Roussillon
Famous for its ochre cliffs and pigment shops. Park at the top and wander down through the village — the views are best at sunset.
The Luberon
Step outside and wander
From our front door, you can stroll to the weekly market, pick up cheese and olives, and wander narrow streets lined with pastel shutters. The Luberon unfolds from there.
Right outside
Your village
Gordes is small enough to explore on foot in an afternoon, yet rich enough to return to each day. The weekly market (Thursday mornings) brings the village alive with local producers, artists, and neighbors.
Thursday market
8 AM – 1 PM in the village center. Come hungry — samples are expected.
Morning ritual
Grab coffee at Café de la Place, sit where the locals sit, watch the day begin.
Hidden corners
The castle ruins, the old wash house, the view from the cemetery road — we'll share our favorites.
Within 30 minutes
Villages worth the drive
Ménerbes
Quiet and authentic, with a fortified citadel to explore. The café near the church serves the best jus de pèche you've ever tasted.
Lourmarin
Southernmost and perhaps most charming. Visit the castle, browse the galleries, and eat lunch on the square at Café Gava.
Bonnieux
Towering over the valley with a 12th-century church and panoramic café. The antique market on the first Sunday of each month is legendary.
Goult
Our secret favorite — no tourist shops, just a village where life continues. The windmill hike offers views that photos can't capture.
Cavaillon
The melon capital. Visit the covered market (Tuesday–Saturday mornings) for the best produce in the region, including that famous Cavaillon melon.
Eat well
Markets & local food
Markets nearby
- Gordes — Thursday, 8 AM – 1 PM
- Cavaillon — Tuesday–Saturday mornings
- L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue — Sunday all day (antiques too)
- Apt — Saturday mornings
Where to shop
- Fromagerie Baud, Cavaillon — exceptional local cheese
- Les Halles, Cavaillon — covered market, daily
- Coq-Hérisson, Gordes — artisan deli
- Local farm stands — everywhere in summer, cash only
Restaurants we love
- Le Mas des Herbes Claires, Gordes — fine dining in a gorgeous setting. Book ahead.
- Café Gava, Lourmarin — simple, delicious, the pizza is legendary.
- Le Phébus, Goult — local institution, great value, no pretension.
- La Petite Syrah, Roussillon — wine bar with plates, perfect for sunset.
Local pleasures
Wine & outdoor activities
Wine tasting
The Luberon produces excellent Côtes du Luberon wines. Visit Domaine de la Citadelle in Ménerbes or Château de la Canorgue in Bonnieux.
We'll arrange tastings for groups — just ask.
Hiking trails
The Luberon Natural Park offers hundreds of kilometers of trails. Try the Colorado trail near Roussillon for dramatic ochre landscapes.
Maps and suggestions available at the house.
Cycling
Road cycling is popular here — the climbs are challenging but the views reward. E-bike rentals available in Apt. We'll help plan routes.
Lavender season
Mid-June through mid-August. The best fields are around Valensole (30 min drive) — go early morning for photos without crowds.
Two or three days
An ideal itinerary
Day 1
Arrive & settle
Check in after 3 PM. Walk into Gordes for an early evening apéro — try Café de la Place for the sunset view. Dinner at Le Phébus in Goult, or pick up supplies from the deli for a courtyard picnic.
Thursday: Gordes market Evening: apéro & sunset
Day 2
Explore the villages
Start with Roussillon (ochre cliffs at sunrise, if you're an early riser). Drive to Goult for lunch at Café de la Place. Afternoon: Ménerbes for the quiet atmosphere, then back for a leisurely dinner at the villa or at Les Terrasses in Gordes.
Morning: Roussillon hike Lunch: Goult Afternoon: Ménerbes
Day 3
Markets & wine
Morning: Cavaillon market for provisions. Visit Domaine de la Citadelle for a tasting. Lunch at a local café en route. Afternoon: Lavender fields (June–August) or hiking in the Luberon. Final evening: Lourmarin for a sundowner.
Morning: Cavaillon market Wine tasting Lavender fields
Start exploring
Ready for the Luberon?
We'll share our favorite spots when you arrive — the ones that don't make the guidebooks. But first, you need a room.