France / Provence / Gordes (Luberon)Gordes (Luberon)
Hilltop Villages and the Lavender of Sénanque
A stone village stacked on a hill in the Luberon, with the Abbey of Sénanque in a valley below, framed by lavender in late June and July. Roussillon's ochre cliffs, Lourmarin, Bonnieux and the Sunday antiques market at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue are short drives away. Buses are few: hire a car in Avignon (45 minutes) or join a tour. The famous plateau of lavender, Valensole, is about 1 h 30 further east.
Highlights
- Gordes at sunset from the viewpoint
- Sénanque Abbey in lavender
- Roussillon's ochre trail
- Village des Bories
- L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue antiques market
- Luberon village markets
- Valensole lavender plateau
Things to do
- Gordes village and the viewpointEvening · 1h 30m
- Sénanque Abbey and the lavender fieldMorning · 2h
- Roussillon ochre trailAfternoon · 2h
- Luberon village drive: Bonnieux, LourmarinAfternoon · 4h
- Valensole lavender day trip (late June – July)Jun–JulMorning · 6h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: May – October; late June – mid July for lavender
Heads up
Lavender in Bloom
The lavender around Sénanque Abbey, in the Luberon and on the Valensole plateau flowers from late June to mid-July, best in the first half of July. Harvesting starts in mid-July, so late-July fields may already be cut. Arrive at the fields early in the morning, before the tour coaches and the heat.
Heads up
Lavender Mostly Harvested
By August most lavender fields have been cut; a few late fields at higher altitude still flower. The villages and markets are still at their liveliest, and hot.