Since I left Paris to live in the South of France 12 years ago, I’ve cut down on my long-haul trips. The reason is simple: I feel like I’m already on holiday where I live! The PACA region is so beautiful that I never tire of it. I’ve visited it many times, moreover, I spent several weekends in the Gorges du Verdon or in the Var but there was one thing I’d never taken the time to do: visit the Luberon… And as my British was arriving in mid-June, it was the perfect opportunity for a first romantic immersion in Provence, with its hilltop villages, lavender fields and gentle, authentic way of life.
On the programme:
Day 1: Discover the village of Bonnieux
- We arrive at 5pm and drop off our stuff at our airbnb, which is 5 minutes from the hidden Luberon village of Goult. I chose this village because it’s halfway between all the places I wanted to visit (18 min from Roussillon, 10 min from Bonnieux, 20 min from Gordes and the Abbaye de Sénanque…).
- After a rest, we headed off for dinner in the village of Bonnieux at the brasserie Les Terrasses, in front of an incredible sunset. The view over the vineyards and cypress trees is just magnificent. Welcome to Provence 🙂
Day 2: Visit to the Village of Goult, Wine Testing in Roussillon, Walk on the Ochre Trail and End of the day in the village of Lacoste
- After a morning dip in the pool, we’re off to visit the hidden village of Goult. It’s a much less touristy, more authentic village with some superb restaurants. We settled in at the village café and started to get our bearings.
- We headed for Wine Testing at the Chasson vineyard in Roussillon, a dream come true for Monsieur, who is passionate about Provence wines and Châteauneuf de Pape!
- We set off to visit the sublime village of Roussillon, with its ochre and terracotta colours. Absolutely magnificent, but a little too touristy.
- We came face to face with the sentier des Ocres (ochre trail) and were tempted to take a walk that wasn’t planned for the day. It’s 36 degrees, so you have to do it, but you won’t regret it. The spot is just too crazy, even better in real life than in photo/video.
- We headed off to cool off in the village of Lacoste with a view of the village of Bonnieux opposite. This village is best known for being the home of the Marquis de Sade, whose castle is located at the top of the village.
Day 3: Visit to Sénanque Abbey and the village of Gordes, Dip in Fontaine de Vaucluse and Music Festival in Goult
- After the morning dip in the pool, we set off this time to visit the Abbaye de Sénanque, and what a discovery! I think this was our favourite visit of the whole trip. We were able to discover the history of the monastery and see the monks’ daily lives through the tablet.
- After a 2-hour visit, we headed for the most famous village in the Lubéron: Gordes ! We had a bit of a wander around the narrow streets, but above all we were able to attend an incredible wedding at Les Airelles de Gordes, the 5-star luxury hotel. It brought a tear to my eye.
- After two days of visiting villages in the sweltering heat, I decided to end the day in Fontaine de Vaucluse to soak my feet in the river. Although this place wasn’t on my todo list, this spot was a real coup de <3!
- We made it back to Goult in time to catch the Fête de la Musique with the locals!
Day 4: Walk in the Cedar forest, Flat white in Lourmarin, Lavender fields and Paradisiac Beach at Lac Sainte-Croix
- It’s our last day in the Lubéron, and we’re enjoying a 1-hour stroll in the Cedar Forest, just to regain some peace and serenity after the drama in Goult.
- We then headed for the village of Lourmarin , which I found absolutely too charming, even the most charming of all the villages in the Lubéron! And best of all, it was in Lourmarin that we found the only coffee shop in Provence.
- Goodbye Luberon, we’re off to the Alpes de Haute Provence: lavender fields, Lac Sainte Croix and cold drinks at the Terrasse du Lac with its exceptional view of the lake!
- We ended the day in Sillans la Cascade with a little evening stroll through the village, which I’d never taken the time to explore.
Day 5: Visit to Cotignac and swimming at Sillans la Cascade
- We start the day in Cotignac, a little village in the Var that I fell in love with a few years ago. We admired the Cotignac rock from below and strolled through the pretty little streets.
- We headed for Sillans la Cascade to show my British friend this real jewel of the Côte d’Azur. He’ll only be able to see the waterfall from a distance, but more importantly, he’ll be able to take his morning bath in a dream setting that reminds him of Thailand!
- We hit the road for 2 hours, heading for Fayence for lunch at l’Entract and Tourrette for the after-work walk! I love this last village, a real open-air painting museum. This was our last stop before heading back to Nice (Mister was too tired from the road haha!)
