The Village Of Gordes: A Tourist Gem In Vaucluse.
The village of Gordes, where many celebrities and artists have taken up residence, has multiple attractions. Its privileged location in the heart of Luberon, its exceptional charm and its architectural heritage have earned it a place among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. In February 2023, it ranked first in the ranking of the 23 most beautiful small towns in the world, established by the media Travel+Leisure.
A village perched in the heart of the Luberon.
The village of Gordes, located in the Vaucluse department, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, is one of the most visited villages in the Luberon Regional Natural Park.
This perched village is classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and boasts a rich architectural heritage including two abbeys, many ancient hamlets, several water and windmills, and several hundred bories (dry stone huts).
An exceptional historical and cultural heritage.
The village of Gordes is very rich in exceptional places and monuments. There are several testimonies of significant Roman occupation, including the passage of the Roman road (going from Carpentras to the Apt valley) in the "Cousins" district, as well as the Gallo-Roman remains in the Bouisses district and the Gallo-Roman substructures in the Gros hamlet.
The village is also overlooked, since the 11th century, by an impressive castle which now houses the Town Hall, the Tourist Office, and the Pol Mara Museum. This imposing building, rebuilt in 1525, has a Renaissance-style facade and features rooms decorated with several chimneys, one of which dates back to 1541.
Another monument to see is the Saint-Firmin church, built on the foundations of an old 13th-century church, and whose square tower probably dates back to the 14th century. This tower has the particularity of being flanked by an exterior staircase... that leads nowhere.
The village also houses an old hostel for pilgrims who were going to Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle: the Saint-Jacques almshouse dating from the 14th or 15th century.
What to see in Gordes?
From the square located south of the castle, several streets paved with stones (known as "calade" in Provençal) depart. By taking these alleys, you can discover here and there ancient doors, vaults, and skillfully restored walls made of flat stones. You can also admire a magnificent view of the valley and the Luberon mountain.
The village of Gordes has several exhibition galleries and offers regional products such as santons, fabrics, olive oil, and Provence honey. A Provençal market is also organized every Tuesday morning around the castle.
At the foot of the village, in the Fontaine Basse district, you can admire ancient washhouses, a mill, and several old chapels, one of which is carved into the rock.
What to visit in the surroundings of Gordes?
In the surroundings of the village of Gordes, don't miss the famous Sénanque Abbey, a superb 12th-century building nestled in a green setting, on the banks of the Sénancole.
This place, open to visitors, is still inhabited by Cistercian monks who produce honey, Lavender essence, and liqueur.
In the plain of Gordes, about one kilometer south of the village, you can see the remains of another abbey: the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Chaffret.
Another curiosity not to be missed is the village of bories located three kilometers west of the village proper. This hamlet consists of small round stone huts, once used by shepherds and hunters.
