Gordes, Apt and Château of la Barben South of France (English)

Luberon National Park

Gordes

We started the day towards the Castle of La Barben, situated 20 km from Aix.

Castle of La Barben

The castle, with many centuries of existence, was once owned by a King (King René) and his guest house has hosted many important personalities of history. Currently keep as private property, but some rooms are open for guided tour by a "princess" for one hour, with a timetable, in English and French. There are some extra activities for children. The site also functions as a hotel. There is a zoo, paid partly in another location of the property. The castle has beautiful gardens, especially seen from above.

Castle of La Barben - Gardens

Being a particular property is not allowed to take photos inside the castle. The rooms visited, has curiosities, such as the evolution of toallete, the medieval kitchen and other parts.

Castle of La Barben

It's an interesting tour, especially with children, but with them must be a full day to enjoy all the local activities. After visiting the Castle we traveled to Gordes. Another beautiful village on top of a cliff, present since the Neolithic age. In the 11th century the village developed around the fortified castle overlooking the Luberon.

Castle

Arriving at the village we parked and headed on foot to the tourist center, took the map and had lunch overlooking the downtown.

Castle

We visited the castle, which is quite damaged because it was a fort, then a school for boys and currently operates as a museum with some art exhibitions.

Inside the castle

At the time of our visit there was a beautiful photo exhibition.

Photo exposed - Reflection

We visited a romantic church of the XII century, this church of Gordes had been dedicated to Our Lady. Rebuilt in the eighteenth century, was then dedicated for two centuries to his patron, Saint Firmin (Bishop of Uzes). Here you can see Clastros like a shell, one is dedicated to Saint-Jacques.

Church of Saint Firmin

Then walk through the small alleys up and down.

Around Gordes is Senanque Abbey, with its beautiful lavender fields.

Abadia de Senanque

A community of Cistercian monks. Founded in 1148, went through some changes of owners returning to the religious congregation in 1988. The monastery is currently inhabited by monks however allows Guided tours only in French, for 01 hours, with many daily schedules.

Abadia de Senanque

We made the visit even in French, to see the inside of the place. It was interesting !!

Abadia de Senanque - Inside and Outside

It was the best nougat (with lavender honey) I ate the whole trip, and I believe the best of my life !!!
Returning to Aix we passed Lioux, looks like a ghost town !! Immediately beneath an immense wall of stone! While we took some pictures appeared a couple of gentlemen in a very old building, which had an inscription on the entrance door: hotel de ville (city hall). Still do not know if they were ghosts !!!

Lioux

The historic center was already closing, we drive around, we were the crafts fair for a little shopping and quick snacks. What homemade cookies !!!

Entrance to the historic center of Apt

We saw a village hanging on a rock. It is logical that we were there.

Fountain in front of the houses

The small village high, soooo high, a rock is called Saignon. A few more laps, we went to some ruins, with wonderful views of the valley below.

Toward Aix passed a very narrow lane and we got Loumarin, another petit village. We went to the Château de Fontevert, which has a winery (vins du Luberon), but the time was already closed, however has interesting visitations during the day. We had dinner and headed to the hotel in Aix. After a day very beautiful but very tiring. Tomorrow we go to a few days in Nice, another step this wonderful trip.

Château de Fontevert

Apt tips we have not done for lack of time !!

Apt became a Roman colony and capital of one of the 19 colonies in "La Gaule Narbonnaise". Tradition also says that Julius Caesar stopped in Apt while returning from one of his campaigns in Spain,
Because of the raids that took place between the 6th century and in the year 1000, people went back to the mountains, in the Luberon and Vaucluse Hills, in order to defend himself.
Besides the lavender fields you can also:
Museum of Archaeology

The museum was built on the ruins of an ancient Roman theater, part of the Roman heritage of Apta Julia, along with the baths, cemeteries, public buildings, forum, temple, and farms.
Saint-Anne's Cathedral

The lower crypt is part of the Roman building is the original first century used as a place of worship. The upper crypt dates back to the 11th century and consists of a small ship (about 8 meters or 26 feet). On the walls are seven alcoves containing sarcophagi Christians. The altar consists of a pre-Roman table recorded placed on top of a Roman funerary stele with inscriptions on three sides.


Map with the way the day.

We list the sites that helped us organize our trip.

www.provenceweb.fr       
www.roussillon-provence.com
http://www.gordes-village.com/html/presentation2.html
www.chateaudelabarben.fr
www.senanque.fr
www.luberon-apt.fr
www.theluberon.com
www.fontvert.com
www.lourmarin.com