Provence: Vaucluse & the Luberon

Day 1 • Arrive in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Visit the village where the Italian poet Petrarch lived from 1337–1353 and composed 366 poems to ‘Laura’; the small Romanesque church; and the world-famous resurgent spring

HHH Hôtel du Poète (std & sup rooms)

Day 2 • Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to Gordes

Paths lead up through a dry limestone gorge, onto the plateau of the Vaucluse, through pine woods and stonewalled meadows, before descending to the 12C Cistercian Abbey of Sénanque Set in a quiet valley amongst lavender fields, the abbey retains all its original 12C buildings A path then leads up to Gordes (10 miles, 5 hrs). Alter native gentler option (6.2 miles, 3 hrs).

HHHH Le Jas de Gordes (std) HHHHH Les Bories (sup)

Day 3 • Free day in Gordes (Day 1 – Arrive Gordes)*

Explore the picturesque village of Gordes with old houses rising in tiers from the valley, and its Renaissance château with very fine chimneypiece Optional walk to a village of restored bories (stone huts), grouped around a communal bread oven (5 3 miles, 2 5 hrs)

HHHH Le Jas de Gordes (std) HHHHH Les Bories (sup)

Day 4 (2)

• Gordes to Roussillon

Walk down through the old streets of Gordes and through olive groves, to a valley with fields of wheat, lavender and poppies (!) to Roussillon. Explore the village set high on a rocky outcrop, with its ochre-coloured houses along the picturesque streets (6 9 miles, 3 5 hrs)

HHH Le Clos de la Glycine

Day 5 (3)

• Roussillon to Bonnieux

Follow paths and far m tracks down the valley to a Roman bridge, then through meadows and olive groves, up towards the col between the Grand Luberon and Petit Luberon ‘mountains’, and the medieval village of Bonnieux, its houses rising on terraces to its 12C parish church surrounded by cedar trees (8 6 miles, 4 5 hrs)

HHHH La Bastide de Capelongue

Day 6 (4) • Bonnieux to Lour marin

From the valley walk through woods and high meadows to the ridge of the Grand Luberon, with views across the Vaucluse to Mont Ventoux and across souther n Provence to the sea. An optional route then diverts to the panoramic summit of Mourre Nègre, highest point of the Luberon

Descend through maquis scrub to the village of Vaugines (setting for Jean de Florette) before following a wide far m track towards Lour marin. Explore the village, dominated by its château, set high on a rock bluff (12 9 miles, 7 hrs – or up to 20 2 miles, 10 hrs for diversion)

HHHH Le Moulin de Lour marin

Day 7 (5) • Departure day

*Days in brackets refer to 5-day itinerary

Route open: March-June; Sept-Nov

Airports to first hotel: u Marseille (43 miles)

Train/bus: 2 hrs - ~€22

Taxi: 1 hr - €155 u Avignon (15 miles)

Taxi: 35 mins - ~€75

Via Avignon TGV station:

Train+ taxi 40 mins - ~€25

Route Manager: ATG-trained, lives locally and speaks fluent English and French.

Route Book: 111 pages – detailed walking directions, maps, comprehensive local and background information

Walking: Easy to moderate (Grade 2 – 3) See p 8

Terrain: Paths over hills stony and dry underfoot In valleys: wood and far mland tracks; open country paths; asphalt lanes