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The Luberon mountains,
chain of mountains of charm in the heart of Provence !
Marrying beautiful landscapes
with an important pole of economic activity.
 The
regional natural park "Luberon" extends over 68 communes.
It has recently been classified "reserve de biosphere" by l'UNESCO.
The local communes and the inhabitants are using a lot of energy and efforts
to preserve the massif du Luberon, to preserve the rural patrimony and to ensure
the pedestrian roads and the itineraries in the middle of the natural environment
are kept in it's original beauty.
The Luberon is one the most privileged destinations of tourists all over
the world.
The Luberon is located in the heart of Provence.
The site has preserved an exceptional beauty in large part due to the landscape
; Mountains, valleys, large areas of lavender fields, wine-yards, etc...
In the heart of the many villages you can discover authentic small vertical
"roads" full of charm with houses built in dry stone, drawn by the centuries
and covered with flowers.
| Several tourist circuits
permits you to visit the principal villages of Provence : |
The richness of the number of pedestrian circuits and small roads, allows
you to oscilliate between faboulous landscapes either by foot, on bike or any
other convenient means of transportation that suits you. You benefit from the
calm and the tranquility of our region. The cicada fields guides your choice for
the new sites to discover.
  Gordes
The first site to admire !
The village hangs on the cliff of the Mont de Vaucluse.
It offers all the splendor of a provencale village and constitutes a multitude
of village dwellings, all constructed with dry stones hence creating it's particularity
and it's charm.
Close to the village is the monastery of Senanque, founded in 1148 and the village
with it's bories are awaiting to make you inhale the magic of the site where "il
fait bon vivre".
Continuing your circuit through the landscape, in direction of Roussillon,
you will pass a number of different wine-yards with wines that makes your pallet
sing all the tunes of the Mistral.
 Roussillon
The minor provence Colorado offers you the thousand colors of the ochre
earth.
From dark violet to yellow, almost green.
This earthly ochre is the fruit of sand slides, created by the disappearance of
the sea several million years ago.
A number of hills surrounds the village. You can go search for fossils (sea-snails,
prints from fish, sea-shells, etc...) that is not directly visible for the innocent
inattentive eye.
You continue your road by following the lavender roads passing
through : Lagarde d'Apt, Viens, Caseneuve, Apt, Saignon, Auribeau and the
castelet.
| A number of villages still
offers alle the beauty of their landscapes and their history : |
Cavaillon
...With it's hill-side Saint Jacques, a piece detached from the Luberon
offers a spectacular panorama of the Alpilles mountains, the Durance valley, the
valley of Apt and the Monts du Vaucluse. In the heart of the city you can visit
the museum of the hotel of God, the synagogue and it's Jewish contemporary museum.
Apt
The city of Apt is situated in the heart of the natural Parc of the Luberon.
This is reputed for it's calm and quality of it's environment and life. The sun
shines in abundance in this region where outings are a must wheter by foot on
horse-back or by VTT. In the center of the old city is situated an old Cathedral
of Provence with it's famous Sainte Anne treasury. But also lavender distilleryies,
the "confisier" of Apt and the ceramic works. During summer it is a
festival of colours and scents on Saturday morning where the great market is taking
place. In 1996 this market received the label of "exceptional market"
for it's ambiance and it's authenticity. The region of Apt is reputed for it truffles
and wild life.
Rustrel
...with it's olive mills.
Lacoste
...opposite Bonnieux and surmounted by the remains of the castle of Marquis
de Sade.
Ménerbes
...avec son abbaye Saint-Hilaire et son église du XIIIe siècle.
Oppède
...with it's monastery Saint Hilaire and it's church from the XIII's century.
Home to Picasso and nowadays to the famous writer Peter Mayle and his book "a
year in Provence". Oppède, magnificent village surrounded by the Saint
Cecile terraces. These 15 terraces are spread over more than 3 acres of land and
regroups 80 different known herbal species as well as typical trees of the Luberon.
At your departure, you'll find your home soil enriched by the souvenirs of
the region : Scents, santons, tissue, food, potteries and fossils.
During Christmas or in specialized museums, you can find miniature versions
of these same villages with it's "Santons".
These are the "chreches provencale" real symbol of our region.
| In addition to these beautiful
villages to visit, a number of activities are proposed : |
Weekly
marketplaces : Fresh fruits and vegetables cultivated by the peasants of the
region ; Olives, olive-oil, melon from Cavaillon, truffe, the wine as well as
many artisan products ; faience d'apt, potteries, céramiques, etc...
The
antiquaries market.
The
museums : The bakers museum, Lavender museum, Cork-screw museum, Wine, "chreche
provencale. You can discover all of the history of our region through these different
places.
The
Artists : Rene Char, Mistral, Petrarque.
The
shows and festivities : Festival of the classical museum of Ansouis, Festival
de folklore à Cavaillon.
Archeological
and pale ontological sites.
The
built and natural patrimony : The Bories, l'oppidium of Perreal, the mill
of Jerusalem, the roman church, the Jewish synagogue of Cavaillon, the wall of
the peste, etc...
The
leisure activities of open air : Walks, escalation, VTT, canoeing and kayak.
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