Contributor blog post by Caroline Longstaffe: Last time on our tour of the Luberon’s perched villages we visited Lacoste and Ménerbes, maybe you missed our next two stops? The mystical ghost town, Oppède-le-Vieux and Gordes, perhaps the Luberon’s most magnificent perched village. From Gordes, the next stop has to be L’Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, …

Over 100,000 people (some estimates as high as 126,000) died in Provence between 1720 and 1722, including almost 50% of Marseille’s population some 46,000 inhabitants. All in the name of commerce. The Grand Saint-Antoine arrived in Marseille’s port on May 25, 1720, from Syria (previously Levan), the vessel was late, …

Contributor blog post by Caroline Longstaffe: Continuing our tour of Provence’s beautiful Luberon hillside villages; last time we took the D943 from Lourmarin, through the dramatic gorge to Bonnieux, Lacoste and Ménerbes now await. Lacoste, a tiny, sometimes forgotten perched village has breathtaking views across the sweeping Luberon landscape, Mont Ventoux and Les Alpes. …

We attend the annual Christmas carol service in Goult each year, it’s often cold and not the time to wander around the village! By contrast, when we visited this week it was the complete contrast, almost too hot to walk around! We had forgotten just how nice it is, …Continue reading …

Contributor blog post by Caroline Longstaff: Discover the enchantment of this fairy tale village in Provence’s Luberon. Visit its medieval château and enjoy a musical soirée under its rafters. Meander Lourmarin’s chic boutiques, galleries and restaurants, and fabulous Friday market. Explore the stunningly beautiful Luberon region. Its captivating perched villages, sprawling …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: In a little over a week’s time my hubby and boys will set off from our home on Dartmoor to cycle through France, hopefully arriving safe and well after about 18 days in Sete. They’ll be cycling just over 1500km in that time, not quite …

Hidden high in the hills above the village of Rustrel lies a true Provençal oasis of tranquillity. Enveloped by woods, hills, and fields of lavender, le Clos de Rohan is the Provence you are looking for. From the moment you enter the grounds, this soothing retreat will delight the senses, whisk …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: Over the years that we’ve been coming to the Vaucluse we have often ‘popped’ across the hills that sit between the Luberon & Mont Ventoux. This has always been done by car and I’ve seen people on bikes riding it and thought to myself …

Contributor blog post by Vaucluse Dreamer: I have to admit to being rather tired last night. Yesterday’s cycle took us onto one of the roads that turns left just before the end of the Veloroute du Calavon and it felt as if we spent most of our time going up …

Every visitor to the Vaucluse department of Provence must take the time to visit this raw, rugged, breathtaking jewel of the Luberon. Frozen in time, Oppède-le-Vieux enchants its visitors with its majestic position clinging to the side of the Luberon. For more on Cheryl’s visit to this hilltop town in the …