The southern region of France is one of the most picturesque destinations you can dream of… Endless lavender fields, incredibly delicious food, and a lot of attractions to discover. Are you ready? In this article, I want to show you the most beautiful Luberon villages that you should definitely consider including in your France itinerary!
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Best Luberon Villages, Southern France
Best Places to Stay to Visit the Luberon Villages
Basic Things to Know about the Luberon Villages
Luberon is an incredibly gorgeous region in France that is situated in the Vaucluse, the Alpine uplands of Provence, east of Arles and Avignon, and north of Aix-en-Provence.
Luberon has long been a well-kept secret but became popular following the success of A Year in Provence, by English writer, Peter Mayle, who describes his life in the Luberon village of Ménerbes.
Discover the Best of the Luberon Villages with These Tours
There are more than 30 pretty Medieval villages perching on hilltops and their character has earned the area the nickname the little Tuscany of Provence. Reason enough to put the Luberon villages among the most famous collection of Medieval towns in the world.
In the area, there is also the Luberon National Park, a spectacular natural area with limestone cliffs, olive groves, and wooded hillsides.
Here we bring you some of the most interesting Luberon villages that you should not skip when discovering the south of France!
Gordes
This pretty village has been named one of the most beautiful in France. The settlement stands on a rocky promontory overlooking the Luberon Valley and has some incredible views.
Gordes developed in the eleventh century to defend the underlying valley. Part of the picturesque scenery is some quaint cobbled streets and attractive stone houses. In the heart of the village stands an old castle dating from the Renaissance.
The Luberon village of Gordes is an agricultural one but there are also silk-spinning mills, tanneries, shoemaking workshops, and wool-weaving artisans.
During the past two centuries, the village was much larger than today, In the last hundred years, Gordes suffered several earthquakes and agricultural diseases causing several villagers to leave in search of work.
Gorges has slowly started to blossom again in the last fifty years, and it has again become home to a number of artists who have been captivated by its beauty.
There are several interesting places to visit including the Cellars of the Saint Firmin Palace which reveals unknown details about medieval life in the village.
Saint James Almony is worth finding too so as to admire the floral decorations on the capitals of the columns, one of them is decorated with sculptures of scallop shells which are the symbol of the pilgrim route Santiago de Compostela.
Just outside the village stands the world-famous Abbey of Sénanque, a Cistercian monastery founded in 1148. The monastery is open for tours and the monks can be seen hard at work gathering the lavender they grow.
In recent years, a tourist boom in the area, fed by the growing interest in the lavender fields, has given the region a new economic boost.
About four kilometers from Gordes, the village of Bouries is a remarkable place to visit. Over there, all the walls and curiously-shaped houses have been constructed by stacking stones gathered from the fields when they were cleared for farming.
Joucas
Nestling between Gordes and Roussillon, another must-visit hilltop Luberon village is Joucas. The place was chosen as a defensive position in medieval times as it commands excellent views of the valley in almost every direction.
Although there is not as much to see as in other villages around the area, Joucas is worth a visit as from this area, it is possible to have some incredible views of the surrounding plain and ochre hills of Roussillon.
The Provençal market that is held weekly in the heart of town is another good reason to visit and discover the typical tastes of the area.
Roussillon
This popular village sits on top of an ochre-colored cliff and all its buildings mirror the red colors found in the surrounding countryside.
Ochre is a prevalent color because the area has the biggest natural deposits of ochre in the world. Many of the buildings in the village are ochre-colored because they have been painted with ochre-colored rendering.
In Roussillon, there are pretty narrow streets to wander and flower-filled squares to admire. There is an Ochre Trail to follow that takes walkers through the countryside to see where the characteristic rocks carved by wind, water, and man.
The Ochre Colour Conservatoire in the old Mathieu Factory offers tours that tell the history of this unique pigment and its many uses.
There are many interesting places to see in the village including the Orientation Table with its panoramic views and Place de Pignotte where alms were regularly given to the poor. The alms that were distributed were small loaves of bread shaped like a pine cone – le pignotte.
Insider’s tip: The most spectacular time to see the colored houses of this village is at sunrise.
Menérbes
Standing on a rocky plateau, Menérbes is a village that offers extensive views over the vineyards of the Luberon.
Menérbes has a castle to explore but, overall, this Luberon village is best known for its Maison de la Truffe et du Vin where you can find an array of products made from truffles, and during the winter months, fresh truffles.
