Page 176 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

174  PROVENCE AREA B Y AREA

y A Tour of the Petit Luberon

The Parc Naturel Régional covers 1,200 sq km (463 sq miles)
of a limestone mountain range running east from Cavaillon
towards Manosque in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It
embraces about 50 communities and a past peppered
with such infamous figures as the Baron of Oppède and the
Marquis de Sade. An unspoiled area, it is ideal for walking.
Its two main centres are Apt and Lourmarin. The D943 in the
Lourmarin Coomb valley divides the park: the Grand Luberon
(see p176) is to the east; and to the west is the Petit Luberon,
a land of limestone cliffs, hidden corries and cedar woods,
The 1st-century Roman triumphal arch
behind Cavaillon with most towns and villages to the north side of the range.
tCavaillon 1 Oppède-le-Vieux
The dominating ruined castle belonged to
Road map B3. * 26,000. £ @
n Pl François Tourel (04 90 71 32 01). Jean Maynier, Baron of Oppède, whose bloody
( Mon. ∑ luberoncoeurde Avignon crusade against the Luberon Vaudois in 1545
provence.com destroyed 11 villages.
The viewing table outside the
Chapelle St-Jacques at the top
of the town renders the Luberon
range in perspective against
Mont Ventoux and the Alpilles Cavaillon
chain. In closer proximity are
the acres of fruit and vegetable
plots, for Cavaillon is France’s
largest market garden, synony­
mous especially with melons. Its
local market competes with the
one in Apt for renown as the
most important in Vaucluse.
Colline St­Jacques was the site
of the pre­Roman settlement
that, under Rome, prospered.
There is a 1st­century Roman arch
in place Duclos nearby. Roman
finds are on display in the Musée
Archéologique de l’Hotel Dieu 0 kilometres 2
in the Grand Rue, which leads 0 miles 2
north from the church, a former
cathedral dedicated to its 6th­ Key
century bishop, Saint Véran. The
synagogue in rue Hébraïque Cedar Forest Botanical Trail, Tour route
dates from 1772, although there Bonnieux Other roads
has been one on this site ever
since the 14th century. The Luberon Wildlife
Musée Jouves et Juif Comtadin,
commemorates its history. The Parc Naturel Régional is rich
in flora and fauna. The central massif
E Musée Archéologique de is wild and exposed on the north
l’Hotel Dieu side, sheltered and more cultivated
Hôtel Dieu, Porte d’Avignon. Tel 04 90 in the south. A wide range of
72 26 86. Open May–Sep: Mon, habitats exist in a landscape of
Wed–Sat pm only. & white chalk and red ochre cliffs,
cedar forests, moorlands and
E Musée Jouves et Juif
Comtadin (et de la Synagogue) river­hewn gorges. Information is
Rue Hébraïque. Tel 04 90 71 21 06. available from La Maison du Parc Monkey orchid (Orcis
Open Oct–Apr: Mon, Wed–Sat; in Apt (see p176) which publishes simia) is found on the
May–Sep: Wed–Mon. Closed 1 Jan, suggested walks and tours. sunny, chalky grasslands.
1 May, 25 Dec. &
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p201 and pp215–16