Cavaillon

Discover the pretty town of Cavaillon in Vaucluse

The small town of Cavaillon awaits you in the Vaucluse, about 30 kilometers from Avignon. This Provençal town stands out for its exceptional historical heritage: Notre-Dame and Saint-Véran Cathedral, a 1st-century Roman arch, and a synagogue classified as a historical monument. You will also discover the melon capital, famous worldwide for this delicious fruit.

The town center offers an authentic atmosphere with its pedestrian streets, Provençal market on Monday mornings, and shops. Cavaillon combines a thousand years of history with the Mediterranean way of life. Saint-Jacques hill overlooks the town and offers a panoramic view of the Durance valley and the Luberon. This charming town is the ideal base for exploring the Vaucluse and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

Set off to discover the Luberon

You will discover the riches of the Luberon Regional Nature Park and visit its famous hilltop villages. To help you, the tourist office offers several themed tours around the Luberon (the ochres of Roussillon, the lavender fields of Lagarde d'Apt, the stained glass windows of Gordes, etc.).

Cavaillon, world capital of melons

For most French people, Cavaillon is first and foremost the capital of melons. Melons reign supreme at the market here. To choose the best ones, the merchants of Cavaillon will teach you how to weigh them: they should be heavy (meaning they are full of sap and sugar), with a stem that is ready to fall off and slightly cracked at the base (a sign that they are ripe and ready to be eaten that day).

Why is Cavaillon famous for its melons?

Melon cultivation has a long history in the Cavaillon area, dating back to the 15th century. It is the sweet taste of the “Cantaloupe” variety that has made Cavaillon's melon growers so successful. You can taste them at the market and in the various restaurants in Cavaillon.

Taste melons in Cavaillon's restaurants

As melons are Cavaillon's national treasure, you can taste them in season in all of the town's restaurants. They are served in traditional recipes with smoked ham or in more original recipes at some of the town's gourmet restaurants.

What to do in Cavaillon? Visit the city center

However, this well-deserved and much-appreciated reputation each new season should not overshadow Cavaillon's other charms. Cavaillon is fortunate to have a green hill (Saint Jacques hill) in the heart of the town, so you can stroll through the fragrant, singing garrigue and then, in just a few steps, reach the café terraces on the shaded squares of the town center or do a little shopping in its pedestrian streets.

Sightseeing in Cavaillon

Cavaillon has a rich heritage that can be explored by strolling through its old quarters. As you wander through the narrow streets and flower-filled squares, you will discover one of the most beautiful synagogues in Europe (18th century) and its Jewish museum, a 12th-century cathedral and its small cloister, a 1st-century Roman arch, and beautiful old houses.

Several tours have been prepared by the Caisse Nationale des Monuments Historiques (National Historic Monuments Fund) to help you learn more about certain chapters in the history of Cavaillon (Jewish heritage, the Roman era, and the papal period). The richness of the local produce will hold no secrets for you once you have visited the magnificent farmers' markets, bursting with color and fragrance. You will see that Cavaillon has much more to offer than just melons!

The marked trail up Saint Jacques hill will guide you to its summit, where you'll enjoy a beautiful view of the town, the Apt plain, the Luberon, and the Alpilles. Finally, a cycle route has been marked out between Cavaillon and Forcalquier (100 km), away from the main roads and close to beautiful nature, picturesque villages to visit and friendly Provençal people to meet!

As you can see, it's very pleasant to spend a day or a weekend in Cavaillon, especially in summer when you can stroll through the town's rich city center and taste the famous melons that have made the town world-famous! We hope we've convinced you that Cavaillon's architectural heritage is worth a visit! There's more to Cavaillon than just melons!

The market every Monday

The Cavaillon market takes place every Monday morning in the village center. It's an opportunity to taste melons, of course, but also to discover countless other local products.