Enjoy a full day tour with private vehicle and driver/guide. On the way to Apt, it is necessary to cross the Luberon, a great mountain range, famous world wide, enriched by its stones, its castles, its luminosity and colours.... In order to protect themselves from pillagers, over centuries the inhabitants patiently built their houses, stone by stone. Nowadays these charming villages, with their tiny narrow streets and amazing shaded squares are classified among the most beautiful ones in France. Nevertheless, each one has its own personality and its own attractive power.
Enjoy a quick stop at Lourmarin, which nestles in the middle of vineyards, olive groves and almond trees. A very animated village in the summer due to its numerous cafe terraces, restaurants and boutiques. You can admire its medieval/renaissance castle, its temple, its interesting pigeon house, its provencal bastides, its "boîte à sel" belfry... Albert Camus, winner of the Nobel Literature Prize, lived and wrote here and was even buried here.
Next on the agenda today is Bonnieux, a large, attractively-terraced village situated on a promontory which offers a lovely view of Calavon valley, the hilltop village of Lacoste, which castle was formerly occupied by the Marquis de Sade, and the edges of the Vaucluse Plateau.
Apt is the major town in the area and this is where one of the most important markets of Provence takes place and it takes over the entire center of town and all the interior streets are closed off to traffic. The eight open squares are filled with stands and little truck-stores, and more stands line the narrow pedestrian streets. There are usually about 300 sellers and the atmosphere is animated even more at times with street performers.
Enjoy lunch on your own either in one of the nearby cafes or bistros, or even better - pick up some supplies of the freshest ingredients at the market and have an imprompyu picnic! - The roasted chicken and small roasted potatoes that can be found at markets are usually to die for!
Continue to Roussillon. The town owes its name to the reddish (roux) colour of its houses. The village is lovely from the outside, set in a deep green pine forest on bright red-ochre hills but even more spectacular inside, with the colourful old buildings and narrow medieval streets. From the terrace, the view of the ochre cliffs, composed of 16 or 17 different shades, is simply spectacular.
Situated in the heart of one of the biggest ochre deposits in the world, Roussillon is famous for its magnificent red cliffs and ochre quarries. The red, yellow and brown shades of the earth form a striking contrast with the lush green pinetrees. Enjoy visiting the "Conservatoire des Ocres et des Pigments Appliqués", situated in an old ochre factory. Here you will see the different stages that go into making ochre suitable for painting. Then take an intrepative walk along one of two different ochre trails, one short (30 mins), one long (1 hr) which will take you through the ochre lands to get a better understanding of the material in its natural environment. Learn how ochre is formed, ochre geology, the entire ochre heritage in and around Roussillon, and many other practical subjects relating to colour.
The last stop will be in Gordes. This very beautiful old village is perched on the southern edge of the high Plateau de Vaucluse. It seems to be an unbelievable "stone cascade" the stone houses are built in tight against the base of the cliffs and others are perched on the rocks above, with the pinacle being the 12th-century castle of the town.
Accommodation: La Bastide de Gordes (5*) The Bastide de Gordes & Spa (5*) is a luxury hotel perched in the heart of Gordes, one of the most beautiful villages in France. With a breathtaking view over the Luberon hills and the superb hanging gardens overlooking the valley below, you will enjoy the Provencal “art de vivre” in a modern and refined comfort. The 26 rooms and 15 suites are spacious, cozy, furnished and decorated in the typical Provencal style and overlook the village or the valley. Some rooms are equipped with King size bed. Suites and Junior Suites have a separate sitting room and a pull out sofa, while the Rampart and Terrasse Suites have a private terrace. The on site restaurant caters to both lunch and dinner - enjoy your meal on the terrace overlooking the vallet or in the interior room which is tastefully decorates.