Luberon

Visit Luberon

The Luberon is famous the world over, for its outstanding natural beauty, with craggy limestone hills, forested valleys and numerous beautiful medieval hilltop villages (known as perched villages) - and because of the books set in the region by the Luberon's most famous resident - Peter Mayle - such as 'A Year in Provence'.

Selected places to visit in Luberon

Luberon highlights

Located about 40 kilometres east of Arles and Avignon and north of Aix-en-Provence it is above all the Luberon villages that we recommend - for it is the villages (and the surrounding scenery) that are the highlight of this beautiful region of the French countryside. The region has several villages listed as 'most beautiful villages of France'.

Although many of the Luberon villages are small each has its own particular appeal and character - and almost all are very worth visiting! The region falls in two departments of Provence:  Vaucluse to the west and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence to the east.

Luberon in the Vaucluse department

The Petit Luberon region, a 'sub-region' that includes several of the main highlights, contains many of the most visited villages within about 30 kilometres of each other, and is situated here in the Vaucluse. Some of the villages and places to visit in the 'petit Luberon' include:

The source of the Sorgue river at Fontaine de Vaucluse (not a perched village), most dramatic in spring when the river flow is at its peak but beautiful all year around, while the very popular and very visited Gordes is perhaps the most attractive of the Luberon villages when seen from the approach road.

The Luberon Regional Natural Park contains a small road that runs east to west and en-route passes by four very attractive villages - each also has exceptional views across the Luberon countryside: Oppède-le-Vieux; nearby Ménerbes, strung out along a hilltop; Lacoste, one street town leading to the castle of the Marquis de Sade; Bonnieux, tumbling down the side of a hill at the eastern end of the road.

Don't miss also the ochre mines and orange houses at Roussillon, best seen at sunrise if possible. A little way south is the ancient village of Lourmarin, also in a very attractive setting, and the small villages of Cucuron and Ansouis are nearby, and Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt is north of Roussillon

Luberon in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

To the east the Luberon attracts less visitors but still has a great deal to enjoy. Among the highlights here are the market town of Forcalquier, the nearby small villages at Lurs and the village of Mane, dominated by its citadel, the town of Manosque at the east of the region, and the hill town of Oppedette, best known for its scenic gorges.

General visitor advice

This region is exactly how you imagine Provence to be, especially if like me you are a lover of Jean de Florette (who isn't?) and you will not be disappointed when you visit. Their close proximity means it is easy to visit several in one holiday...

...and while visiting the Luberon area is extremely highly recommended, for both the villages and the magnificent scenery, I would suggest that you avoid high summer if possible, when the crowds of tourists can become a little intense at times. Spring and autumn usually have very pleasant weather and are ideal!

Page in French? See Luberon (Francais)