Most Beautiful Villages of the Luberon (and How to Visit Them)
The Luberon is the Provence of postcards: stone villages perched on hilltops, lavender fields, cherry orchards, vineyards and weekly markets under the plane trees. The villages are close together, so in two or three days you can see the best of them by car and still have time for long lunches.
Quick answer: the most beautiful villages of the Luberon are Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Lourmarin and Cucuron. If you only have one day, choose Gordes, the Sénanque Abbey, Roussillon and Bonnieux. You need a car: public transport between the villages is very limited.
Where Is the Luberon?
The Luberon is a limestone mountain range in the Vaucluse department of Provence, roughly between Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Manosque. Since 1977 it has been protected as the Parc naturel régional du Luberon. The range is split into the lower, rugged Petit Luberon in the west and the higher Grand Luberon in the east, and a road through the Combe de Lourmarin gorge connects its two sides.
- North side (Calavon valley): Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes and Oppède-le-Vieux, plus the market town of Apt.
- South side (toward the Durance river): Lourmarin, Cucuron and Ansouis, which feel a little quieter and greener.
Several of these villages carry the official Les Plus Beaux Villages de France label, including Gordes, Roussillon, Ménerbes, Lourmarin and Ansouis. For background on the wider region, see what Provence is known for.
Gordes
Gordes is the most famous Luberon village, and the first view of it, a pile of golden stone houses stacked up a cliff under a Renaissance château, is unforgettable. The best viewpoint is on the D15 road arriving from Coustellet and Cavaillon, where there is a small roadside lay-by; take care stopping.
In the village, wander the steep cobbled lanes, the château square and the edge of the cliff for views over the valley. Nearby you can visit the Village des Bories, an open-air museum of traditional dry-stone huts. Gordes is the busiest and priciest village in the Luberon, so come early or late in the day in summer. Our full Gordes travel guide has more detail.
Sénanque Abbey
About 4 km north of Gordes, the Cistercian Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque sits in a quiet valley with a lavender field in front of it. It is one of the most photographed scenes in Provence, especially when the lavender is in bloom, typically from late June to mid-July (see when lavender blooms in Provence). It is still home to a monastic community, so dress modestly, keep noise down and check visiting rules; the church and parts of the abbey can usually be visited, sometimes on guided tours only.
Roussillon and the Ochre Trail
Roussillon is built on one of the largest ocher deposits in the world, and the whole village glows in shades of red, orange and yellow. The houses are painted in ocher tones, and from the upper village you look out over cliffs of colored earth.
The main attraction is the Sentier des Ocres (Ochre Trail), a short paid walking trail through former ocher quarries with sculpted red and orange cliffs. There are two loops, roughly 30 and 50 minutes. Wear shoes you don’t mind getting stained, and note that the trail closes in heavy rain and during part of the winter. For a bigger ocher landscape, the Colorado Provençal near Rustrel, east of Apt, has longer trails.
Bonnieux
Bonnieux climbs a steep hillside in terraces, topped by an old 12th-century church with sweeping views across the valley to Lacoste and Gordes. Climb the stairs to the top for the panorama, then stop at one of the café terraces below.
- Forêt des Cèdres: a cedar forest on the ridge of the Petit Luberon above Bonnieux, with shady walking paths and views on both sides of the range.
- Pont Julien: a remarkably well-preserved Roman bridge from the 1st century BC, a few minutes’ drive north of Bonnieux toward Apt.
Lacoste
Lacoste is small and quiet, crowned by the ruined château of the Marquis de Sade, who lived there in the 18th century. The château was later bought by the fashion designer Pierre Cardin, and the village also hosts a campus of an American art and design school, which gives it an artistic feel. Walk up the cobbled lanes to the castle walls for views across to Bonnieux.
Ménerbes
Ménerbes stretches along a narrow ridge like a ship, with a citadel at one end and an old church at the other. It became internationally known through Peter Mayle’s book A Year in Provence, which describes life in the countryside nearby. The village is peaceful, with lovely views over vineyards and cherry orchards, and the Maison de la Truffe et du Vin du Luberon is a good stop to learn about (and taste) local truffles and wines.
