There’s a reason I fell head over heels for Provence.
It isn’t just the light, though it feels softer here. Or the long rows of cypress trees that line the fields like quiet sentinels. It’s the Provençal way of life. Slow. Unrushed. Beautiful.
The most beautiful villages in Provence invite me to pause. To sit in the shade with a glass of rosé. To wander narrow lanes that smell of thyme and sun-warmed stone.
In summer, lavender fields blur into violet waves. Vineyards stretch toward distant hills. Every turn feels like a painting waiting to happen.
I spent a week moving from one hilltop village to the next, each more charming than the last. Choosing which ones to visit can feel impossible. But there’s an easy guide: follow the label Les Plus Beaux Villages de France.
Let me show you the seven that stole my heart — and might just steal yours too.
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What Makes a Village “Most Beautiful” in Provence?
When I explore Provence, I look for more than a pretty view. I look for soul.
The Les Plus Beaux Villages de France label is my compass. Created in 1982, it highlights small villages that hold on to their heritage and natural charm. To earn the title, a village must show authenticity — traditional architecture, living traditions, and a genuine atmosphere. It can’t just be a postcard; it has to feel alive.
There are 176 villages in all of France with this label.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, or simply Provence, a region that stretches from the Rhône River to the Italian border and south to the Mediterranean, is rich in them. Provence is large — around 31,000 square kilometres — yet feels intimate, stitched together by olive groves, lavender fields, and old stone walls.
In Provence, 15 villages hold this title. And among them, the department of Vaucluse stands out. It has the highest number — seven.
| Department | Number of Villages/Village Name |
|---|---|
| Alpes de Haute Provence | 1: Moustiers Sainte-Marie |
| Alpes-Maritimes | 3: Gourdon, Coaraze, Sainte-Agnes |
| Bouches-du-Rhone | 1: The Beaux de Provence |
| High Mountains | 2: Saint-Veran, Severe |
| Var | 6: Tourtour, Cotignac, Bargeme, Seillans, Le Castellet, Gassin |
| Vaucluse | 7: Ansouis, Lourmarin, Roussillon, Gordes, Menerbes, Venasque, Seguret |
These villages aren’t just beautiful. They’re deeply lived-in and loved. That’s what makes them unforgettable. They are a slow traveller’s dream.
7 of the Most Beautiful Villages in Provence: Vaucluse
Ansouis: The Hidden Gem
Ansouis feels like a forgotten place tucked into the southern edge of the Luberon.
Here, honey-coloured stone houses with an abundance of flowers glow under the Provençal sun, and narrow lanes climb gently toward the château.
What makes Ansouis special is its balance. It’s authentic, but not frozen in time. Life unfolds slowly here — an old man tending vines, an artist sweeping her studio doorstep. You’ll feel welcome.
The heart of Ansouis is its castle. The Château d’Ansouis stands above the village like a watchful guardian, its terraces opening to views of vineyards and olive groves. I loved wandering the small artisan shops — pottery, glasswork, and local crafts, or visiting the Musée des Arts et des Métiers du Vin.
- Market Day: Thursday morning.
- Combine Your Visit With: Cucuron and Lourmarin — all close enough for an easy, unhurried day.
Gordes: The Hilltop Icon
Gordes is the village you see on every postcard — and somehow, it’s even more beautiful in person. Perched high above the valley, it feels as though it has grown straight out of the rock. As you approach, the pale stone façades catch the light and shimmer against the sky.
It’s easy to understand why artists and writers have always been drawn here. Gordes has an energy that feels both grand and intimate. The village spills down the hillside in narrow alleys and hidden stairways, each corner offering a new angle of the Luberon below.
The center of life is the castle square. In the early morning, I love watching the slow ritual of locals setting up market stalls, the smell of fresh bread drifting through the air. By evening, the golden hour transforms the village into a dream.
- Market Day: Tuesday morning
- Don’t Miss: The nearby Abbaye de Sénanque, especially when the lavender is in bloom, a visit to the monks’ shop for their honey and lavender products is a must.
- Easy Day Trip: Gordes is the closest of these villages to Avignon — perfect for a simple, beautiful day trip into the heart of the Luberon.
Lourmarin: The Elegant Escape
Lourmarin is my favourite. It has a gentle sophistication that never feels showy.
The village sits at the foot of the Luberon hills, surrounded by olive trees and vineyards. White shutters, narrow lanes, and small fountains give it a soft, inviting spirit. The Renaissance château anchors the village, offering sweeping views and a quiet garden to wander.
