Discover · Provence
The Luberon & Alpilles
Hilltop villages, blazing ochres and the art of living.
The Luberon, a jewel of Provence, is a paradise for lovers of nature and authenticity. Between hilltop villages such as Gordes and Bonnieux, enchanting lavender fields and scenic hiking trails, it offers an idyllic setting to recharge. Explore the colourful markets, taste Provençal cuisine and soak up the gentle way of life of this unspoilt region.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is a charming little town with the privilege of being the birthplace of the famous astrologer Michel de Nostredame, and home to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole hospital-church, where Vincent Van Gogh stayed from May 1889 to May 1890, after cutting off his ear. Beside the hospital, a pine grove and a pleasant olive grove where Van Gogh painted more than 150 works.
On foot, copies of the famous paintings immerse you in the painter's world. Wandering through the woods, you'll discover the remains of the Greco-Roman city of Glanum, a striking landscape framed by the Alpilles. On the road between Saint-Rémy and Les Baux-de-Provence stand 'Les Antiques', among the best-preserved Roman ruins: a triumphal arch about 2,000 years old and the 'Mausoleum of the Julii' (30-20 BC), honouring an important Roman family.
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Les Baux-de-Provence
Proudly perched on a rocky spur 900 m long and 200 m wide, Les Baux-de-Provence preserves the remains of its ancient fortress, witness to a glorious past. The lords of Baux were among the most powerful in southern France, ruling over more than 79 towns and villages in the Middle Ages. The town even traces its origins to the Magi king Balthazar (whose Star of Bethlehem sits at the centre of its coat of arms).
The town remained powerful until the greed and cruelty of some of its rulers led to its downfall. Its fortress was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1632, Richelieu razed the last splendour of this supposedly impregnable land.
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Colorado Provençal & Roussillon
The Provençal Colorado — 'Mars on Earth' — lies just north of Apt, near Rustrel: a spectacular natural site where the word 'red' takes on all its splendour and nature all its majesty.
Around Roussillon, red rock cliffs and green pines create a colour contrast that stirs the imagination. Old and new houses alike are built with ochres (red, yellow, pink, orange) in this place unique in France. This charming village, with its little paths and typical lanes, its unforgettable panorama and its multitude of colours, is an exceptional and magical place, perfect for strolling.
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Gordes
Listed among the most beautiful villages in France, Gordes clings to a mountain overlooking the Luberon plain. Its narrow cobbled streets, built against the rock, cling to its slopes whispering a thousand legends. A vast church and a fortified castle dominate the town like a cascade of roofs and stone houses.
In Roman times, Gordes was an oppidum (in Latin, a main town of an administrative district of the Empire). The tribe that lived there, the Vulgientes or Vordenses, gave its name to the original village; the 'V' became a 'G' (Vordenses → Gordenses) in Gallo-Roman times.
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Hilltop villages, ochres and Provençal markets: let's build your day.
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