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Things to do in Gordes

Our most recommended things to do in Gordes

From Aix : Hilltop Villages in Luberon

1. From Aix : Hilltop Villages in Luberon

Visit the most beautiful medieval hilltop villages in the southern Luberon. Discover the charms of Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Roussillon, and Gordes on a 6-hour tour. Stop in Lourmarin for some free time, considered by many to be one of the most beautiful villages in France, and noted for its Renaissance castle.Take a photo in Bonnieux, a picture-perfect Provençal village that features a 12th-century church surrounded by ancient cedars. Continue to Roussillon via the Roman-era Pont Julien. Roussillon, perched atop an ochre-colored cliff, is a favorite of painters, and a magical place where combinations of oxides give the ochre an infinite variety of colors. Gordes offers an extraordinary vision of a stone village erected on a massive rock. Its fortress castle and church dominate the houses of the village, which were built with stones taken from the rock on which they sit.

From Avignon: Half-Day Lavender Tour of Luberon

2. From Avignon: Half-Day Lavender Tour of Luberon

Discover the lavender fields in full bloom in the villages of Luberon on this half-day tour from Avignon.  Enjoy a scenic and picturesque drive through the countryside, full of beautiful purple fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. Your guide will organize many stops in the countryside to take pictures of the fields. Stop in Roussillon for some free time to wander through this typical provençal village. Indulge yourself here with a scoop of lavender ice cream. Stop for panoramic photos from the hilltop village of Gordes, listed as one of "The Most Beautiful Villages in France". Finally, take a quick photo stop at the Cisterian Senanque Abbey, surrounded by lavender fields.

From Avignon: Best of Luberon Afternoon Day Trip by Van

3. From Avignon: Best of Luberon Afternoon Day Trip by Van

Spend an afternoon discovering the Luberon region's most charming villages. Depart from Avignon in an air-conditioned minibus and explore the picturesque villages of Lacoste, Ménerbes, Roussillon, and Gordes with a guide. From the meeting point in Avignon, set off to the village of Lacoste, once the residence of the Marquis de Sade, for a photo stop. Then, continue to Ménerbes, a village that became famous due to Peter Mayle's book A Year in Provence. Enjoy free time to discover the village. From April 1st, the visit to the village of Menerbes will be replaced by various photo stops of the must-see landscape of Luberon during the tour. On the way to Roussillon, take a look at the Roman bridge Pont Julien, one of the numerous Roman remains in Provence. Arrive in Roussillon and admire how the village is built at the top of an ochre cliff, as well as the ochre-washed façades of its buildings. Next, head toward Gordes, another village erected on the top of a cliff, and discover its fortified castle and church. See the village's typical houses, built from the rock on which they stand, before returning to Avignon.

From Avignon: Full-Day Best of Provence Tour

4. From Avignon: Full-Day Best of Provence Tour

Discover the breathtaking beauty of Provence during this guided full-day tour from Avignon. Enjoy the town of Fontaine de Vaucluse and stop in the lavender fields for photos. Go for a walk in St-Rémy-de-Provence and take in the views from Pont du Gard.  Be picked up from a meeting point in Avignon and board a comfortable and air-conditioned van for the scenic drive to Fontaine de Vaucluse. Take in the relaxing atmosphere in this town that is next to a spring at the foot of the Vaucluse Mountains. Admire the Provençal landscapes in of Luberon and have a chance to have a photo stop in lavender fields in summer (from June 15th to July 31st). Head over to Gordes which is listed as "one of the most beautiful villages in France." Walk in the red streets of Roussillon and marvel at panoramic views of the Alpilles in Baux-de-Provence. Take a stroll through the beautiful city of St-Rémy-de-Provence. Stop at the ancient Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard before returning to your meeting point. 

