Explore Provence’s Essence: 6 Stunning Villages Worth Visiting

When someone asks what villages in Provence are worth visiting. It is hard to answer as there are perched Medieval hamlets, famous wine villages, attractive seaside ports, and vibrant urban centres. This list highlights six (6) stunning villages showcasing the region’s rich history and vibrant lifestyle.

Luberon Villages

Provence is known for its picturesque villages and stunning scenery, and the Luberon Valley has some of the most famous towns perched on hillsides. Historically, the towns were on hills for defence purposes, and today, they provide a backdrop for lovely photos. While we could have chosen any of the villages in the Luberon, we feature Bonnieux and Goult below.

Bonnieux, Luberon

Perched atop the Petit Luberon slopes, Bonnieux has been inhabited since the 6th century when residents fled earlier settlements to seek protection from invaders. A few hundred years later, they enclosed their village with stone walls, and there was once a castle at the top. Roman history is evident with the Pont Julien (3 BC), which crossed the Calavon River. Read more about Bonnieux in this article.

Luberon: Where to Stay

Market days: Wednesday and Friday. The Wednesday morning market is small, but on Friday mornings in peak season, there can be 100 sellers selling seasonal fruits and vegetables, cheeses, honey, lavender, fabrics, clothes, art, and more.

Don’t miss: The panoramic views from the 12th-century Église Saint-Pierre.

Fondation Blachère Art, launched in 2003 by Jean-Paul Blachère, is committed to promoting contemporary art from the African continent and its diaspora. Since then, the art centre has hosted nearly 50 art exhibitions and supported 400+ art residencies in Apt and Ngaparou in Senegal. La Fondation Blachère also includes the family’s artwork collection. After a restoration project, the one-time Bonnieux train station is now a space dedicated to contemporary African art. Read more here.

Goult, Luberon

Goult is a must-visit village that blends authentic Provencal charm with year-round activity. Like its neighbours (Gordes, Bonnieux, Roussillon, and Lacoste), Goult is perched on a hillside, offering stunning views and a unique atmosphere.

At first glance, Goult has an unspoilt feel. The old stone walls of village houses run the length of the main street. There are no chic boutiques, but you can find all the essentials (bread, meat, local produce, and a lively café). However, Goult is not undiscovered, as many of the village houses have been restored and renovated as second homes.

Market day: Thursdays

Don’t miss: The 17th-century Moulin de Jerusalem, at the top of the village, milled flour until 1919. It has been restored and is occasionally open to visitors.

10 Luberon Villages to Visit

Bouches du Rhône Villages

The Rhône and Durance rivers are the fluid borders of the Bouches du Rhône, providing irrigation for the department’s agricultural lands. After an 800 km journey from its source, the Rhône River flows into the Mediterranean Sea. For many visitors to Provence, the Bouches du Rhône is their arrival point, whether they arrive by plane at the Aéroport Marseille Provence in Marignane or by train.

Visitor’s Guide to the Bouches du Rhône

The Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles, established in 2007, protects the mountain range as a natural area with construction restrictions. Artifacts from human settlements discovered in these hills date back to the Neolithic era. Several villages surround the Alpilles, each with a distinctive character. Below, we highlight two: Eygalières and Les Baux de Provence.

Guide to the Villages of the Alpilles

Eygalières, Alpilles

Idyllic and vibrant, lush agricultural landscapes surround Eygalières. The village is lucky to be in the heart of farmland, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. It also has access to hiking and biking trails in the Parc Naturel des Alpilles.

The town has one vibrant main street surrounded by village houses and services. Residents and visitors have plenty of choice with several bar-cafés, a bakery, a butcher, an épicerie, a cheese shop, a wine store, and a decent assortment of restaurants. Stroll up the road into the ancient village, and you get the sense that you stepped back in time.

Eygalières is a popular village that has retained most of its original charms. It is the kind of place where French TV personalities and best-selling authors rub shoulders with Provence’s cowboys during the fête du village each August, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere that you won’t want to miss.

