Simiane la Rotonde

Start with the Rotonde and its vaulted Romanesque hall. The keep also hosts temporary exhibitions and an aromatherapy laboratory.

Among the things to do, save time for the garden of Valsaintes Abbey, two and a half miles away. Heritage roses, a dry garden and a permaculture kitchen garden spread across the terraces.

Outdoor activities are easy to find. Several hiking trails leave from the village toward the lavender fields of the plateau and the surrounding hills.

Every August, the international early music festival takes over the Rotonde. The acoustics alone justify the trip.

The tourist office, housed in the medieval castle, provides maps and schedules.

The village carries ten centuries of history. The Agoult-Simiane family built its castle here in the 12th century, on the mound overlooking the plain.

All that remains of the fortress is the rotonde, a former keep listed as a historic monument. Defensive at first, the hall became a ceremonial space in the 13th century.

The Middle Ages left behind the layout of the cobbled lanes. The Renaissance shaped the carved lintels and the south wing of the castle.

Simiane was a prosperous market town for a long time. The 16th-century covered market hall and the old townhouses still bear witness to it.

This heritage earned the village its "Village et cité de caractère" label.

The commune of Simiane belongs to the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department. It sits on the southwestern edge of the Albion plateau, at around 2,000 feet above sea level.

Its geographic position makes it a crossroads. The Vaucluse begins a few miles away, the Luberon stretches to the south, and the Lure mountain closes the horizon to the northeast.

On a clear day, Mont Ventoux stands out in the distance.

This location puts you close to Banon, Apt, Forcalquier and the Sault country. Ideal for exploring Haute-Provence without changing accommodations.

The rotonde remains the main attraction on the site. Its twelve carved columns and stone dome leave a lasting impression.

Next to it, the castle chapel and the courtyard turned into an aromatic plant garden complete the castle visit.

The bell tower and the 16th-century market hall punctuate the walk through the upper village. The tall houses form a continuous rampart above the plain.

From the terraces, the view stretches far across a landscape of fields and hills.

In June and July, lavender turns the surroundings into sweeps of blue. That's the best time for photography.

Access is mainly by road. Coming from the Vaucluse, exit the highway at Avignon Sud and follow signs for Apt.

From Marseille, Aix or Sisteron, take the A51 and exit at La Brillanne toward Forcalquier. About twenty miles remain from there.

The village lies roughly fifteen miles from Apt and nine miles from Banon. No train station serves the commune, so plan on having a car.

Travelers coming from farther afield usually land at Marseille-Provence airport, around two hours away by road.

A detailed map is available from the tourist office.