The Luberon is not a single region, it is a state of mind. Between Avignon and Apt, the hills, the perched villages and the lavender fields concentrate some of the most beautiful classified villages in France. For a day of escape from Marseille, it is one of the destinations I offer most often. Here is how I organise it.
My favourite itinerary: one day, four villages
A successful Luberon day is about balance. Too many villages and you string them together without really seeing anything. Too few and you come home frustrated. Here is the sequence I have refined over the seasons:
Stage 1, Gordes (morning)
We leave Marseille early in the morning to reach Gordes mid-morning. The first sight of Gordes: this medieval village clinging to a limestone spur, dominated by its Renaissance château, is the one you remember. My favourite stop: the viewpoint overlooking the village from the D15, just before going down. This is where some of the most famous photos of Provence come from.
The village itself is visited on foot. Cobbled lanes, vaults, little squares, craftspeople's workshops. A coffee on the church square, where you sit and watch time go by.
Stage 2, Sénanque Abbey (late morning)
Near Gordes, the Cistercian abbey of Sénanque is another visual shock. Founded in 1148, it is still inhabited by a community of monks. But it is above all for its setting that people stop: between late June and mid-July, the lavender fields in front of the abbey are in full bloom, the image you keep in your memory.
The abbey can be visited freely in the courtyard and the shop, or on a guided tour for the monastic interior.
Stage 3, Roussillon and the Ochre Trail (early afternoon)
A quick lunch in Roussillon (pleasant terraces on the village square) or a picnic with products bought in Gordes. Then we take on the Ochre Trail, a landscaped walk through the village's former ochre quarries. A walk depending on the chosen circuit, in a landscape that looks straight out of Arizona, red, yellow, orange cliffs sculpted by erosion.
Roussillon has this unique detail: its houses are painted with ochre extracted on site. The whole village vibrates in warm tones that change with the light.
Stage 4, Les Baux-de-Provence (late afternoon)
We then head back down to the Alpilles to finish at Les Baux-de-Provence. The village perched on its rocky spur, the ruined citadel overlooking the Crau plain, and above all the Carrières des Lumières just below, an immersive exhibition of monumental projections in former limestone quarries (to be booked in advance).
Return to Marseille in the late afternoon via the A7.
Why a private taxi for this kind of day
The Luberon by public transport is a near-impossible mission, no trains, rare buses, connections that do not link up. By private car it is doable but exhausting: driving on narrow country roads, complicated parking in every village, tiredness building from one car park to the next.
With a private driver, you focus on the essentials: looking, walking, smelling, having lunch. No GPS to programme, no space to look for, no stress about the return.
Available options
- Full day (8-10h, departing Marseille): quote depending on vehicle and number of people
- Half day Gordes + Sénanque + Roussillon
- Package with lunch included: possible through partnerships with restaurants in Roussillon, Bonnieux or Ménerbes
- Van up to 8 passengers ideal for families
To estimate your ride from your starting point, use our private transport page, which calculates the fare in real time based on your address and chosen time.
Recommended seasons
The Luberon can be visited all year round, but each season has its appeal:
- Mid-June to mid-July: lavender in bloom, the great classic (book early, it is in high demand)
- September: grape harvest, perfect temperatures, crowds have eased
- April-May: nature waking up, wildflowers, few tourists
- October: autumn colours on the scrubland, magnificent light
For a Luberon day by private taxi from Marseille, Aix or Avignon: 06 98 46 63 34 or instant online quote.