Market day: The Friday morning market in Eygalières is a crowd favourite with visitors and residents alike. Stalls line Rue de la République and, during peak season, spread into the side streets. Local’s tip: go early to avoid the crowds and grab a seat at one of the cafés for people-watching.

Don’t miss: The 12th-century Chapelle Sainte Sixte, which is 1.5 kilometres from the village centre on a small rocky knoll with a 360-degree view of the Alpilles and Eygalières. Vestiges of human habitation found nearby are from the Late Bronze Age (1,500 -1,200 BC). The church is near a Neolithic-era place of worship, chosen for its proximity to a natural spring. The Romans tapped this source to begin their aqueduct system that supplied Arles with water for its public baths.

Alpilles Essentials for Visitors

Les Baux de Provence, Alpilles

Les Baux-de-Provence, perched on a rocky peak in the Alpilles, is a village steeped in history and classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. From the remains of the castle, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the limestone peaks, olive orchards, and vineyards. The village, with its permanent population of roughly 400 people and 22 monuments classified as historic, including the impressive ruins of the château, is a fascinating destination for history enthusiasts.

The old castle was abandoned and left to deteriorate. In the late 1960s, the Ministry of Culture and the Environment began rebuilding it under its direction. Today, the village is a significant tourist attraction.

Don’t miss: Carrières des Lumières, inside a giant cavern, is France’s largest fixed multimedia installation. The 14-metre-high walls are the backdrop used by 70 video projectors broadcasting images, creating a fabulous immersive art show featuring significant artists like Vincent van Gogh and Paul Cézanne.

Vaucluse Villages

The Vaucluse department, with its diverse geography that includes the southern Rhône wine villages, the Luberon Valley, Provence’s ‘giant’ Mont Ventoux, dynamic Avignon with its papal palace, and remarkable Roman vestiges, is a treasure trove waiting to be explored. Among the many attractions, Séguret and Vaison La Romaine stand out as two villages that inspire awe and are worth visiting.

Séguret, Vaucluse

A “Beaux Village,” Séguret offers serene, motor-free streets that blend historical allure with modern tranquillity. Ségur in old Provençal means place of security, likely given to the village due to its strategic position. It is in the northern Vaucluse, with the Dentelles de Montmirail as a backdrop. The fortified walls of the Medieval village date back to the 10th century. However, remnants of human settlement in the area date from Neolithic times.

Market day: Thursdays

Don’t miss: Strolling through the Portail Renier and along the old cobblestone street Rue des Poternes, which runs the length of the village.

The Plane trees on Place des Arceaux have branches that create a beautiful, natural sunshade. They are even classified as remarkable trees of France: Arbres remarquables de France.

6 Wine Villages Near Mont Ventoux

Vaison La Romaine, Vaucluse

In the upper limits of the Vaucluse department, Vaison la Romaine is in the heart of wine country. Surrounded by agricultural land, the peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail and nearby Mont Ventoux, Vaison has a rural feel. The village is an open-air museum where Roman, Medieval and modern times intersect. The River Ouvèze splits the town in two, separating the Colline du Château, known as the Haute-Ville, from the balance of the city. Across the bridge is Colline de la Villasse, and in the lower town, you will find the more contemporary village with many boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants.

Market days: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Vaison’s weekly market on Tuesday morning is among the biggest and best in the Vaucluse. Smaller farmers’ markets are on Thursdays (summer months) and Saturdays.

Don’t miss: The Roman theatre, the remains of an aqueduct, and public baths. Perhaps the most impressive Roman structure is the bridge linking the Haute Ville to the lower town. With its single stone arch, this structure has remained anchored in place, straddling the banks of the Ouvèze for 2,000+ years despite life-threatening floods. The Celtic-Ligurians were sheltered near Vaison before, and traces of Neolithic settlement were discovered.

Conclusion

Explore these stunning villages to immerse yourself in the true spirit of Provence, where historical depth blends with contemporary life.

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).