At the end of July, we spent a week in the Luberon as a family, with my parents-in-law, as an extended family trip. As you know, we always try to organise at least one week of holiday with the grandparents, and this time we set our sights on the Luberon, a region we already knew — but how could anyone tire of such a beautiful area? At the end of July, we had ideal conditions, which was lucky because we weren’t there during the heatwave. We had already visited several villages in the Luberon during our long family weekend in Avignon, but there were still many others left to discover. We also returned to places we had already visited because we had particularly loved them and wanted to show them to my parents-in-law, as well as let the children rediscover them, as they had been little during our previous stay. So here is our one-week itinerary in the Luberon:
Our 10 family visits in the Luberon:
For each place we visited, I’m also sharing our favourite addresses!
Roussillon and the Sentier des Ocres ❤ :
We had already visited this village and its famous ochre trail a few years ago, but we really wanted to go back because Ticoeur and Titpuce didn’t remember it (they were too young). To avoid the crowds, we started our visit at 6pm and it was just perfect! I recommend doing the same, as otherwise it gets busy! It is a truly exotic place: you feel as though you are in an American or Australian national park (on a smaller scale, of course!). It is different from the Colorado Provençal, which is located a little further east and which we still don’t know.
We began with a stroll around the village with its very red façades. There are a few art galleries there. Then we bought our tickets for the trail, which we walked in one hour, almost completely alone! There are plenty of opportunities for beautiful photos! Definitely worth seeing!
The Mines de Bruoux (ochre mines) in Gargas:
This is a good complement to the Sentier des Ocres. The Bruoux mines help you understand how the region’s ochre was extracted and used in the 18th century, and even more so in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution. The guided tour is very interesting. The guide led us through the galleries dug by humans while explaining the history of ochre. Booking is required. See the information on their website.
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse ❤ :
We had already been there, but Omi and Opa didn’t know it, and it is so pretty! So we went back for a lovely out-and-back walk along the water, all the way to the rocky cirque where the underground river emerges. There, in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, people came to make offerings, but not much is known about the rites and beliefs linked to this spring. As a result, many legends circulate. In any case, it is beautiful, and the water really has an incredible emerald-green colour! So intense and clear… On the walk back, we had a drink in the shade, by the water, at Restaurant Philip. The ideal spot!
Oppède-le-Vieux ❤ :
A favourite for the whole family, this hilltop village was one we didn’t yet know! It is really well preserved and very peaceful. We walked up to the top of the 13th-century fortress. Wandering around Oppède-le-Vieux feels like travelling back in time. From the car park, we first crossed a park filled with many plants from the region. In short, a charming, preserved village that we recommend visiting!
Ménerbes:
Another hilltop village. Less impressive than Oppède-le-Vieux, but very photogenic as you arrive by car. We stopped there for a drink and a very good slice of apricot tart at Auzet, a café with a view (slow service, but very good homemade savoury and sweet tarts).
Lacoste:
Between Ménerbes and Bonnieux, we passed through the village of Lacoste, where the Marquis de Sade’s château is located. We didn’t visit the château, so I don’t know whether it’s good. I’m not sure it’s a kid-friendly visit. We’ll see next time! If you know it, feel free to tell me about it in the comments.
Bonnieux:
Beautiful old stone houses and very narrow, steep little streets. We admired a gorgeous sunset from the terrace of the restaurant La Flambée… A very good address, welcoming and well located! We had pizzas there.
The Cedar Forest:
The cedar forest is located in the Petit Luberon, not far from Bonnieux. There are several marked trails on site. We chose the 3km botanical trail. It is very easy and ideal for families, whether with children or grandparents. There were forest rangers there to inform us about fire risks. They were there for prevention. We weren’t there on a high-risk day; otherwise access would have been forbidden. It is best to check the potential fire risk online before going: see here.
Sivergues and the lavender fields
This is an isolated village, located at the end of a road that goes no further than the village. It is a kind of Luberon cul-de-sac :-). We discovered it by chance because we spent the night not far away in our campervan. Right next to it, we saw beautiful lavender fields! The lavender was still in bloom (at the end of July), but the colour had already faded a little. It must be better at the beginning of summer. That said, it is already very beautiful and smells wonderful! There are of course other places with lavender fields in the Luberon (around the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, for example), so don’t go to the Sivergues area especially if it isn’t on your route.
Gorges de Régalon ❤:
This was a little hike that we really enjoyed and that felt off the beaten track. These gorges offer an interesting landscape, with narrow passages. You find yourself almost wedged between huge rocks. There is even a bit of climbing to do, so don’t go with a pushchair or with very young children. For Ticoeur and Titpuce, it was just the right dose of adventure! We walked for an hour, then turned back (so two hours in total). The trail continues much further, but along the rest of the route there is no longer any gorge scenery. So we limited our hike to the most beautiful part of the trail. What’s more, the advantage of walking through the gorges is that you are in the shade! A big plus in summer!
Other villages in the Luberon:
During our previous stays in the Luberon, we had also visited Gordes and Lourmarin. Both are very beautiful villages, but also more touristy. In any case, we have only explored the western half of the Luberon, so we still have the east to discover next time! Feel free to share your favourite spots in the Luberon in the comments.
Our accommodation for visiting the Luberon as a family:
Our accommodation, Le Mas Ferrand, was located at the gateway to the Luberon, in the Alpilles, in the village of Graveson. We were there during St Eloi. So the village centre was very lively in the evenings, with parades in traditional costumes, horse races and evening concerts. A great atmosphere! At Le Mas Ferrand, we had booked two adjoining guest rooms. It was perfect for a stay with the grandparents: they had one room; we had the other, and we could meet up on the terrace and in the garden. The hosts were lovely, very welcoming, and gave us lots of itinerary advice. The breakfast was delicious. A rather comfortable, high-end address, for a treat. We spent half the week there. For our other nights in the Luberon, we slept in our VW campervan (the four of us, I should add! Omi and Opa were staying with friends).
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And you? Do you know the Luberon? What’s your favourite village?
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