11°
Ansouis vineyards © Hocquel

Vineyards of the Luberon

Between castles and orchards

1 day

Distance :
21 Km

La Tour d’Aigues

Ansouis

The wines of the Luberon acquired AOC status in 1988 on a “terroir” (today the Luberon Regional Nature Park) in which wine-growing history dates back to Antiquity. Today, fruity or spicy reds, rosés with red or exotic fruit flavours and toasty whites with hints of grapefruit delight the taste buds.

Start

Office de Tourisme de la Tour d’Aigues
Le Château
BP 16
84240 LA TOUR-D’AIGUES

5.549974

43.726409

Step 1: La Tour d’Aigues, its castle and cellar / 9 – 11:30 am

La Tour d’Aigues is the first step in our itinerary of great places to go and discover the vineyards of the southern Luberon.
It’s worth going out of your way to see its heritage and visit la cave de Marrenon (wine cellar)

With its winding lanes decorated with flowers, the centre of the village of La Tour d’Aigues charms visitors who let themselves be guided by their instincts to discover a new place.
The castle terraces perched at the top of the village boast beautiful panoramas over the vineyards which spread out beneath.
At the bottom of the village, la cave de Marrenon welcomes visitors to come and discover their local wines and subtle flavours.

Take note

  • Picnic in the Marrenon vineyards on Thursdays in July and August
  • Visit the castle between April and September open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 to 6 pm

Step 2: Lunch break in Cucuron / 12:30 – 2 pm

Head towards Cucuron, passing through landscapes filled with vineyards, for a lunch break in this charming village with an authentic Provençal appearance.

Make a reservation at La Petite Maison de Cucuron – here, the very well-stocked wine list is categorised based on the dominant flavours of the wines. You will find a lovely selection of AOC Luberon wines to delight your taste buds – which will then be treated to the seasonal menus made from local produce.
And to feast your eyes, admire the pond lined with plane trees which extend to the village square.

Take note

  • Price: menu from €90
  • On sunny days, eat under the shade of the plane trees next to the pond

Step 3: Wine museum / 3-5 pm

Situated in Château Turcan, the Museum of Arts and Wine offers an immersive journey from vine to glass

A fan of the objects and machinery which populated the countryside of days gone by? Then a tour of the Musée des Arts et des Métiers du Vin (Museum of Arts and Wine) is just for you – more than 3,000 objects used in the wine industry fill this lovely space of 1300 m², covering oenology, cultivation, grape harvest, glassware, cooperage etc.
Each object bears witness in its own way to the hard work and passion of those who cultivated the vines in the southern Luberon.

Take note

  • Open in July and August from 10 am to 7 pm
  • From September to June 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 to 6:30 pm, every day except Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays

Step 4: Ansouis

How could you not make a stop at Ansouis when you’re in the area?
With its castle and terraced garden, this village, numbering among the ‘Plus Beaux Villages de France’ (Most Beautiful Villages of France), certainly attracts attention when passing below on the D37.

From its rocky peak, the castle overlooks the Aigues valley.
A trip to see the ‘jardin conservatoire des plantes tinctoriales’ (conservatory garden of dye plants) is well worth a detour. And what’s more, the view of the vineyards is also stunning.
Continue your visit on the village’s roads. Their medieval appearances and authenticity will contribute to making this one of the best highlights of your trip!