Le Clos de Mathilde is located near the centre of a small village in the Vaucluse Department of Provence, about 6km from the town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
In this charming village there is a small handful of restaurants, cafés and a bakery for breakfast croissants. Find a supermarket in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a gorgeous market town known as the “Venice of the North”, with canals, bridges and water wheels - it is particularly well known for its many antique shops as well as its weekend street markets including the Sunday morning brocante.
It is a 15 minute drive eastwards to find Gordes, one of the seven most beautiful French villages in the Vaucluse, built on the foothills of the Monts de Vaucluse and facing the Luberon - don’t miss the fragrant summer lavender fields of nearby Sénanque Abbey.
Travel further into the heart of the Luberon to the small town of Apt at the foot of the mountain range between the Vaucluse and Luberon. It is classified as a site remarquable du gout as a result of the fine local produce sold at its two markets.
Explore the hiking and biking trails of the Luberon National Park, play a round of golf at the picturesque Golf de Saumane, canoe down the crystal clear waters of the River Sorgue or take a tour of the Luberon vineyards and wineries.
14km from Le Clos de Mathilde is Ménerbes, a village perched on the hilltop in the Luberon Mountains, yet another of the plus beaux villages in France with restaurants, cafés, a bakery and ice-cream parlour. There are other idyllic villages to visit such as Lacoste, Ménerbes and Bonnieux. Take the exciting drive southwards from Bonnieux through the glorious Luberon hills and cedar forests to Lourmarin, once an important staging post on the Marseille-Apt route running through the mountain range.
A 40 minute drive southwards towards Eyguières will give you a taste of Les Alpilles or visit artistic Saint-Rémy-de-Provence on the edge this amazing area. If you feel like exploring further afield, take a day trip to Avignon with its UNESCO World Heritage sites. Aix-en-Provence, one of France's finest university towns, is also well worth a visit and Arles, the gateway to the Carmargue, is just over an hour’s drive away.
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.
