L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - 39 kilometres
This compact medieval town is built on the islands of five branches of the Sorgue River, which flows in and around the town - it's no surprise it's called the 'Venice of Provence'. L'Isle sur la Sorgue (literally 'island on the Sorgue River') has many river branches and canals, huge overhanging plane trees, waterfront cafés and restaurants, and several large waterwheels and mills once used in the silk, wool and papermaking industries. The imposing twelfth century Notre Dame des Anges Eglise is surrounded by cafés and a wide variety of shops which radiate out from this centre. L'Isle sur la Sorgue is a major centre for the buying and selling of antiques and is second only to Paris in importance. At the huge colourful market, four hundred antique dealers sell their treasures every Sunday. Le Quai de la Gare is a group of thirty antique shops open every weekend from 10am-7pm and is located near the railway station. Market days are Thursday and Sunday mornings and daily throughout the summer. Parking is a challenge on market days. If you don't arrive early, parking is a real headache. There's a car park behind the PTT (post office) and several just west of the main roundabout. The Parc Gautier is located just outside the town centre and is shaded by giant plane trees. This is an excellent place for picnicking or simply to get away from the crowds on a hot summer day.
There are several good restaurants here. For an aperitif try Le Caveau de la Tour de L'Isle (part wine bar and part wine shop) which is open until about 8pm on the Rue de la République. L'Oustau de L'Isle near the PTT has menus from 23 Euros and a terrace (Tel: 04 90 38 54 83). Less expensive riverfront cafés abound. Café de Bellevue serves menus from 15 Euros and has reasonable plats du jours.
Lourmarin - 19 kilometres
Surrounded by fields, vineyards, almond trees and olive groves, Lourmarin is a worthwhile diversion with its winding narrow streets, lovely old restored houses and shady squares. Sites in Lourmarin include the beautiful fifteenth century Château de Lourmarin (the magnificent Renaissance apartments are open to the public every day from June to September - approx. 5 Euros), the Romanesque Eglise St. Andre and some beautiful fountains from the eighteenth century. The writers Jean Giono and Albert Camus (winner of the Nobel Literature Prize) both lived and wrote here and are buried in the local cemetery. There are several shops, including antique shops, art galleries and clothes boutiques and a children's playground near the château grounds.
The town isn't as picturesque as some of the perched medieval villages, but the architecture is Mediterranean and there are several well priced restaurants in the narrow streets. La Ferme de Gerbaud specialises in aromatic and medicinal plant products (especially lavender which is a good souvenir) and offers daily guided tours in the summer (Tel: 04 90 68 11 83). There are also numerous terrace cafés in the cobbled square in the centre of the village which make Lourmarin a good lunchtime stop. L'Oustalet serves authentic Provençal cuisine and has the best reputation with menus from 18 Euros - you'll probably have to reserve a table (Tel: 04 90 68 07 33). Michel Ange in the centre of the village has a shady terrace at the back and serves menus from 18 Euros. Le Bistro and La Recreation offer cheaper meals from 12 Euros. Every Friday morning is market day. It's best to arrive early as the village gets very busy. Throughout the summer Lourmarin hosts numerous concerts, fairs, exhibitions and theatre performances at the Château de Lourmarin (Tel: 04 90 68 15 23).
Manosque - 40 kilometres
Manosque is a town with a long and interesting past. The beautifully restored old quarter is rather sophisticated with a pedestrian area, very pretty squares and numerous restaurants and smart shops. An ancient gateway leads to the bustling Saturday morning market. In order to really appreciate Manosque, you can climb the nearby Mont d'Or with an amazing panorama of the Luberon, Sainte-Baume, Haut Var and even the first Alpine peaks.
Manosque is the birthplace and home of the writer Jean Giono and his former residence is open to the public.
Ménerbes is one of the most picturesque villages in the Lubéron and was made even more famous by Peter Mayle's 'A Year in Provence' - his original mas (farmhouse) was just a few kilometres from the centre of the village. Long before Mayle, however, Ménerbes was a haunt of writers, artists and musicians - among them Picasso and Camus. Perched along the top of a long ridge overlooking vineyards, Ménerbes is surrounded by superb countryside and has a rich historic past that has been well-preserved. The location, if not the actual village, has been inhabited since Neolithic times and archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of villas and an ancient cemetery dating from the Roman times. Approaching Ménerbes, you'll see ancient walls, towers, churches and chapels perched on a stony cliff in the centre of an area of bories (beehive-like dry stone huts constructed centuries ago as houses and farm buildings). Narrow streets wind up and down between magnificent old buildings and there is a lovely square at the top of the village. Through an arch here beside the ancient Marie, you have a magnificent panoramic view out across the plains with several small villages visible, including Gordes to the north, and the small Notre Dame des Graces Chapelle just below. Nearby is the Musée du Tire-Bouchon (Tel: 04 90 72 44 77) which houses a collection of 1000 corkscrews, including the first French corkscrew from the twelfth century - clearly not something you would want to miss! Obviously there is a wine tasting room too - well, this is France!
The only two dolmens in the Vaucluse are near Ménerbes. One is on the D103, 2 kilometres east of the village. Looking down, you'll see the ring of upright stones with the large cap stone. The site was apparently at the base of the hill which has, over the centuries, half covered the site.
Nimes - 106 kilometres
under construction
Oppède-le-Vieux - 28 kilometres
Oppède le Vieux is a magnificent Roman hilltop village, perched high on a rocky outcrop and surrounded by forests. This historic village has a twelfth century Romanesque Collegiale Notre Dame d'Alydon church (currently being restored) which dominates the skyline, the ruins of an fortified château, ancient washing places and beautifully restored Renaissance and medieval houses. A wild gorge cuts into the Lubéron to the south behind the village and from the church there is a magnificent view of Mont Ventoux and the lower Alps.
To visit the village, leave your car in the car park just below and follow the picturesque path up the hill across lovely terraces. This is all uphill and takes a good five minutes. The old part of the village is a quiet pretty place and has a terrace café. The walk from the village to the church and on to the ruins of the château takes about 10 - 15 minutes on cobblestones through the trees and past caves and ruins of some ancient dwellings. The view from the top is simply magnificent, but there's nothing near the edges, so don't let children run ahead.
Saturday morning is market day.
Orange - 81 kilometres
The magnificent Roman theatre, Julius Ceasar's great triumphal arch and compact centre of pedestrianised roads and squares make Orange a pleasant place to visit. The Roman Theatre is spectacular and is one of the best preserved of the Roman Empire. It is on the Place des Frères Mounet and is open from 9 - 12 midday and 1.30 - 5.30pm. Admission charges are 5 Euros for adults with children under 10 free. There are good audio guides to take with you (which keep the children interested). Why not have lunch at one of the plentiful restaurants or terrace cafes before walking up the hill to take in the great view down to the theatre? There is also a very large park across most of this hilltop - the Colline St. Eutrope. Here there are open grassy areas, big shady trees and a fantastic view across the plains to the Dentelles de Montmirail in the east or down to the Roman Theatre at the base of the hill. Between 15 August and 15 October, there is a daily market. Throughout the year, Thursday morning is market day.
There are several excellent restaurants in the centre of Orange, including Le Garden on the Place de Langes, Poitrine de Pintade Farcie and Mitonnée aux Cinq Legumes which specialises in vegetarian meals. Parking along the Cours Aristide Briand (near the Tourist Information office) gets crowded and is metered. About eight blocks north of the centre at the Arc du Triomphe you'll find free parking. From there it's only a ten minute walk back into the centre and there is a free shuttle bus between the Arch and the various points of interest in the town.