The Hill towns of the Lubéron
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“The Lubéron region, stretching 30 miles along a ridge of rugged hills east of Avignon, hides some of France's most appealing hill towns and sensuous landscapes. Those intriqued by Peter Mayle's books love joy-riding through the region, connecting I-could-live-here villages, crumbled castles, and meditative abbeys.”
“Mayle's bestselling A Year in Provence describes the ruddy local culture from an Englishman's perspective as he buys a stone farmhouse, renovates it, and adopts the region as his new home. The Lubéron terrain is as appealing as it villages. Gnarled vineyards and wind-sculpted trees separate tidy stone structures from abandoned buildings ~ little more than rock piles ~ that seem to challenge city dwellers to fix them up. The wind is an integral part of life here ~ infamous mistral wind.” Rick Steves, France 2007.
Bordered on one side by the Petit Lubéron and on the other by the fertile valley beneath the massive, distant profile of Mont Ventoux, Lacoste is a hill-village built below the ruined castle of infamous Marquis de Sade, now owned by Pierre Cardin.
The village of Gordes makes a particular impact when viewed from a distance,
where it appears as a monumental Cubist painting rising in tiers up to an
imposing Renaissance castle.
Abbaye de Sènanque, a 12th century monastery that is still active today
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Click here for photos of the village of Roussillon.
Click here for “10 days in Provence” Daily Iitinerary.
Back to Provence 2008 homepage.
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