The LUBERON HILLTOP VILLAGES and FONTAINE DE VAUCLUSE
Luberon is the name of this magic mountain range, famous world wide, enriched by its stones, its castles, its luminosity and colours....
This is the real Provence, full of character.
A sweet dolce vita of a climate and pure clean air which just breathes the incredible contrasts between a rich, and variable natural environment : the blue strides of lavender, the subtle nuances of green in the forests, the flamboyant and blinding colours of the cliffs of ochre, or the austere white of the limestone hills.
It is the place of choice for many artists (painters, sculptors, writers, singers...)Mostly on the northern part, on the side of the hills, several picturesque villages are perched, overlooking the valley. In order to protect themselves from pillagers, the inhabitants, during centuries, have patiently built, stone by stone, their houses, closed to the seigneurial castle.
Nowadays this charming villages, with their tiny narrow streets and amazing shaded squares are classified among the most beautiful ones in France.
Nevertheless, each one has its own personality and its own attractive power.Lourmarin : It nestles in the middle of vinyards, olive groves and almond trees. A very animated village in the summer due to its numerous cafe terraces, restaurants and boutiques.
You can admire its medieval / renaissance castle, its temple, its interesting pigeon house, its provençal bastides, its "boîte à sel" belfry...
Albert Camus, winner of the Nobel Literature Prize, lived and wrote here and was even buried here.Bonnieux : this large, attractively-terraced village situated on a promontary offers a lovely view of Calavon valley, from the hilltop village of Lacoste, which castle was formely occupied by the Marquis de Sade, to the edges of the Vaucluse Plateau.
Fontaine de Vaucluse : It is a medieval village tucked in a "closed valley" (= vaucluse) at the southwestern corner of the mountainous Plateau de Vaucluse. The key feature of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is the truly amazing and unique sight of the high and steep cliff where the river Sorgue used to gush up out of the ground (not these last years). (15 min. walk)
But a few meters down, the river takes it sources from many springs. Then, the river settles down to a wide expanse in front of dams and waterwheels, passing under the bridge at the center of the village. The banks of the river are lined with overhanging trees, parks, houses with lovely gardens.
It is a wonderful place to have a lunch : this touristic village offers a wide range of restaurants.Gordes - Panorama : This very beautiful old village is perched on the southern edge of the high Plateau de Vaucluse. It seems to be an unbelievable "stone cascade" : the stone houses are built in tight against the base of the cliffs and others are perched on the rocks above, and all together are topped by a 12th-century castle.
Roussillon : It owes its name to the redish (roux) colour of its houses. The village is lovely from the outside, set in a deep green pine forest on bright red-ocre hills but even more spectacular inside, with the colourful old buildings and narrow medieval streets. From the terrace the view on the ochre cliffs, composed of 16 or 17 different shades is spectacular.
You can also go for a walk following the "Giants' Causeway, among jagged rust-red cliffs, relieved by a scattering of pines and evergreen oaks.Between the sites, your driver-guide will explain you many things about the history, the tradition, the natural environment...
You will be able to stop as much as you want to take pictures, or just to breath the fabulous scents of the provençal plants...