Oppède-le-Vieux
Oppède-le-Vieux is the most atmospheric village on this list. In the early 20th century most residents moved down to the plain, leaving the old village half abandoned. Today some houses have been restored, but the upper village is still a romantic tangle of ruins, overgrown paths and a castle and church on the hilltop. Park below the village and walk up; the paths are steep and rough, so wear good shoes.
Lourmarin
On the south side of the Luberon, Lourmarin is lively, elegant and full of cafés, galleries and shops. Its Renaissance château, one of the earliest in Provence, can be visited and hosts concerts in summer. The writer Albert Camus lived in Lourmarin and is buried in the village cemetery. Lourmarin’s Friday morning market is one of the most popular in the region, so arrive early.
Cucuron and Ansouis
Nearby Cucuron is centered on a large rectangular pond (the Bassin de l’Étang) lined with huge plane trees, one of the prettiest spots in the southern Luberon for a drink in the shade. Ansouis, a few kilometers further, is a quiet, well-kept village below its château.
Market Days by Village
Visiting a village on its market day is one of the joys of the Luberon. Markets usually run from about 8 or 9 am to noon or 1 pm. Days below are the usual ones; some are seasonal, so check with the local tourist office before planning around them.
| Day | Village markets |
|---|---|
| Monday | Cadenet |
| Tuesday | Gordes, Cucuron, Lacoste (in season), Apt farmers’ market |
| Thursday | Roussillon, Ménerbes (roughly April–October) |
| Friday | Lourmarin, Bonnieux |
| Saturday | Apt (the biggest market in the Luberon) |
| Sunday | Coustellet farmers’ market; L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (food and antiques, just west of the Luberon) |
A Driving Route Through the Luberon
Distances are short, usually 10–20 minutes between neighboring villages, but the roads are narrow and winding, so don’t try to cram in too much. Here is a relaxed two-day loop; you can compress it into one long day by picking three or four villages.
| Day | Route | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (north) | Gordes → Sénanque Abbey → Roussillon → Bonnieux | Gordes viewpoint, abbey and lavender, Ochre Trail, sunset at Bonnieux church |
| Day 2 (west and south) | Lacoste → Ménerbes → Oppède-le-Vieux → Combe de Lourmarin → Lourmarin → Cucuron | Ridge-top villages, ruins of Oppède, château and cafés in Lourmarin, the pond at Cucuron |
Time your route around one market morning, and keep the afternoons for the quieter villages, the cedar forest or a vineyard visit. With a third day, add Apt and the Colorado Provençal, or a day trip to Avignon (see our post on day trips from Avignon).
Driving and Parking Tips
- A car is essential. If you are renting one, read our guides to renting a car in France and tips for driving in France.
- Most villages are closed to traffic or have very narrow streets. Use the paid car parks at the village entrance and walk in.
- Parking fills up quickly on market mornings and in July and August; arrive before 10 am.
- Watch out for cyclists on the main roads; the Luberon is a popular cycling area.
- In summer, access to forested hiking areas may be restricted on days of high fire risk; check the Vaucluse prefecture’s information before a hike.
Where to Base Yourself
- Gordes or Roussillon: central for the northern villages and Sénanque; beautiful but expensive.
- Bonnieux or Lourmarin: well placed for both sides of the range, with good restaurants.
- Apt: a real working town with more affordable accommodation and the big Saturday market.
- Avignon or Aix-en-Provence: fine for day trips if you also want city sights; allow about 45 minutes to an hour each way.
Many visitors choose a self-catering house or a chambre d’hôtes in the countryside. Book early for summer. For budgeting, see Is Provence expensive?
Best Time to Visit the Luberon
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| April–May | Green hills, cherry blossom, wildflowers, pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds |
| Late June–mid July | Lavender season; the busiest and most photogenic time |
| July–August | Hot, crowded and lively, with festivals and evening markets; book everything ahead |
| September–October | Warm days, grape harvest, quieter villages; ideal for walking and food |
| Winter | Very quiet; some restaurants and shops close, but the villages are peaceful and the light is beautiful |
Summary
The Luberon villages are best enjoyed slowly: a market morning in Gordes or Lourmarin, the ocher cliffs of Roussillon, a sunset view from the top of Bonnieux and a wander through the ruins of Oppède-le-Vieux. Rent a car, plan your route around market days, come in late spring or early autumn if you can, and you will see Provence at its most beautiful.
