The Luberon

The Luberon takes its name from the long, slim range of hills that cuts across it from west to east. Essentially rural (Apt, with a little over 10,000 inhabitants is the sole town), this region, ideal for walking or just kicking your country heels, could be miles and centuries away from the major tourist venues of southern France. Shaped like a near-perfect rectangle, its mass is cleft by the deep gorge of the Combe de Lourmarin. The gentle, rounded contours of the Grand Luberon, rising to over 3000 feet, contrast with the crags and ravines of the Petit Luberon, to the west. The more rugged northern slopes, where tiny stone-built villages ...

The Luberon takes its name from the long, slim range of hills that cuts across it from west to east. Essentially rural (Apt, with a little over 10,000 inhabitants is the sole town), this region, ideal for walking or just kicking your country heels, could be miles and centuries away from the major tourist venues of southern France. Shaped like a near-perfect rectangle, its mass is cleft by the deep gorge of the Combe de Lourmarin. The gentle, rounded contours of the Grand Luberon, rising to over 3000 feet, contrast with the crags and ravines of the Petit Luberon, to the west. The more rugged northern slopes, where tiny stone-built villages cluster, are damper and more alpine in character. The drier, southern face, where deep woods alternate with pastureland, looks to the Mediterranean. For decades, discriminating Parisians and sun-seeking émigrés, primarily from Holland and Great Britain, have made the Luberon their main or second home. Come if you can in July or early August, when striped fields of blue lavender scent the pure air.

About the Expert

Miles Roddis has written or contributed to more than 50 Lonely Planet titles including country and regional guides to Spain, France, their Mediterranean island offshoots — and little Andorra.