7 of the Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

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What Makes a Village One of the Most Beautiful in Provence?

Les Plus Beaux Villages de France is an official designation established in the 1980s to recognize small villages for their architectural heritage, historic character and preservation. Villages must meet strict criteria, so the designation is about more than simply having a beautiful setting.

Seven villages in Vaucluse hold this distinction: Gordes, Roussillon, Ménerbes, Lourmarin, Ansouis, Séguret and Venasque.

Five are in the Luberon, while Venasque is closer to Mont Ventoux and Séguret sits near the Dentelles de Montmirail. This distinction matters when planning your visits, as the seven villages aren’t all close enough to explore in a single day or even on a short trip to this area.

7 of the Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

1. Gordes – The Iconic Hilltop Village

Gordes is the village you see on every Provence postcard — and somehow, it’s even more beautiful in person. Perched high above the valley, its pale stone houses appear to rise straight out of the rock.

One of the best views is before you even enter the village. From the viewpoint along the D15 road, you can see Gordes spilling down the hillside. It’s worth stopping here before continuing into the village itself.

Once inside, the château square is a good place to begin. I loved watching the market vendors setting up their stalls in the early morning before wandering the narrow stone lanes and stairways. We admired the château from outside, but for me, much of the appeal is simply walking through the village and discovering the views across the Luberon.

Gordes is also one of the busiest villages in Provence, particularly in summer. Although it’s undeniably beautiful, the crowds can take away from the experience.

During our week exploring the Luberon, we returned to Gordes for dinner and to watch the sunset. If you want to do this too, you’ll want to choose a restaurant that is facing west and is elevated, like where we dined at La Trinquette (book your table on the upper floor). Too many of the restaurants have street-level terraces which obstruct your sunset-watching view. Seeing the village at different times of day was worthwhile, especially in the evening when the stone buildings caught the last of the sunlight.

Just outside Gordes is the 12th-century Abbaye de Sénanque, a working Cistercian monastery surrounded by lavender fields. It’s one of the most photographed places in this area, with rows of lavender. We stopped at the monks’ shop, where they sell honey and lavender products.

• My recommendation: Gordes would be among my top three villages for a first visit to Provence. Its setting alone makes it worth seeing. However, because of its popularity, I wouldn’t choose it as my base for a longer stay.
• Market day: Tuesday morning.
• Good to know: Gordes is the closest village if you want to combine your visit with Avignon or L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
• Combine your visit with: Roussillon or Ménerbes, both within a short drive.

2. Roussillon – The Village of Ochre

Roussillon is unlike any other village in the Luberon. Rather than the pale limestone buildings you’ll find in the other Luberon villages, its houses are painted in shades of rust, orange, ochre and soft rose.

The village sits on one of Europe’s largest ochre deposits, and its colours reflect the surrounding landscape. Even the simplest buildings stand out, with blue and green shutters contrasting against the warm-coloured façades.

I enjoyed exploring the narrow streets, passing artist studios and small cafés, but the highlight of Roussillon is the nearby Sentier des Ocres, or Ochre Trail.

The trail takes you through former ochre quarries, where deep orange and red cliffs rise above the sandy pathways. There are two walking routes, taking approximately 30 or 50 minutes, depending on which you choose.

I found the landscape beautiful, but there’s one thing I would do differently: avoid walking the trail during the hottest part of a summer day.

The heat was intense when we visited, and it affected how much I enjoyed the experience. Even though the walk isn’t particularly long, the sandy paths, steps and exposed sections can make it uncomfortable in high temperatures.

If you’re visiting during summer, I’d plan the Ochre Trail for the morning, then explore the village afterwards. Watch what you wear that day, as the stains from the ochre ruined my new light coloured espadrilles I bought earlier that week at one of the markets.

• My recommendation: Roussillon is one of the three villages I would prioritize for a first visit to Provence because its landscape is so different from the others. However, having experienced the village and walked the Ochre Trail, I wouldn’t feel the need to return.
• Market day: Thursday morning.
• Don’t miss: The Ochre Trail.
• Combine your visit with: Gordes or Bonnieux.

3. Ménerbes – Art, Views and a Memorable Meal

Ménerbes is one of my favourite villages in Provence, and somewhere I would happily return to on my fourth trip to this region.

