RWC: 10 reasons to visit the Luberon region in southern France
The rugby hasn’t turned out as planned for most Wallabies fans travelling through France at the moment, but fortunately it’s been hard to fault the hospitality of the host nation.
Rugby News, and some close friends, were lucky enough to be invited to spend a week in one of the hidden gems of southern France, the Luberon region.
Wedged in between Avignon and Marseille in the countryside of southern France, the Luberon is picturesque and really does have something for everyone, even if your national side does let you down at the start and end of your stay.
Here are 10 reasons why you should book a trip to the Luberon in the next year or two.
The countryside
Vineyards, castles, fortified villages, farm land, forests and natural springs. The Luberon has got it all and each corner you turn is equally as beautiful as the last.
In the mornings during September and October, the sun rises late and an orange glow lights up the countryside as you wake. At night, beautiful sunsets and ever-changing colours keep you entertained during an essential daily aperitif.
The villages
Unlike most other regions of France, the Luberon doesn’t really have a major centre. It’s filled with dozens of beautiful small villages and towns all with their own unique charm and appeal.
From Gordes, a fortified village that overlooks the countryside in every direction, to Lourmarin, a picturesque market town that sits at the foot of a castle, you could spend weeks exploring more than 30 villages across the region and still want to explore more.
The villas and chateaus
The Luberon is stacked with stunning and surprisingly affordable villas and chateaus that act as the perfect base for the trip of a lifetime.
While a hotel room in the major cities will cost you an arm and a leg, a stunning chateau in the Luberon can be split between families or groups of friends from as little as $100-150 per person per night.
The food
The Luberon is stacked with all kinds of quality dining experiences.
From Michelin star restaurants like The Clover, Table de Xavier Mathieu, La Fenière and La petite maison de Cucuron to more laid back local restaurants who offer a Plat du Jour, a two or three course lunch special, for somewhere between €10 and €25.
For a special occasion, you can also invite a chef to your accommodation to cook a private meal for you, your friends and your family and again, the cost is far more reasonable than you’d expect.
The wine
Better known for its white and red wine, rather than rose like in surrounding regions, Luberon has a plethora of Domaines to explore and enjoy.
Syrah, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault are typically used in reds, while Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Vermentino, Bourboulenc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Ugni Blanc and Viognier are used to make whites.
Wine tours are also a little different in the Luberon compared to Australia. Rather than just a tasting, guests can spend the morning walking through the vineyards with a local winemaker, then tour the processing facility before tasting a range of wines over a delicious lunch. Check out our friends at Auretto if you get a chance. It’s a fantastic day out and a very different experience to a traditional Australian wine tasting.
Hiking and cycling
The Luberon is stacked with fantastic hiking and cycling tracks that cater to all fitness levels. As the countryside is so varied, no walking or cycling track is the same and the roads, courtesy of several visits by le Tour over the years, are top notch.
The weather
Like most of Europe, July in the Luberon is now quite hot. But the weather cools through August and by September to late October, the days are beautifully dry and warm.
Mornings and evenings are crisp but by 10am, you’ll happily be sitting by your pool with a drink in hand and we doubt you’ll need to move till sunset.
The markets
Don’t roll your eyes just yet…
The rotisserie chicken served at markets around the Luberon is so good, you’ll happily follow your significant other back for another few hours of aimless wandering.
But in all seriousness, the Luberon does markets extremely well.
On Sundays, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue hosts the biggest markets of the region where you can buy everything from fresh produce, to an antique shooting rifle and everything in between.
Smaller markets are held in different villages seven days of the week and are all well worth checking out, especially for the chicken.
Golf
The Luberon has a number of seriously good golf courses. We hacked our way through 18 at Golf de Luberon, then enjoyed a fantastic lunch back at the clubhouse and plenty of drinks with the locals.
Note: It missed!
Golf in France seems to be a full day affair, so it may be best to organise a lift home.
The history
The locals of the Luberon, both men and women of all ages, played key roles in the French Resistance of German occupation during WW2 and there are reminders of the secret battle to liberate France right across the region.
There is also a fantastic museum dedicated to the Resistance in Fontaine de Vaucluse and a wonderful and informative walking track near Gordes.