Five Villages Not To Miss In The Luberon, Provence

Villages… quaint… perched… crumbling… picturesque…. are what make Provence, Provence.

The two areas that I am most familiar with in Provence are the Alpilles…. where I live… and the Luberon which is about 45 minutes away.

The Luberon and the Alpilles are very different and the title to be the ‘best’ is fiercely fought. A little like the Sydney/Melbourne thing if you are Australian or the Boston/New York rivalry for Americans. I keep out of it… I am just happy to be there.

5 villages not to miss on a day out in the Luberon.

Maubec, because it’s small and authentic. Bonnieux and Ménerbes because visually they are superb and while they are popular they are still drop deadly breathtaking.

Gordes is one of the prettiest and even though in the summer it is overtaken with visitors… the view is nothing short of spectacular.

Lourmarin… a little further away but worth the drive… the architecture, the restaurants and the boutiques are gorgeous.

Market days are in the mornings.

Gordes and Menerbes are on a Tuesday, Bonnieux and Lourmarin are on Friday and Maubec is on a Sunday morning.

There are many other villages to visit if you have the time… Lacoste, Roussilon, Goult and Apt… but if I had only one day these particular villages would be on my itinerary.

If you are familiar with Peter Mayle and his Provencal memoirs or the film based on his novel, “A Good Year” then this is his turf.

If not I highly recommend reading these…. starting with, “A Year in Provence“… his turn of phrase is wonderful and his observations acute.

Les plus beaux villages de France… it’s true, all true… xv