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Dominating the plain of Cavaillon between Avignon and Manosque, Gordes is one of those destinations that smell good lavender, olive and herbs of Provence. Located north of the Luberon Regional Natural Park, the perched village of Gordes has inspired many artists over the years such as Pol Mara, Marc Chagall and Victor Vasarely, giving it an international reputation. Known as one of the most beautiful villages in France, it is also one of the most visited thanks to the splendour of its landscapes which will dazzle you for sure.
Planted on its rocky peak leaning against the foothills of the Monts du Vaucluse, this jewel of Provence looks like a postcard. Established around its imposing Renaissance castle and its church, the village of Gordes is a real invitation to stroll. Its grey or white dry stone houses line the steep cobbled alleys, and the "pas d'âne" (donkey steps) (alleys made so that donkeys can walk through the town) meander up to the top of the village. During your walks, keep your eyes open : you will certainly cross the road of beautiful old doors, vaults and flat stone walls especially in the lower part of Gordes, in the district of the "Fontaine Basse". In the heart of the village, the castle of Gordes is one of the most beautiful monuments of the commune, to visit absolutely. Originally built in 1031, it was destroyed and rebuilt in 1525, hence the originality of its structure mixing medieval influences and a particularly beautiful Renaissance style. Its Renaissance fireplace carved in an intact wall, its Hall of Honour, its exhibition rooms and its privileged setting from which the panoramas are to be damned make it an essential place of your stay in Gordes. Just next door, the Saint-Firmin church is one of the symbols of the village. Throning at the top of the rock, it gives Gordes the appearance of an impregnable citadel frozen in time. From the magnificent belvederes bordering Gordes, you will certainly have the opportunity to distinguish curious heaps of stones which hide famous constructions, anchored since generations in the local landscape : they are bories. These small round huts, made of typical Vaucluse stones, were once used by hunters and shepherds as their homes. At the bottom of the village is another monument that you will not miss during your visit : the abbey of Sénanque. Surrounded by magnificent lavandin fields in summer, this abbey built in the 12th century in the Senancole valley is a fine example of primitive Cistercian architecture. Inhabited by a community of Cistercian monks, it is nevertheless open to the public and you will have all the leisure to visit it. In July, when lavender is adorned with its most beautiful purple reflections, this landscape worthy of the most beautiful postcards of Provence is breathtaking, especially when the sun sets and the valley is tinged with incandescent magic.
By the summer heat, if there is a visit not to be missed, it is that of the cellars of the Palais Saint-Firmin. Gorges is indeed a village with a thousand facets, and its perched houses are only the submerged part of its iceberg. Over the centuries, the inhabitants of Gordes have created an impressive gigantic underground network, developing art and crafts behind closed doors. Under the Palace of Saint Firmin, a beautiful Renaissance house classified as a Historic Monument, there is a large network of cellars spread over 7 floors : you can visit it, as long as you are not claustrophobic. Its troglodyte rooms, its cisterns, its oil mills and its underground stairs which formerly served as sheepfold, chapel or grain silos are for the most part listed as Historic Monuments. In nature, an excursion to the Gorges de Véroncle or a bike tour of the Luberon are expeditions that we really advise you to do, to discover all the beauty of this beautiful corner of Provence.
After having stayed in this splendid high perched village, you will understand better why since decades, a great number of artists of all horizons took possession of the workshops and the houses of Gordes. And to perfect your Provençal culture as others have done before you, you will have to taste the local flavours ! On the menu : tapenade, olive oil, rosé wine, kiwi, melon, truffle, almonds, candied fruit, olives, ratatouille, aïoli and pistou soup, which will undoubtedly be the stars of your dinners.
Plus d’infos sur la région :
Christine
29/06/2019
See the most beautiful villages as well as L'Isle sur la Sorgue for flea markets lovers, do the Sault Carpentras tourist route (gorges de la Nesque), the ochres in Rustel and Roussillon, the village Bories in Gordes. For hiking enthusiasts: many circuits to do.
The Renaissance castle of Gordes
This superb castle combines the architecture of the troubled period of the Middle Ages with the new lifestyle of the Renaissance.
Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey
Founded in 1148, Sénanque Abbey is an exceptional example of early Cistercian architecture.
The village of the Bories
Classified as a historical monument, it is the most important group of dry stone habitats in the Apt region.
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