This week, we invite you to discover the little Provencal village of Bonnieux.
It is located on the north side of the Luberon, between Apt and Ménerbes.
It is one of the most characteristic villages of this range. Going from the agricultural plain to the cedar forest of the mountain ridge of the Luberon, its beauty is impressive with its high and old houses which roll themselves around successive rows of medieval ramparts.
You park at the foot of the first church, located at the bottom of the village, for a visit on foot on steep streets which lead from ramparts gates with covered passages to immense ancient stairs.
You have to earn your discovery of Bonnieux. You have to climb, go past the beautiful house which is city hall to catch your breath on a terrace offering a beautiful view and start again, climb the last steps leading to the Romanesque church esplanade, protected by immense Lebanese cedars more than a century old.
Going down a steep street, close to the Tourism Office, an antiques shop calls for another stop. 12th century vaulted rooms contain a much older floor and in a small room the owner, passionate son of the area, shares with you scenes of southern life thanks to dozens of santons and a splendid decor reconstituting the various aspects of Provence, of Camargue and of the olive groves of the Alpilles and of the Luberon.
It is now necessary to take the car and to go toward Lourmarin to discover this forest inhabited by birds and also by insects of all kinds, enormous ants hide in cut tree trunks, grasshoppers and cicadas...
In the spring, daffodils, orchids, flowers or thyme and rosemary bring many colors. We are in one of the most protected spaces of the Regional Natural Park, a Natura 2000 space, biosphere reserve. This is why there is a parking at the edge of this cedar forest .. No vehicle with engine is allowed.
Bicycles, however, can continue to use this ridge road which goes to Cheval-Blanc and hikers can follow the marked trail so they can discover the valley and its guarrigue as well as 150 year old majestic cedars.
On the road to the forest, take the time to admire the surprising view on the two sides of the Luberon: on one side the ochers of Roussillon, the Monts de Vaucluse and the Mont Ventoux, and on the other, Sainte Victoire and the Aix-en-Provence plain.
The novel “Hotel Pastis” by Peter Mayle takes place in Bonnieux. The author changed the name of Bonnieux for Brassière-les 2 églises: initial B for Bonnieux and 2 churches since this village is so stretched in height that two churches had been built: one at the foot of the village and the other at the top.
Plaisirs et Maisons de Provence suggests you stay in one of its vacation rentals to discover Bonnieux
If you want to discover this beautiful Provençal village, we invite you to contact us by clicking on this link.