Unlike the clustered stone houses of Gordes, Ménerbes stretches along a narrow ridge overlooking vineyards and the Luberon countryside. Its position gives you views in several directions as you make your way through the village.

There’s a long artistic history here. Painters and writers have been drawn to Ménerbes for decades, and Peter Mayle helped introduce it to a wider audience through his book A Year in Provence.

As you walk through its stone streets, you’ll find small galleries, historic buildings and beautiful views across the valley. I enjoyed stopping at the galleries and browsing local products, including honey and truffles.

But what stands out most in my memory is an evening at the Maison de la Truffe et du Vin du Luberon.

Set within a historic building overlooking the valley, it has a beautiful garden terrace with panoramic views. We timed our visit for sunset, and it became one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Provence. The food, service and setting were exceptional. Sitting there as the sun went down over the Luberon was enough to make me want to return to Ménerbes.

• My recommendation: Ménerbes is one of my top three villages for a first visit, but it’s also one of only two villages on this list where I would return to and perhaps consider staying as my base. I prefer its atmosphere and setting to the busier Gordes.
• Market day: Thursday morning, seasonally from spring to autumn.
• Don’t miss: The views from the village’s ridge and the Maison de la Truffe et du Vin du Luberon.
• Combine your visit with: Lacoste, another historic hilltop village, or nearby Gordes.

4. Lourmarin – My Personal Favourite

Lourmarin is my favourite village in Provence, although it’s not necessarily the first one I’d recommend to someone visiting the region for the first time with limited time.

What I love most is the combination of its market, independent shops, restaurants and beautiful streets. It’s a village where I enjoyed spending time lingering on a terrace for hours.

Lourmarin is also different from many of the other villages on this list. Instead of occupying a steep hilltop, it sits at the foot of the Luberon hills, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.

Its Renaissance château is one of its most recognizable landmarks. We admired it from outside and walked through its interesting cactus gardens before spending most of our time exploring the village itself.

The streets are lined with boutiques, galleries, cafés and restaurants. Small fountains and shaded squares appear as you wander, and there’s plenty to interest anyone who enjoys browsing shops and finding somewhere good to eat.

The Friday morning market is another reason I love Lourmarin. It’s one of the better markets in the Luberon, with stalls selling local produce, food, clothing and handicrafts. I found it had more artisan stalls than other markets we visited that week. I would happily plan a return visit around it.

And if visiting local markets is part of what draws you to Provence, I would also recommend L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where the Thursday produce market and famous Sunday market, with its antiques and brocante stalls, are among my favourites in the region.

For me, Lourmarin offers a more complete village experience than some of the smaller hilltop destinations. There’s enough shopping, dining and everyday activity to keep me interested well beyond a quick sightseeing visit.

• My recommendation: If I were choosing a village as a base, Lourmarin would be at the top of my list. It’s especially appealing for travellers who enjoy restaurants, shopping and markets.
• Market day: Friday morning, year-round.
• Don’t miss: The village streets, independent shops and Renaissance château.
• Combine your visit with: Ansouis and Cucuron for a day exploring the southern Luberon.

5. Ansouis – A Historic Village Built Around Its Château

Ansouis sits on the southern side of the Luberon, its honey-coloured stone houses climbing toward the château that dominates the village.

Ansouis feels like a forgotten place; it’s smaller than Gordes or Lourmarin, and its appeal is more about its well-preserved historic centre.

I enjoyed wandering the narrow lanes, passing stone houses decorated with flowers and stopping to look at the small artisan shops selling pottery, glasswork and local crafts.

At the top of the village stands the Château d’Ansouis, which has watched over the surrounding vineyards and countryside for centuries. We admired it from outside, but guided visits are available for anyone interested in exploring its historic interiors.

The village also has the Romanesque Church of Saint-Martin and remains of its medieval fortifications.

Wine enthusiasts may also want to visit the Musée des Arts et Métiers du Vin at Château Turcan, just outside the village, where the exhibits focus on the history and tools of winemaking.

Ansouis is a pleasant place to explore, but I wouldn’t allow it the same amount of time as Gordes, Roussillon or Ménerbes unless you plan to visit the château or wine museum.

