Bordering a little river on the edge of the Luberon, Villa Senancole is located between two small Vaucluse villages and only 12km from the charming riverside town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. It’s easy to arrive by train with Gare d’Avignon TGV only 35km away or fly into Avignon, Marseille or Nimes Airports. A car is needed to be able to fully explore this part of Provence and beyond.
Coustellet is 2km away, a handy little village/hamlet with a surprisingly good range of food shops, a handful of places to eat and a charming Farmer’s market on a Sunday morning. Find time to visit the small but fascinating Musée de la Lavande Luberon to learn all about lavender production and its history (and buy some lovely products). It is also great being so close to a couple of good sized supermarkets to easily stock up (Super U et Drive and Aldi are both a 5-minute drive away).
In the other direction is Cabrières-d'Avignon (2.2km), an authentic Provençal village with a bakery and grocery store, a restaurant and attractive stone houses. Keen hikers note that the Mur de la Peste trail starts here (and continues towards Lagnes) and there are also many old stone bories dotted across the local landscapes including Village des Bories (6km).
Other highlights nearby include Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque (10km), so photogenic in the summer months when the lavender is in full bloom, and the perched village of Gordes (6km), classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. Take time to soak up the historic charm of Gordes with its narrow lanes, art galleries and wonderful restaurants. The atmospheric market takes place on a Tuesday morning.
Elsewhere in the Luberon, visit the iconic villages of Ménerbes (8km), Roussillon (15km) and Bonnieux (16km) and admire the glorious scenery as you walk, hike, cycle or horse-ride passing woodland, vineyards, orchards and perched villages. Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt (22km) and Goult (10km) are two other delightful villages to discover, especially on market day, or venture further south-east towards Lourmarin, Cucuron and Ansouis for historic charm and Michelin starred dining.
In the other direction are the riverside café terraces, antique stores and Sunday morning brocante in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (12km), alongside golf and canoeing/kayaking near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Food lovers should visit the superb Farmer’s market in Velleron (18km) that takes place every evening (except Sundays) in the summer months. Meanwhile, keen cyclists note that the foothills of Mont Ventoux are a wonderful day out – Bédoin, for example, is 40km 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.
