Guesthouse in Provence

The Luberon can be enjoyed throughout the year. Spring and autumn are often the mildest seasons for visiting villages and walking through the landscapes, but summer is also a beautiful time for tourism, lively, bright and rich in Provençal flavours.

Spring: The light is soft, temperatures are ideal for walking through perched villages, and the countryside comes back to life. It is a wonderful season to discover Gordes, Bonnieux, Ménerbes, Roussillon or Lourmarin, browse the markets and enjoy terraces before the high season.

Summer: Days are long and very sunny, markets are lively, and villages come alive with terraces, exhibitions, concerts and summer evenings. It is also a privileged season for local produce: Luberon AOC wines, olive oil, Provence honey, goat cheese, ripe fruit, aromatic herbs and lavender products give the markets a particularly generous atmosphere. The most famous sites, especially Gordes, Roussillon and the ochre landscapes, are busier, but a guest house with a garden or pool makes the stay very pleasant.

Autumn: Vineyards, forests and villages take on warmer colours. Temperatures often remain pleasant in September and October, with a quieter atmosphere for visits, walks and guest house stays. It is also a fine season for wineries, farmers' markets, mushrooms, squash, cheeses and early autumn flavours.

Winter: The Luberon becomes calmer and more intimate. It is a good season for short stays, quiet villages, local markets and Provence landscapes in a very clear light.

To choose among Luberon bed and breakfasts, start with the kind of stay you are looking for: iconic villages, ochre landscapes, the quieter southern Luberon, or easy access to markets and scenic routes.

Around Gordes, Ménerbes and Bonnieux: This is the famous Golden Triangle of the Luberon. It is a practical area for exploring the best-known perched villages, viewpoints, stone lanes and vineyard landscapes.

Roussillon and the ochre country: Ideal for discovering the most colourful landscapes of the Luberon, with red cliffs, ochre trails and luminous villages.

Lourmarin and the southern Luberon: This side of the massif offers a softer and often quieter atmosphere, with Lourmarin, Cucuron, Vaugines and Ansouis, between vineyards, hills and valleys opening towards the Durance and Aix-en-Provence.

Apt, Cavaillon and Manosque: These towns and their surroundings are good bases for exploring several parts of the massif, enjoying markets and reaching the main discovery routes. Cavaillon looks towards Avignon and the Alpilles, Apt towards the villages at the heart of the Luberon and the lavender fields of the Albion plateau, while Manosque opens towards the Valensole plateau and the Verdon gorges.

The Luberon brings together some of the most characteristic experiences of a stay in Provence, with villages, landscapes, markets and art de vivre.

• Explore perched villages such as Gordes, Ménerbes, Bonnieux or Lacoste
• Discover the ochres of Roussillon and the colourful landscapes of ochre country
• Stay around Lourmarin, Cucuron, Vaugines or Ansouis to enjoy the southern Luberon
• Stroll through Provençal markets in Apt, Cavaillon or Lourmarin
• Taste Luberon AOC wines, goat cheeses, candied fruit from Apt and local produce
• Hike in the Luberon Regional Natural Park, between garrigue, holm oaks, pine woods and views over Provence

A guest house in the Luberon allows you to take time to travel from one village to another, with a more personal stay than a simple tourist stop.