VAUCLUSE – LUBERON

activities

Hiking

Discovering the Luberon and the Vaucluse on foot is a unique experience. The region is home to some of the most beautiful villages in Provence, including Oppède le Vieux, Menerbes, Lacoste, Bonnieux, Roussillon and Gordes, as well as the famous Sénanque Abbey and the exceptional sites of the Roussillon and Rustrel ochre quarries, which have given this region its colour. The hiking trails in the Vaucluse offer you the chance to discover the most beautiful sites in the Vaucluse department and the Alpes de Haute-Provence including:

  • The loop around the famous village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
  • The Véroncle windmills south of the Monts du Vaucluse.
  • The ochres of Rustrel, the Provençal Colorado.
  • The Oppedette gorges in Haute Provence.
  • Le Mourre Negre, summit of the Luberon.
  • The Aigue Brun gorges and Buoux in the Luberon.
  • The Régalon Gorges in the Petit Luberon.
  • The Gorges de la Nesque in the Monts du Vaucluse.

Antiquity

L’Isle sur la Sorgue is world-famous for its antique market. Strolling through the various antique dealers is a pleasant way to discover the 6 antique dealers’ villages bringing together 300 antiques professionals:

  • Village des Antiquaires de la Gare, situé dans une ancienne filature du XIXe siècle.
  • L’Hôtel Dongier regroupant dans un lieu d’exception des antiquaires proposant mobiliers anciens du XVIe au XXe siècle, art religieux, tableaux, faïences, curiosités, objets d’art et design.
  • L’Île aux Brocantes.
  • Le Quai de la Gare regroupant 24 antiquaires qui vous proposent du mobilier ancien, de l’argenterie, des bijoux, des livres anciens, de l’art contemporain.
  • Le Village du Carré de L’Isle.
  • L’Espace Béchard.

Markets

All along the markets of Provence
that in the morning smell of the sea and the Midi
Scents of fennel, melons and celery
With a few kids dancing in their midst
Traveller of the night, I who in ribambelle
And crossed countries I didn’t see
I can’t wait until dawn to find in my footsteps
A world full of wonder, laughing and calling out to each other
In the morning at the market
(Words by Gilbert Becaud)

A visit to the colorful markets is a must when visiting the Vaucluse. One of the most beautiful markets held every Sunday is certainly this of Isle sur la Sorgue.

But the markets in Apt, Gordes, Bédoin, Vaison la Romaine and Nyons are also not to be missed.

Wine tasting

Wine tasting calls on all your senses. What better way to discover the most beautiful cellars in the Luberon than with a sensory experience that will stimulate your eyes, nose, and taste buds. And when we talk about wine, we can’t forget to think about the most prestigious wine in the Vaucluse: Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The first Pope of Avignon was undoubtedly one of the first wine growers in Châteauneuf. During the reign of John XXII, Châteauneuf wine was one of the wines regularly procured by officers for the Pontiff’s household.It was he who contributed most to the development and renown of Châteauneuf wine. John XXII bequeathed it the first name in its history, that of “Vin du Pape”, under which it became known before becoming “Le Châteauneuf-du-Pape”.

But the whole of the Vaucluse department is rich in good wines, and you’ll discover among them what makes this terroir so strong, and the winemaking processes used by committed and passionate winemakers.

The wines you’ll taste on this discovery tour are carefully selected and produced by winemakers who love their land and are true to their values.

History and culture of Vaucluse

Explore 2000 years of history and civilization in a region where the Roman imprint is omnipresent. Discovering the history of each village and its architecture is an enriching experience. Vaucluse has had a unique and eventful history, which has given it a strong and original identity, and the creation of the department of Vaucluse was not so straightforward.

Vaison-la-Romaine was a prosperous Roman town, as evidenced by the remains of rich houses and the quality of the decoration of monuments still visible today.

Thanks to its location in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône and on the Agrippa Road, Orange has remained an important stopping-off point since Antiquity. Its Ancient Theatre owes its fame to the exceptional preservation of its stage wall.

The Museum of Art and History, housed in a 17th-century town house, has a Gallo-Roman section and a section devoted to the history of Orange, from prehistory to the present day.

The Papal possessions, Avignon and the Comtat Venaissin were attached to France on 14 September 1791. On 28 March 1792, these territories formed two new districts, Avignon in the Bouches-du-Rhône and Carpentras in the Drôme.

In the spring of 1793, Marseille took the lead in the federalist movement against the Convention, which quickly spread throughout the region. To counter this, and relying on the loyal stronghold of Avignon, the National Convention decided to dismember the Bouches-du-Rhône and Drôme departments, creating an 87th department by decree on 25 June 1793, which was renamed Vaucluse.

In 1800, under Bonaparte, the Consulate created the post of Prefect. The latter held sole executive power. The General Council was then merely a deliberative assembly.

From 1800 to 1833, the General Councilors were appointed by the State. They were elected by universal suffrage from 1848 onwards.

The law of 10 August 1871 went further and made the Department a territorial authority.