CIRCUIT 3 – LE LUBERON II

The Luberon is a massif with lush vegetation and exceptional fauna that has earned the status of a “Regional Natural Park”. It is a region that has kept its authenticity. Beautiful villages with their picturesque streets and alleys, castles, many vineyards, beautiful hilly landscapes. The Luberon massif stretches over 60kms from west to east with a peak at 1125m. This tour only concerns a part of the Luberon

Bonnieux

Pretty small Provencal village perched on a hillside. It is accessed through the « combe de Lourmarin », which is the only passage that crosses the Luberon and separates it in two. The village is dominated by its old church of the 12th century combining Romanesque and Gothic elements. The houses date for the most part from the 16th century and are high up because at that time men and animals lived together in a Mediterranean tradition, the extension of habitats could only be done high up. On the ground floor there is a stable for animals, a dwelling on one or two floors and an attic. You will enjoy the superb panoramic view of the plain.

Lacoste

The medieval village of Lacoste, which faces the village of Bonnieux, was the home of the Marquis de Sade. You will discover a village rich in character as you stroll through its sloping streets. Until the end of the 16th century, Lacoste Castle was owned by the Simiane family before being bequeathed to the family of the Marquis de Sade. It has been restored by the current owner, the couturier Pierre Cardin (paying visit). Lacoste is also known for its school of art founded in the 1970s by the American painter Bernard Pfriem who died in 1996, a school that is now part of the Savannah College of Art and Design. It welcomes students from all over the world all year round.

Menerbes

A small village where life is good with a very beautiful architectural heritage. The presence and passage since the beginning of the 20th century of many painters and writers (Nicolas de Staël, Jane Eak Dora Maar, Picasso lived there) gave the village a predominant artistic identity that continues to this day. Ménerbes has a very active local life with its many craftsmen and traders.

Roussillon

To see absolutely : the ochre path in the heart of the village of Roussillon (paying entrance). You will see breathtaking variations in ochre colours, because the village of Roussillon, classified among the most beautiful villages in France, is located in the heart of the most important ochre deposit in Europe… This village is a picturesque maze of alleys and squares. Ochre is everywhere, in the landscapes, on the facades of houses but also in the heart of the premises that this industrial adventure brought to life until the 20th century. Many art galleries, exhibitions, craftsmen and artists are located in the village where a stroll is essential.