Lauris

This beautiful village sits atop a rocky ridge between the Durance and the Luberon mountain. Perched on its cliff, Lauris offers an amazing view across the Durance valley, the Alpilles and the Luberon.

Like a figurehead, an 18th-century château stands plumb on the rock, overlooking some superb hanging gardens where ponds and fountains have retained all their charm. The castle began with a keep built in the 11th century and was enlarged by the various lords of Lauris over the centuries. The castle, demolished in 1730 and altered many times, has unfortunately lost much of its character. It now houses a retirement home and a reception centre for foreign missions. Numerous artists' galleries can be found at the foot of the château.

Take a stroll through the old village of Lauris and you won't want to miss the beautiful bell tower with its delicately sculpted campanile at the top of the church. You'll discover that Lauris has managed to retain its authenticity and character as you wander through its narrow streets, fountains and a few old stones polished by time. Don't miss the old public wash-house and the very narrow ‘Passage de l'Eglise’, which runs around the beautiful Lauris church.

Admire the superb Arcades terrace and its magnificent arcades, recently renovated by the town of Lauris. In summer, this terrace hosts concerts and open-air shows. It is also the site of the dye plant garden created by Michel Garcia.

Since the 16th century, Lauris has been a very active centre for the production of natural dyes. In particular, scarlet and crimson were obtained from the mealybugs that once swarmed the kermes oaks of the Luberon, and madder red was obtained from a plant known as dyer's madder. The terraces of the château now house a conservatory garden of dye plants. Here you can discover the techniques and plants behind these dyeing processes. This botanical garden, the only one of its kind in Europe, includes 250 species from all over the world.

Sleep, drink or dine at the Domaine de Fontenille. This 4-star luxury hotel has magnificent grounds and is the best place in the area to have lunch. The cedars and ancient plane trees are sublime, the vineyard well tended and the food delicious. If you can afford to stay there, don't hesitate: superb rooms overlooking the park, heated swimming pool on the edge of the forest, sublime breakfasts... a little paradise in the Luberon.

Young chef Guillaume Goupil set up at Champ des Lunes, the gourmet restaurant on the Domaine de Fontenille, in 2023 and was awarded a Michelin star in his first year! His gourmet cuisine is top-notch, and much better than some of the region's 2-star restaurants! We've tried this restaurant three times, and it's always been a thrill... and we're not being paid to write this!