Grange des Prairies is in the heart of an old village in the Vaucluse department of Provence, just 33km from the historic city of Avignon and less than a 10-minute drive to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Step out of your entrance porch and straight into the heart of this charming village with a couple of restaurants, boulangerie, butchers, bar-tabac and épicerie just a short walk away.
The picture-perfect town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (6km) is easily reached, often referred to as the “little Venice of Provence” with its bridges and waterwheels. Enjoy lunch by the riverside, potter around its little antique shops and don’t miss the wonderful Sunday morning market including one of France’s most famous brocantes.
Food-lovers note there are some great shops and a popular Farmer’s market on a Sunday morning in nearby Coustellet (5.5km), also home to the Lavender Museum and close to the Musée de l'Huile d'Olive (part of a highly regarded winery). You will find good-sized supermarkets in Coustellet and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts with its incredible natural beauty whilst there are canoeing and kayaking opportunities along the Sorgue as well as a tree-top activity centre and other child-friendly activities near the river (as always, seasonal opening times apply). Furthermore, the 18-hole course at Golf de Saumane is just over five minutes in the car.
Venture into the Luberon and discover lavender fields, cherry orchards, vineyards and woodland amongst some of France’s classified ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ including Gordes (12km), Ménerbes (13km) and red-hued Roussillon (21km). It’s a brilliant region for cycling, walking, wine-tasting or just wandering around the perched villages, especially on market day, and dining in excellent restaurants, many with magnificent Luberon views from their terraces. The Saturday morning market in Apt (29km) is the largest in the Luberon.
You are also well placed for the undulating scenery of Les Alpilles with the artistic town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (34km) just over half an hour away, and the pretty villages of Eygalières, Maussane-les-Alpilles and famous Les Baux-de-Provence all within an hour.
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.
