The Oppede-Menerbes Area is one of the best

You will love this area between, let’s say Maubec and Bonnieux. Last Spring I went direct to Oppede (don’t be confused : Almost all villages in Luberon have a more modern neighbor with the same name. The reason is the villages originally were on the hills to have a natural protection with walls etc… As the risk decreased, people started to live in the valley. So there are 2 Maubecs, 2 Oppede and so on.

The begining of the tour is at Maubec, the old village. You must absolutely go first to the camping ( first turnabout at Robion and left). There you have  a scenery with two “campaniles” in a very quiet environment. You will see a superb estate and when you are in front of the campanile you look back at the mountain. You go down, you will see “La Bergerie ” one of our favorite restaurants on the left, and then you follow the Bike Road (special signs). Far away, you will see the Oppede Castle and the chapelle. From there, you take one of the small roads and you get to park in Oppede. There is no alternative. You pay but you are right where you have to be? And the park area looks secure. So then you visit 1- The Sainte Ceceile gardens and you go uphill to the Chapelle. This is very worhwile and you have a very good view.

After that, you go down through a hamlet named Les Minguets. There is a small store on the left ” Les Atrtisanales de Provence”. They sell in particular exquisite jams and other local products. Then YOU TRY TO GET LOST … in the direction of Menerbes. And you will make a lot of discoveries. If you follow my map anyway, you will arrive in Menerbes with the best view. Normally, you won’t have  enough time to visit Menerbes which is a bit rude. Best is to go to Abbaye St Hilaire and Lacoste without wasting too  much time. Abbaye Saint Hilaire is real rewarding. They explain you well the story. In Lacoste it is important to find the way to go just behind the castle. There is the best view and often Pierre  Cardin is displaying modern scultures. You will see Bonnieux in front of you. Bonnieux is an austere place and if you have little time don’t try to visit. As it is a 2-level village you can get exhausted very fast. And it is mostly North-oriented so in the shade, and cold.

All small roads below Lacoste are very good. In fact during this trip, you will meet very few tourists ! They all are in Gordes or Roussillon. All this tour can take 2-4 hours, depending on the stops. If you do it in the morning, what we recommend because of the light, you must have a reservation for a restaurant for a quick lunch. Good options would be Café de la Poste in Goult or Caf&é de la Gare in Bonnieux (it is not exactly in Bonnieux but onthe road to D900, almost in fronty of the Cave Vinicole de Bonnieux).

An interesting spot near-by is the Pont Romain (Roman Bridge)..

In the afternoon, a good idea is to head to Roussillon.  In fact there is also several lunch possibilities over there. One is Les Glycines right in the center. You have a very nice terrace and a view on the ochres.