From Avignon: All Provence in one Day

5. From Avignon: All Provence in one Day

Immerse yourself in the picturesque region of Provence on a comprehensive day trip departing from Avignon. See all of the local highlights, including hilltop villages with colorful homes, historic monuments, and dramatic mountain landscapes. Begin your journey with a visit to the village of Roussillon and its colorful houses. On Thursdays, seize the opportunity to explore the local market. Enjoy a photo stop at the charming village of Gordes, then drive to Fontaine de Vaucluse. Take a walk up to the cave from which the River Sorgues emerges. Stop at the Les Antiques monument in Saint Rémy de Provence to snap some incredible pictures. Have some free time in Les Baux de Provence to explore the medieval fortress, located on a rocky spur in the Alpilles region. Continue to the Pont du Gard and visit the best-preserved aqueduct of the Roman period (from april 1rst, 2023 : the photo stop at les Antiques will be replaced by a stop in the city center of Saint Rémy). Return to Avignon in the middle of the day.

Aix-en-Provence: Luberon Market & Villages Day Tour

6. Aix-en-Provence: Luberon Market & Villages Day Tour

Travel from Aix-en-Provence to Luberon valley on a full-day tour of the area's charming and unique villages. Make your way to L'Isle sur la Sorgue, and wander through the open-air provincial market, and along the canals, taking time to stop in the various antique shops (on Sunday only). Enjoy the exceptional hilltop village of Gordes (it has a market on Tuesday) and stop to snap photos at a panoramic viewpoint. Afterward (from mid-June to mid-July only) stop for photos of the blooming lavender fields at Senanque Abbey. Drive to the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse before continuing to the colorful village of Roussillon (it has a market on Thursday) and its ochre cliffs. Make your way back through the picturesque and winding Combe of Lourmarin. Stop in Lourmarin, one of the most beautiful villages in France, famous for its Renaissance castle (market on friday). Here you can enjoy some free time before returning to Aix-en-Provence. The order of the stops can change according to market days.

From Avignon: Lavender Villages Day Trip

7. From Avignon: Lavender Villages Day Trip

Embark on a fascinating tour focused on exploring and appreciating lavenders, the emblematic plant of Provence. Take a day trip from Avignon and visit neighboring villages to explore open-air markets and scenic landscapes. Shop for local produce and crafts, and admire vast lavender fields. Depart from Avignon and head to a quaint village. Drive to a different village depending on the day of the week, to guarantee a visit to the open-air markets that take place in different towns throughout the week. Browse through the stalls presenting an array of fruits, vegetables, and handicrafts. Travel along picturesque roads through wild lavender fields to Sault or Roussillon. Enjoy free time to wander and explore lavender shops. Visit Gordes, a hilltop village in Luberon, built completely with dry stones. Stop for a photo at Senanque Abbey, surrounded by a wonderful lavender field. During the blooming season, a photo stop in sunflower fields will also be included in the itinerary.

From Aix-en-Provence: Sault Lavender and Gordes Day Trip

8. From Aix-en-Provence: Sault Lavender and Gordes Day Trip

Discover the fields of lavender in Pays de Sault on a full-day tour from Aix-en-Provence. Visit the hilltop villages of Saignon and Gordes, and marvel at the scenic views. After meeting your driver-guide at the meeting point in Aix-en-Provence, set off on your tour. Drive through the Luberon Natural Regional Park along the picturesque and winding Combe of Lourmarin. Reach the Plateau of Claparèdes, with its numerous "bories" (typical dry-stoned houses) among the lavender fields. Then, arrive in the hilltop village of Saignon to enjoy a breathtaking panorama. Next, drive to Pays de Sault, famous for its wide lavender fields in bloom. Stop in Sault, “the capital of lavender.” and enjoy some free time to explore and grab lunch (not included) on your own. In the afternoon, discover one of the most beautiful villages in France, Gordes, a village erected on a cliff. Admire the fortified castle and church that dominate the typical houses of the village, which were built with stones from the rock on which they stand. After, return to the tour's starting point. N.B : A la Française reserves the right to modify the programm according to the lavender's blooming stage

From Avignon: Discover Villages in Luberon

9. From Avignon: Discover Villages in Luberon

The Luberon is a small and perfectly preserved paradise in the heart of Provence. It is home to everything that one likes about Provence: dozens of small villages perched on hilltop. Roussillon, built on top of an ochre cliff (ochre is a natural pigment which can be found in the soil and which is used for the painting and decoration of the houses): stroll in the narrow streets of this colorfull village. (Market on Thursday) A 15min drive wiil bring you to Gordes (one of the most beautiful villages in France). A panoramic photo stop. Drive to Fontaine de Vaucluse : walk up to the cave from which the River Sorgues emerges.

