The area known as “the Luberon” is– we think– the most beautiful area in Provence, stretching about 37 miles on either side of a low, rocky mountain range, an hour or so north of the Mediterranean Sea. The Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon (the Luberon natural regional park) covers about 230 square miles extending on both sides of the mountain. The area includes a few towns, many small villages, remote farms, mountainous terrain, and beautiful countryside, encompassing a wide diversity of natural beauty, agriculture, and heritage.

The mountain is actually two mountains– the Petit Luberon (2385 feet) to the west and the more massive Grand Luberon (3691 feet) to the east. A narrow twisting pass cuts through the two mountains, with the village of Bonnieux perched on the hillside on the north side of the pass and Lourmarin in a flat area on the south side.

The twisting road through the narrow Combe de Lourmarin

Our Luberon Experience week focuses on the north side of the Luberon, a lovely valley with incredible views across the Luberon valley to the Monts de Vaucluse and the distinctive 6,272-foot peak of Mont Ventoux in the distance. There’s so much to see and do in this area without making the drive to the other side.

That said, the south side of the Luberon (its “Côté Sud”) offers its own distinct pleasures, and our Return to the Luberon week provides a great opportunity for our travelers to venture further south. “Return to the Luberon” is a special week for “alumni” travelers who want to experience more of beautiful Provence. We’ve hosted groups in 2013, 2014 and 2016 and will welcome our next Return group in May 2018. No two Return weeks have been exactly the same.

South of the Luberon

The south side of the Luberon– between the Luberon and the Durance River– has a more gentle characteristic. And there’s a more Mediterranean climate, a bit warmer and drier. Most of the villages are on flat ground, surrounded by vineyards and wineries, farms, and country estates. There are impressive chateaus from the Middle Ages and Renaissance eras at Lourmarin, Ansouis, Lauris and Tour d’Aigues. The Durance River, the major river and water source in Provence, sets the southern boundary, with its source in the Alps and finally flowing into the Rhône near Avignon. After crossing the river near Pertuis, the busy city of Aix-en-Provence lies just 30 minutes further to the south.

Our Return to the Luberon groups always enjoy a very full day south of the Luberon. You could spend a week, a month or more in this area, exploring villages, markets, restaurants, shops, castles, wineries, even a recreational lake. But to get us started, we’ll focus on a few of our favorites: three villages, a castle, and a bridge.

Ansouis and its chateau

The village of Ansouis (population 1,057) is designated one of the “most beautiful villages in France.” It’s a quiet and well-preserved village, sitting on a small hillside in the midst of vineyards, topped by a beautiful fortress/chateau. There’s also a highly-regarded restaurant, La Closerie, awarded one Michelin star.

The village of Ansouis

Our groups have a private visit of the Chateau d’Ansouis, hosted by its owner Madame Rousset-Rouvière, who with her husband bought the property at auction and has worked tirelessly since then on its restoration. The chateau is particularly unique because it consists of three different castles. In the center there’s a medieval fortress, parts built as early as the 10th century. Hundreds of years later when the threat of invasion had disappeared, a residential palace and gardens were built around the ancient fortress. Then on the top of the chateau, there’s a private mini-chateau with its own garden, a place for the women to retreat, kind of a boudoir. The story is fascinating!

Main entrance to the chateau

The little pleasure palace and private garden on top of the chateau

View of the valley and Luberon from the private garden

The Chateau d’Ansouis is open to the public for guided visits (in French) only on certain afternoons during the season.  (Check their website for the schedule.) It’s well worth a visit, for its history, the wonderful antiques, and the beautiful views. No photos are permitted in the interior.

Cucuron

Cucuron (population 1,828) is one of our favorite villages in this area and a bit off the tourist circuit. It’s probably best known for it’s unique “bassin,” a man-made pond surrounded by old plane trees. The bassin was a filming location for the movie “A Good Year.”  (And no, they do not show old movies outdoors there, as they did in the film!) The weekly market is held around the bassin on Tuesday mornings. There are a few restaurants and cafes around the bassin, a nice place to relax. (The most famous restaurant in the village– the Michelin 1-star La Petite Maison— is nearby.)

The bassin at Cucuron

We like to cross the street from the bassin, pass through the old village walls, and explore the medieval village. From the ruins of the old dungeon of the former castle on a small hilltop, there’s a beautiful view back across the rooftops of the village.

The beautiful rooftops of Cucuron

Ruins of the medieval chateau

Colorful houses in Cucuron

The church– the 13th century Notre-Dame de Beaulieu — sits on a square on the other side of the village from the castle ruins. It’s beautiful inside! Be sure to pull on the door to see if it might be open.

Cucuron is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, and it’s an especially good place to buy olive oil.

Lourmarin

Lourmarin (population 1,127) is also one of the “most beautiful villages in France” and a very popular village with a easy pedestrian center.  It’s a delightful place with shady plane trees; lots of restaurants, cafes and upscale shops; artist galleries and antique stores; and a chateau/museum that’s open to the public.  There’s quite a large market on Friday mornings… go early to get a parking place!  (Lourmarin’s most famous resident was Nobel-prize winner Albert Camus, who is buried in the cemetery.)

The village of Lourmarin

The heart of the village is the Place d’Ormeau, where several cafes with outdoor seating share either side of the small square. It’s a great place to have coffee or an apertif if you’re just passing through or lunch if your timing is right. Lourmarin has several fine-dining restaurants.

A leisurely day in Lourmarin

The chateau of Lourmarin stands on the edge of the village. Originally built as a fortress in the 12th century, it was transformed in the 15th century and later fell into ruins. Today it’s a museum and a center for the arts, open to the public year-round.

The chateau de Lourmarin

We always enjoy exploring the quiet streets away from the main commercial streets.

A quiet street in Lourmarin

Pont à Coquille (the shell bridge)

If there’s extra time before returning to the north side of the Luberon, we recommend a short diversion to visit the unique “shell bridge” over the Aiguebrun River. The bridge is a historic monument, built in 1722, featuring a detailed shell pattern on one side of the bridge… quite a surprise to find in such an isolated setting!  Perhaps the bridge was once on a major route, but today it’s on a trail, an easy half-mile off the main road through the Combe de Lourmarin.

Coming from Lourmarin toward Bonnieux on the D943, pull off to the side of the road after passing a big farmhouse on the left, just before the the hairpin curve and the left turn to the D36 which continues to Bonnieux. There is room for a few cars to pull over on the right side of the road. The trail is marked with a signpost at the Grottes des Brigands. Once at the bridge, climb down on the left of the trail to see the unique shell pattern.

I’ve finished this post in the Atlanta airport, on my way to Provence and a few relaxing weeks back in our Bonnieux apartment.  I’m definitely planning to spend at least one day south of the Luberon!

Kathy and Charley Wood founded European Experiences in 2006, offering week-long “slow tours” in some of the most beautiful areas of Europe. Their trips include The Luberon Experience in Provence, France, named one of the top 50 tours in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine. Kathy has personally hosted over 130 Experience groups. She hosts Experience weeks in the Luberon, the Chianti region of Tuscany, Puglia, Alsace, the Dordogne, the Cotswolds, and Normandy. Charley is now mostly retired but continues to co-host The Cornwall Experience and our Christmas trips with Kathy every year. Kathy has been traveling in Europe for 30+ years and loves sharing her special places in Europe with other travelers. The Woods have a second home in their beloved village of Bonnieux in the Luberon. Read more about Kathy and Charley here. Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.