natural beauty of the Luberon. This unique village will leave a lasting impression with its natural palette of colors.
You may wish to continue your visit with a walk along the region’s ocher pathways which are positively aglow with their warm tones and shades. The American dream, you say? Well you don’t need to go as far as the States since the Luberon has earned itself the nickname of the Provencal Colorado! Composed of ancient ocher quarries and swathed in tones of pale yellow to bright red, it has been likened to the great national parks of Western America. These beautiful landscapes with their jaw dropping hiking trails are easily accessible for adults and children alike.
Gordes is a postcard village surrounded by olive groves, almond groves, fig trees, stone walls and beautiful country homes and really is everything you could expect from beautiful Provence! Gordes has been named ‘Most Beautiful Village in France’ and it certainly lives up to its reputation.
Gordes is exactly how you would imagine a Provencal perched village to be. It has been endlessly photographed, written about and admired and owes its fame to illustrative artists such as Marc Chagall and Jean Deyrolle who captured its beauty and left a cultural imprint on these landscapes. The artistic vocation of Gordes has been undisputed since the 1940’s with endless exhibitions and concerts hosted throughout the year. Whilst its beauty, unique location and cultural aura have made Gordes one of Provence’s most chic villages, it has by no means lost its close links to its terroir and traditions. From its restored stoned pathways, the castle square and its fountain, its traditional boutiques and stands, your eyes won’t know where to look next! If you decide to pay a visit to Gordes then make sure you to stop by the Provencal market which is held every Tuesday right beside the Château. The Gordes market is filled with fresh, sun-drenched products and has become a true institution in Provence!
At the foothills of these impressive cliffs, which have been sculpted by the magic of time and erosion, flows the magnificent Sorgues river. It is in fact the largest water source in the whole of Europe. Its waters are at the mercy of nature, sometimes calm and peaceful, other times powerful, rushing and tumultuous. All that remains is for you to find the source of Fontaine de Vaucluse, the beating heart of this historical village!
The beauty of this natural setting has struck a chord with many a writer and poet in the past… Pétrarque, Boccace, Chateaubriand, Frédéric Mistral and René Char to name but a few. Stroll through the quaint streets that wind their way alongside the Sorgues river and marvel at the remains of its 14th century Château, the 11th century church of Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran, the Pétrarque museum, the Santons museum of nativity figurines or even the artisan printing shop complete with ancient water-wheel that is still in use.
Last but by no means least, the Sorgues is the ideal place to try out your canoeing and kayaking skills. The upsurge of the Fontaine de Vaucluse runs through this famous river with its crystal clear, emerald green hue. As you make your way down almost 8km of waters from Fontaine de Vaucluse to Isle-sur-la-Sorgues, you’ll get a true taste for the pleasures of canoeing and kayaking. The river is well suited to beginners, families and groups and well as more experienced water sport lovers wanting to soak up the beauty of these breathtaking surroundings on kayak or canoe.
If you’re not yet familiar with the charms of Gordes, Roussillon or Fontaine de Vaucluse then why not make the most of a visit to Château Gassier by taking a detour through its beautiful surrounding villages? And if you’ve already visited the villages of the Luberon then we would be very interested to hear which Provencal gems really struck a chord with you!
