Le Barroux travel guide

Visit Le Barroux (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France)

Le Barroux is a charming small village dominated by its chateau, in the Vaucluse department (Provence-Alpes Cote d'Azur region) to the south of Vaison-la-Romaine.

Explore Le Barroux

France This Way review: set on a hill with fabulous views in all directions, Le Barroux is a lovely little medieval village overlooked by a very substantial 12th century chateau.

Start your visit in the centre of Le Barroux with the lovely Church of Saint-John the Baptist, dating from the 14th century and with a tower and campanile.

Narrow streets wind around the village, all beautifully paved in a stone matching that of the houses and the chateau, and many of the houses in Le Barroux have been carefully restored to make the most of their character and period features.

The castle sits at the top of the village which itself sits perched on a rocky outcrop. Walk up towards the castle, which you can visit, and round the rampart walk below to appreciate the fine views. Only some parts of the castle are open to the public, with the 18th century frescoes in the chapel among the highlights.

The castle in Le Barroux has had a tumultuous past. The original medieval castle was largely rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries, and it was then damaged during the French Revolution.

Restored in the 1920s, the Germans set fire to the castle during World War 2 in retaliation for acts of resistance and it was then restored to its current state in the 1960s.

Attractions in the region

The Abbey of Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux is a Benedictine monastery just outside the village. You can visit the church which looks Romanesque in style but was actually built in 1981. You can stay the night here if you wish but if not you can still visit the shop for some delicious crusty bread and olive oil made by the monks.

The Abbey is also well known for preserving the art of Gregorian chant, and you can listen to this when you visit. A rather forward thinking monastery, you can also listen to their broadcasts on an app on your iPhone! (see www.barroux.org for details).

It is easy to guess that you are in an important wine area from the sheer numbers of vineyards covering the countryside in this area and Le Barroux is on the local Route des Vins. Olive groves and lavender fields also dot the landscape.

Slightly further afield there are many small villages to discover including Vaison-la-Romaine among our favourites.

You can find more travel ideas in the Vaucluse guide and the Provence guide.

Photos of Le Barroux

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Map of Le Barroux and places nearby

Visit near Le Barroux with France This Way reviews

Dentelles de Montmirail

Although at quite low altitude the jagged peaks of the Dentelles-de-Montmirail are a lovely place for hiking

Dentelles de Montmirail guide

Seguret

Seguret is a very picturesque village east of Orange, now classified among the most beautiful villages in France

Seguret guide

Carpentras

Carpentras is a sizeable town, and although not always considered a 'tourist town' we found it had a good number of sites of interest

Carpentras guide

Vaison-la-Romaine

You are spoiled for choice in Vaison-la-Romaine, with substantial Roman remains and also a large medieval centre to explore

Vaison-la-Romaine guide

Pernes-les-Fontaines

Pernes-les-Fontaines takes its name from the large number of historic fountains in the town - 40 at last count!

Pernes-les-Fontaines guide

Venasque

The ancient baptistry and the scenery of the Nesque river valley are just two of the reasons to visit the village of Venasque

Venasque guide

... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Vaucluse

Address: Barroux, Malaucène, Carpentras, Provence, 84330, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 44.1378, longitude 5.1003

Plan your visit to Le Barroux, Vaucluse

Attractions, places & markets near Le Barroux

Vaucluse places to visit

Driving distances & route maps

Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby

Dentelles de Montmirail: site of natural beauty (6 km)
Seguret: most beautiful village (10 km)
Carpentras: town of art and history (10 km)
Vaison-la-Romaine: town of art and history (12 km)
Cathédrale Notre Dame de Nazareth (Vaison-la-Romaine): religious monument (12 km)
Jarditrain: remarkable garden (15 km)
Mont Ventoux: grand site of france (15 km)
Pernes-les-Fontaines: recommended detour (16 km)
Venasque: most beautiful village (16 km)
Gorges de la Nesque: site of natural beauty (21 km)
Jardin du château de Brantes: remarkable garden (23 km)
Orange Roman Theatre: heritage site (23 km)

The French version of this page is at Le Barroux (Francais)