Maison Bouton De Rose

This family villa is set within picture-postcard countryside, overlooking the peaks of the Luberon mountains and out towards the stunning village of Rousillon. With lots of Provence’s star attractions close by, this is the ideal location for busy days exploring before retreating back to the peace of the house.

Maison Bouton De Rose is located in parkland and fields in between the small village of Murs and the village of Joucas. Murs is a tiny place with a few places to eat and a shop but is worth visiting for a stroll around to see why it was an inspiration to many artists.

Joucas is bigger, with a greater range of amenities including a bar and a fine dining restaurant with paths leading out on to pretty walking trails nearby. The village also has some historic sites such as old oil mills and windmills and the 18th century Saint-Jean-Baptiste church which is packed with Italian art works.

Outside of the local villages you will also discover wide open spaces where you can get back to nature and enjoy the lovely climate. Whether you enjoy walking, cycling, mountain climbing, horse riding or even paragliding, all of these activities are available close to the villa.

The land is also dotted with farms and vineyards which are known for their world-class produce. If you would like to learn more about wine production you could visit Vignoble Chasson which is a winery 10km away, here you can join a tour of the vineyard and cellars and taste the samples or even book on to a bespoke food pairing event.

There are lots of incredible hilltop villages that you can visit in this part of Provence, so many in fact that you won’t have time to see them all! One of the finest is called Rousillon and is just 10km away. Rousillon is a unique place and amazing place to see as all of the buildings and the land they are built on are vibrant red and orange tones. These colours come from the local ochre quarries and create awe-inspiring vistas alongside the blue of the sky and the greens of the woodlands. The village itself is a charming maze of pristine streets, filled with cafes, shops and restaurants. In the summer months there are always festivals, saints’ days and village fairs taking place which are lots of fun to join in with.

Another place you should make time to visit is the village of Gordes, which is also 10km away and is classed as one of the most beautiful villages in Provence. It is an ancient village with tall white stone homes and shops which spiral down the hillside. Once settled by small pre-historic tribes, Gordes has seen lots of change through its long history and most of the buildings we see today are from its wealthy medieval era. During World War Two the village was badly bombed and extensive restoration was carried out. In the heart of the village, you can visit a museum dedicated to painter Pol Mara, the town hall and the old castle.

Just outside of the village there are also a few wonderful attractions; including the archaeological site of the Bories village which is a group of around 30 historic dry-stone huts which were once homes, bake houses and tanneries, used from the 7th century onwards.

The other attraction is Senanque Abbey which hails from the 12th century and still houses a religious community who sell honey and lavender products from their picturesque fields to sustain the Abbey. 

Read more about Luberon

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.