Just the Best Ice-Cream in Provence in Ansouis

This Wednesday, April 15, L’Art Glacier reopens after its winter break. This restaurant, tucked away on a wooded hillside near Ansouis, is well worth seeking out. It has a fabulous terrace overlooking the Luberon, and its ice creams and sorbets must be the best ever!

L’Art Glacier
767 Chemin des Hautes Terres,
84240 Ansouis, France
They offer 50 Flavours of ice cream and sorbet
Hours and opening days change with the seasons. Check the website for details.
This artisanal ice cream is made by the Perrière family, which has held the titles of Maîtres Glacier and Maîtres Artisans Glacier for two generations.

Ansouis

Perched on a craggy outcrop with its back to the Mistral wind, Ansouis is a gem of a village in Provence’s Vaucluse that deserves its status as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Ansouis sits in the heart of intertwined vineyards and endless olive trees. Walk the narrow laneways to the top of the village, by the church, for expansive views of the Grand Luberon range and the Durance River Valley. Physically elevated above the main route between Aix-en-Provence and Apt, the fortified hamlet’s residents were provided visibility to movement during the Middle Ages. 

Today, the town remains a hamlet with barely 1,000 permanent residents. As a result of the compact footprint, Ansouis delivers photo-ops at every turn. There are tiny alleys, houses built into ancient ramparts, stone facades with brightly painted shutters, and a medieval castle. The privately owned Château d’Ansouis is now not open to the public for guided visits.

Plan to arrive in Ansouis hungry and with a reservation at the Michelin-starred, one-star restaurant La Closerie, which has limited seating. 

Ansouis Visitor Tips

Parking can be challenging at busy times of the year, but the village is small, so once you find a spot, it’s not far from the old town.

The market takes place on Sunday mornings.

Make sure to visit:

Église Saint-Martin d’Ansouis, dating from the 12th century, is a medieval church that is commanding at the village’s top. The austere exterior does not give any clues to the light-filled interior.

Château d’Ansouis (the castle) is no longer accessible for guided tours, but you can peek through the iron gate and get glimpses from different angles in the village.