In beautiful Provence, Bastide Bleu Lavande is set just outside the Luberon village of Ménerbes, in the foothills of the Luberon massif.
Wander up the hill and you can walk up to Ménerbes in around twenty minutes following the country roads/tracks (no pavement, as is typical in this part of France). The village is famed for being the setting of Peter Mayes’ ‘A Year in Provence’ and it is an idyllic place to explore with its cobbled lanes, restaurants, cafes and Thursday morning Farmer’s market. Look out for classical music concerts that take place in the summer months in Ménerbes and other nearby villages.
Other outstanding places to visit include the lavender fields of Gordes, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and the ochre-coloured village of Roussillon. Medieval Lacoste is a beautifully preserved village with the ruins of an 11th century castle whilst food-lovers should visit the Saturday morning Provençal market in Apt (21km), known to be one of the best in the area.
The Luberon National Park is a paradise for walkers, hikers and cyclists with routes through vineyards, cherry orchards and olive groves, often with incredible vistas of the Luberon valley. Rock-climbing is popular near the tiny village of Buoux and there are also plenty of horse-riding and mountain biking opportunities in the region. Another amazing experience is to kayak along the Sorgue river from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, less than half an hour away.
Then there’s the towns and cities of Provence waiting to be explored from Avignon (48km) with its UNESCO World Heritage sights and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (40km) where you can follow the Van Gogh trail and view some of the landscapes that inspired the famous painter. Aix-en-Provence (61km) is another glorious day out, an atmospheric Provençal town with characterful terrace cafes, a number of art galleries and museums and the magical Carrousel Paul Cezanne.
The Region
With some of the most enchanting landscapes of Provence, the Luberon awaits with its idyllic perched villages, swathes of lavender, cherry trees, vineyards and dense forest.
Become captivated by the scenery as you potter around artistic Gordes with its atmospheric Tuesday morning market before heading to hilltop Ménerbes, the village that inspired Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’. Romantic Bonnieux enjoys the most glorious vistas, surrounded by a sea of vines and orchards, whilst red-hued Roussillon will take your breath away with its ochre landscapes and pine forests. They are all officially classified as ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ in France.
Yet there are so many hidden gems to explore as well. Discover the historic doorways, windmills and summer cherries of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, then head to Goult to embrace its Provençal charm with little shops and pavement cafes. Surrounded by fields of lavender, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt is another historic jewel of the Luberon, often overshadowed by the handsome and historic town of Apt.
To the south of the Luberon, follow Albert Camus’ footsteps in Lourmarin, sip coffee by the picturesque bassin lined with plane trees in Cucuron and soak up the history of Ansouis – all three villages have a fine reputation for their high-end dining with a choice of Michelin starred restaurants.
Indeed, across the region look out for restaurant terraces serving Provençal cuisine with superb vistas alongside characterful markets showcasing seasonal delights from the Luberon and beyond (olives, melons, strawberries, cherries, truffles, chestnuts, lavender products and more). Most villages host a lovely weekly market whilst the largest in the Luberon is held on a Saturday morning in Apt. Just on the edge of the Luberon, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is famed for its antique stores and Sunday morning brocante. Meanwhile, wine lovers should visit the vineyards and wineries of the region producing Luberon and Ventoux AOC wines.
The walking, hiking and cycling opportunities in the Luberon seem endless and you will also find horse-riding, rock-climbing and tree-top adventures as well as canoeing and kayaking along the Sorgue near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Come across hiking trails for all abilities passing vineyards and forest or venture through the hills and mountain gorges for spectacular scenery. Cycling is also extremely popular – as well as more challenging routes, we especially love the family-friendly Véloroute du Calavon, a paved voie verte following a former railway line near the Calavon river passing poppies, lavender and orchards so typical of the Luberon.
