Manoir Roquesante is set in the heart of a typically Provençal village in the southern Luberon region, around 40km north of Aix-en-Provence.
Follow the footsteps of Marcel Pagnol has you stroll around this small charming village, after all he chose to film some scenes of La Gloire De Mon Père here. The perched village is home to a boulangerie, café-restaurant and small grocery store. There is a well-regarded restaurant and a pharmacy at the lower end of the village, about 1.5km away.
Stroll around the village’s narrow lanes, admiring beautifully restored stone houses, pretty doorways, colourful little gardens and look out to the glorious views of the Aigues valley with its vineyards, orchards and farms.
There are many other villages to discover within a short drive such as La Tour-d'Aigues (7km) with its impressive chateau and historic Ansouis (15km), one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ and home to a Michelin starred restaurant. Cucuron (16km) is another magical place to spend time in, especially on a Tuesday morning when you can pick up all sorts of local produce from the market, followed by a lunch by the picturesque square, plane trees and bassin.
Not forgetting the idyllic perched village of Lourmarin (24km), another ‘Plus Beaux Village’ where Albert Camus lived for many years. The ambience is wonderful whether relaxing in a charming street café or dining out in one of the many excellent restaurants. The Friday morning market is also a joy – buy wine, olive oil, honey, herbs and all sorts of other enticing local produce.
Explore the stunning landscapes of the Luberon by hiring bikes or hiking through the hills and woodland, following routes between the villages or trails through vineyards and farmland. Head to the Durance river for canoeing and kayaking or enjoy nature walks through the pine forests at Étang de la Bonde, where locals also swim and fish.
Head further north to other archetypal villages of the Luberon with Bonnieux, Ménerbes and Roussillon all about an hour away or spend time in the pleasant Provençal town of Pertuis (13km). Then there’s Aix-en-Provence of course, around a 40-minute drive away, with its street-cafes, Cézanne carousel, galleries, museums and fantastic parks.
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.