From Aix en Provence: Luberon Villages Full-Day Guided Tour

10. From Aix en Provence: Luberon Villages Full-Day Guided Tour

Visit the village of Gordes This morning, head out to the village of Gordes, classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Facing the Luberon mountain range, the village is composed of small paved streets, known as calades, where it feels so nice to get lost in. To mostly appreciate this unique village, magic operates in spring and autumn as summer is very crowded by the number of visitors. Admire the Senanque Abbey After the visit of Gordes, it will be time to take you to the beautiful area of Senanque to admire the Cistercian abbey of Senanque where you will take time for a photo stop. In July, the Abbey is surrounded by magnificent Lavender fields. The Abbey is still home to a community of Cistercian monks that follow the rule of Saint Benedict. Cultivation of lavandin, of olive trees, production of honey, visits of the abbey, hospitality and monastic shop permit the monks to live but also to maintain and restore the monument. Free time for lunch After the visit, it will be time to stop in a local village for lunch. Don't hesitate to ask your guide for suggestions. Roussillon & The Ochre Trail Your tour from Aix en Provence continues with the visit of some of the most beautiful villages of the Luberon region. The villages of Lourmarin and Roussillon are next on your program. Roussillon is a typical hilltop village located just above a rock formation called the “Provencal Colorado“. Here, you will have some time for personal discovery that will allow you to stroll down the village or walk along the “ochre path", a 30 minute walk. The Ochre Trail Discover one of the main highlights of the village of Roussillon, the Ochre Trail, an easy walking trail that takes place in what used to be an Ochre Quarry. Extracted during the 18th century, the mining has now stopped but the location is quite stunning. The natural Ochre pigments mixed with the sand of the cliffs constitute a mineral landscape made up of Iron Oxide that creates colors ranging from bright yellow to violet. Before returning to Aix en Provence, finish with the visit of Lourmarin. Lourmarin The village of Lourmarin is quite unique. As you stroll the winding streets, the architecture in the village reveals its many riches: from the Renaissance to the Baroque period, from Classicism to the 19th century, the houses in Lourmarin highlight the incomparable know-how of those builders often little known to the general public. Located in a gorgeous setting that is surrounded by olive and almond trees, the village has attracted numerous artists and writers such Henri Bosco and Albert Camus. Again, enjoy some time in the village where options include the visit of its ancient castle. The village was the source of inspiration for Peter Mayle’s “A year in Provence”. After the visit, it will be time to return to Aix en Provence.

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What people are saying about Gordes

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 585 reviews

We saw so many sights in one day and somehow it didn't seem too rushed. The villages were beautiful. Lea, our guide, was a good driver and very friendly. She gave us a lot of information along the way. My only criticism of her would be that there were a couple of occasions where she would forget a few facts- but I understand that she is new to the tourism industry so that will improve. I'm also thankful that she said she forget, instead of just making stuff up. Everything considered I would 100% recommend this tour.

We think the tour is a great way to visit not only several picturesque and unique villages but also magnificent Pont du Gard in one day. Our tour guide, Frederic (spelling?), was very knowledgeable and passionate about his work, accommodating and kind. We don't think we'd have enjoyed it as much if it weren't for Frederic.

We had a marvellous day exploring these beautiful villages carved into the Luberon mountains. Expect breath-taking views, lovely churches, cafes and restaurants and some colourful geological landscapes. Greg drove us round (rather him than me) and conducted the tour with impressive knowledge and good humour.

The tour was amazing and our guide Natalie made the whole experience exceptional. The wine tasting in the morning and the village tours in the afternoon were incredible. I would definitely recommend this tour and our guide Natalie was the icing on the cake!

We had an amazing day!! The towns are so charming and our guide was the best! She gave us great information about the area and things to do in each town.