The Luberon Valley - Beautiful and Historic

After spending any amount of time here, you’ll understand why painters such as Cezanne, Monet, Van Gogh and others from all over France flocked to the area. The clear light and the intensity of colors are truly inspirational and dramatic."Plen aire " was their mantra This national park lies within the boundaries of the Vaucluse, a “departement” in the province of Provence. The Luberon is the “heart” of Provence and distinct from the more famous Cote d’Azur.

It is defined by the Durance River on the south and the range of mountains known as the Petit Luberon in the west which grows into the Grand Luberon range to the east. The valley is bound on the north by the Vaucluse mountains.The Luberon Valley is unmistakable for its beauty, culture and active inhabitants. Several films have been shot here including the recent “A Good Year,” and “The Swimming Pool.” The Mas nestles between the two , Petite and Grand at 500 m.

A brief history:

The Luberon has been occupied since prehistoric times with vestiges from 2000 BC to be seen in the museums of Apt. At the end of the Bronze Age the Ligurians and Celts occupied fortified sites and "oppidum" which were the origin of medieval castles.

At the end of the 2nd century BC the Romans came and constructed marvels some of which remain such as the not to be missed Pont Julien near Bonnieux.( shown in the gallery ) The Mas itself has a Roman Bassin in the main courtyard and a number of old Roman or ancient terraces across from the house and now rather overgrown.

The Middle Ages were marked by Christianization and the construction of churches, monasteries, convents and priories. Around 1430 a difficult period begin which included plague and religious wars which decimated the area.and included Bonnieux vs La Coste strife.

After World War II,, many artists and writers were drawn to the area by its beauty and formed the beginning of an international community which continues to grow today There is a rich cultural life with major music and drama festivals held each summer, and there is a theatre season in winter in Avignon. The markets of the Luberon: are a daily feature and each village has its own special day.

Browsing these open air markets of the Luberon are a delight to the senses. Of the local ones, those worth visiting include the smaller markets at Bonnieux and Lourmarin, both on Friday, the essential Apt market on Saturday, and the Coustellet and Isle Sur La Sorgue markets on Sunday.