Other products from the region are available too if you are eager to discover them, these include flavored kinds of vinegar, delicious honey, and the incredibly interesting Corkscrew Museum to visit.
Lacoste
Many of the houses feature captivating Medieval architectural traits in this Luberon village perched on a hillside.
The character of Lacoste, which comprises just a single main street, changed dramatically when the famous French fashion designer Pierre Cardin bought the château and more than thirty properties in Lacoste. The designer had them all carefully renovated.
There are a number of art galleries to explore and each summer a lyrical art festival is held in the village.
Bonnieux
Nestling amongst fields of lavender and vineyards is Bonnieux, a tiny Luberon village that stands on Mont Luberon.
In this settlement, you will find an old Roman bridge leading to the heart of the village – Pont Julien. In Bonnieux, there are numerous narrow winding alleys that all seem to lead to the pretty Jardins de la Louvre.
Lourmarin
This lovely village which is dominated by its castle or château has also been named one of the most beautiful in France and is popular with artists – many of whom have made it their home.
The Château de Lourmarin is open to the public and it’s an interesting place to visit for its remarkable architecture and excellent collection of paintings, and sculptures as well as engravings and old musical instruments.
During summer, the castle offers guided tours in French, four times every day. A nice touch is that it is possible to relax and enjoy a picnic on the grounds of the château.
Cucuron
This is one of the smallest villages in the region but nevertheless remains one of the most charming places to visit. It is located between Lourmarin and Ansouis, in the southern area of the Luberon natural park.
Cucuron’s main square is surrounded by 200-year-old plane trees and is where its shops, (including two delicious bakeries) – can be found.
This is a fortified Luberon village dating from the eleventh century, located below the remnants of a fourteenth-century castle.
Its medieval ramparts with its gates and towers can still be seen along with the ruins of the castle and Saint Michel keep. You can still climb the keep and enjoy great views over the red roofs of the village.
Rustrel and Gignac
Situated in the heart of the region are its two tiny Luberon villages.
Rustrel is dominated by its seventeenth-century castle which today functions as the city’s Town Hall. An ancient olive mill stands in the center of the village. The mill used to be powered by animals and was used until about a hundred years ago.
The village still produces excellent olive oil but is also known for its Côtes du Ventoux wines. Rustrel is popular with truffle connoisseurs too, as the village is surrounded by fields where black truffles grow.
Rustrel is known as the Colorado Provençal as it has impressive ochre cliffs and was once a busy ochre production village.
The village also had two steel foundries – and the two furnaces can still be seen. Today, Rustrel is still active as it has a low-noise underground laboratory, which can be visited on certain days.
Gignac has fewer than fifty inhabitants and is a tiny hilltop village dominated by its seventeenth-century castle. You can step back in time in Gignac as it has hardly changed for centuries.
The village still has no shops or restaurants, however, there are several interesting places to visit, including La Jupière which is a place that the locals know really well. It is said that, at La Jupière, and according to the local legend, strong winds could lift the ladies’ skirts.
Gignac is a great place to take a walk as the color of the ochre perfectly contrasts with the green lavender fields.
Of course, the Luberon does not end here… There are many other villages to explore in this area and each has its own points of interest and curiosities to discover.
It is well worth taking your time to explore the Luberon as it holds so many treasures. And the sheer number of cultural events taking place in the area each year is certainly a good reason to visit. These are some of the places, events, and attractions we suggest you keep in mind when visiting the Luberon:
- The floating market of I’Isle Sur la Sorgue,
- The lavender museum in Coustellet,
- Etang de la Bonde lake in Cabrières d’Aigues,
- and… if you like caves, the Thouzon Cave in Le Tor, shouldn’t be missed!
Are you planning to visit the Villages of the Luberon this season?
Let me know in the comments below!
You might also want to read these articles:
- Top Things to Do in Lyon for an Unforgettable City Break in France!
- Great Things to Do in Aix en Provence, Southern France’s Most Enchanting Village!
- … or discover all the articles about France!
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About me:
I have lived in Chania, Crete, since 2016. As a local, I have an intimate knowledge of the Crete. I host culinary and concierge tours and experiences in Crete and write about the island for several travel media. During the last five years, I have helped many travelers plan the perfect holiday in Crete. I co-authored DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete and had more glasses of frappe than any regular person could ever handle.