• My recommendation: Ansouis is worth including if you’re already exploring the southern Luberon, particularly alongside Lourmarin and Cucuron. I enjoyed visiting, but I wouldn’t make a special return trip just for Ansouis.
• Market day: Sunday morning, at the foot of the village.
• Don’t miss: The château and historic village streets.
• Combine your visit with: Cucuron and Lourmarin.

6. Séguret – A Village in Provence’s Wine Country

Séguret is quite different from the villages of the Luberon. It sits near the Dentelles de Montmirail, surrounded by the vineyards of the southern Rhône Valley.

Its setting is one of the main reasons to visit. From the village, there are views across the vineyards and surrounding countryside, with the distinctive limestone peaks of the Dentelles nearby.

Inside the historic centre, narrow cobbled streets pass through old stone archways and alongside fountains and houses covered in climbing vines.

Look for the Mascarons fountain and the old village gates, reminders of Séguret’s medieval past. The area around Place des Arceaux, shaded by plane trees, is another worthwhile stop.

What I remember most about Séguret is arriving in the late afternoon, just before dusk. The sun was dropping over the vineyards, and the village was particularly beautiful at that time of day.

This is Côtes du Rhône wine country, so I would recommend combining Séguret with a visit to a nearby winery or wine village rather than making a separate trip solely to see its historic centre.

• My recommendation: Séguret is a worthwhile stop for travellers interested in the vineyards and villages around the Dentelles de Montmirail. I wouldn’t prioritize it over the main Luberon villages on a first trip, but it fits naturally into a day exploring this part of Provence.
• Market day: A small seasonal Thursday evening market is held during the warmer months.
• Don’t miss: The historic lanes, views over the vineyards and the area around Place des Arceaux.
• Combine your visit with: Gigondas, particularly if you enjoy Côtes du Rhône wines.

7. Venasque – A Village Near Mont Ventoux

Venasque sits on a rocky spur overlooking cherry orchards, olive groves and the countryside near Mont Ventoux.

It’s one of the smaller villages on this list, with a compact historic centre and views over the surrounding landscape.

The village has preserved sections of its old fortifications, including three towers, along with narrow stone streets and the Church of Notre-Dame.

The most interesting place to visit is its ancient baptistery, considered one of the oldest religious buildings in France.

When we visited, we had to go to the tourist office to arrange access, and someone escorted us inside. That small experience made the visit feel special, and it’s what I remember most about Venasque. Access arrangements have since changed, so check the current visiting information if you want to see the interior.

Although Venasque is attractive, I found it very small and removed from the other places we were exploring. Unless you are already wanting to visit the nearby Mont Ventoux, I wouldn’t recommend you make a special trip here to check it off your list.

That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth seeing, but I think it’s important to consider where it falls in your wider Provence itinerary.

• My recommendation: Of these seven villages, Venasque would be the lowest on my priority list for a first visit. If you’re already planning to explore Mont Ventoux and the surrounding area, it’s worth stopping. Otherwise, I would devote the time to other more centrally located villages.
• Market day: There isn’t a regular weekly village market I would plan a visit around.
• Don’t miss: The ancient baptistery and views over the surrounding countryside.
• Combine your visit with: The Mont Ventoux area, particularly if you’re already exploring the villages and landscapes around the mountain.

Are the Most Beautiful Villages in France Always Worth Visiting?

One thing I’ve learned from exploring Provence is that a beautiful village isn’t necessarily one where you’ll want to spend several hours. Some are worth visiting for their spectacular setting, while others offer much more once you start exploring.

That’s why I wouldn’t plan a Provence itinerary around the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France designation alone. It recognizes a village’s heritage and setting, but it doesn’t tell you whether there’s enough to interest you once you arrive.

And some of my favourite places, such as Bonnieux, don’t carry the designation at all.

My advice is to look beyond the list. Consider what you actually enjoy doing when you visit a village, whether that’s exploring historic streets, browsing a market, enjoying a good restaurant or spending time in the surrounding countryside. However, for most slow travellers, this entire region will be a wonderful destination in France to explore.

If you’d like help deciding which Provence villages are worth including in your trip, my custom Europe itinerary planning service can help you make the most of your time.