What I love most about Lourmarin is its boutique shops and café culture. I can sit for hours on a shaded terrace, herbal tea or a glass of local wine in hand, watching the slow dance of market baskets and bicycles. It’s a place to rest, to read, to simply be.
- Market Day: Friday morning
- Perfect Pairing: Visit in the afternoon after exploring Bonnieux nearby.
Lourmarin sits on a level plane and is nestled in the middle of vineyards, olive groves and almond trees.
Ménerbes: The Artistic Retreat
Ménerbes feels like a quiet sanctuary perched above the Luberon. It’s elegant, understated, romantic and holds a certain calm that draws artists and dreamers.
The village is long and narrow, sitting confidently along a ridge with sweeping views in every direction. As I walk its stone paths, I feel close to the lives that have passed through — painters, writers, winemakers. Peter Mayle put it on the map in A Year in Provence, but even before that, Ménerbes had a creative spirit all its own.
I love stopping in small galleries, or tasting honey and truffles at a local farm stand just outside the walls. There’s no rush here. Just soft light, quiet corners, and open windows filled with flowers. My favourite memory was watching the sunset while enjoying a divine meal at Maison de la Truffe et du Vin du Luberon.
- Market Day: Thursday morning, small but intimate.
- Nearby Delight: Pair your visit with Lacoste, a village full of quiet mystery and art, once home to the Marquis de Sade and now an open-air gallery under soft Provençal skies.
Roussillon: The Village of Ochre
Roussillon is pure colour. As you arrive, the red and orange cliffs rise like a fiery welcome. The village itself feels alive, painted in every warm shade you can imagine — deep rust, honey gold, soft rose.
It sits on one of the world’s largest ochre deposits, and you feel this earthiness in every step. I will always remember walking the Ochre Trail just outside the village.
Inside the village, narrow alleys twist past artist studios and small cafés. Windows are framed in bright blue or green shutters, and geraniums spill over stone sills. Even in the busiest moments, Roussillon somehow stays soft and welcoming.
- Market Day: Thursday morning.
- Nearby Delight: Pair your visit with Bonnieux, a graceful hilltop village where stone houses cascade down the slope and long lunches invite you to lose track of time.
Séguret: The Fairytale Village
Séguret feels like a dream you don’t want to leave. Tucked against the Dentelles de Montmirail, it looks out over endless vineyards and gently rolling hills.
As you wander its narrow, cobbled lanes, you pass archways draped in vines, stone fountains whispering in shaded squares, and doors that seem to have held centuries of stories. In the soft evening light, the village glows, holding the warmth of the day.
I loved arriving just before dusk. The last sun spills across the valley. A glass of local Côtes du Rhône wine here feels like a small ritual — simple, deeply satisfying.
- Market Day: A small one on Sunday, but you’ll find small local producers and wine cellars open most days.
- Nearby Delight: Stop in Gigondas for a wine tasting and quiet lunch under the plane trees.
Venasque: The Secluded Beauty
Venasque feels like a secret. Perched high on a rocky spur, it looks out over valleys dotted with cherry orchards and olive groves.
Inside the village walls, life feels hushed and timeless. Old stone houses line quiet lanes, and small terraces offer sweeping views toward Mont Ventoux.
Be sure to visit the ancient baptistery, one of the oldest Christian sites in the region. It’s small and simple, yet full of quiet power. Afterward, wander to the edge of the ramparts, where the breeze carries the scent of pine and wild herbs.
- Market Day: No weekly market, but local farm stands appear in season with fresh cherries and honey along the roads before reaching the village.
- Nearby: Combine your visit with a drive to the summit of Mont Ventoux — the “Giant of Provence” — for sweeping, unforgettable views all the way to the Alps.
Final Thoughts
I believe Provence asks us to move more slowly. To feel, and not just see.
It’s tempting to want to collect them all — every village, every viewpoint, every café terrace. But the real magic lives in the small, quiet moments: a soft breeze through an open window, the sound of your footsteps on an empty lane, the first sip of rosé under an ancient fig tree.
It’s not about ticking off villages — it’s about feeling them. I would rather you see two or three deeply than rush to check all seven off a list.
If you’re not sure where to start, I can help. I offer custom itinerary planning to shape your days in Provence — from hand-picked restaurants and family-owned wineries to hidden local gems and the right place to rest your head at night.
