History lovers will visit the villages of Lourmarin, Lacoste, Cabrières d’Avignon, Mérindol… with a different eye, by following the traces left by a religious minority which, in the 15th century settled in the Luberon : « The Vaudois ».
Around 1170, a rich merchant from Lyon, Valdes, better know under the name Pierre Valdo, decided to leave everything for a life of preaching and poverty, in conformity with the Gospel.
He had the New Testament translated into Provencal and his preaching was quickly forbidden.
The church considers Valdo and his disciples as dissidents.
Fleeing the persecution which struck starting in 1230, his followers scatter and settle notably in the Luberon.
The Vaudois movement would spread to the whole of Europe to reach its zenith in the 14th century.
Indefatigable workers, the Vaudois will start cultivating again land left fallow in the villages of the Luberon which were depopulated, notably because of the plague and of wars.
Beginning with the Synod of Chanforan in 1532, the Vaudois join with Protestantism and the Inquisition become harsher until the sadly famous “Arret de Merindol” in April 1545.
About twenty Luberon villages were destroyed by the fire and the sword of the soldiers of the Baron de Maynier d’Oppede, First President of the parliament of Aix en Provence and the Pope’s mercenaries.
If you want to hike in the Luberon following this theme, the road of the Vaudois goes by the southern flank of the Luberon, the villages of Mérindol, Lourmarin, Cabrières d’Aigues, La Motte d’Aigues, Saint-Martin-de-la-Brasque, Peypin d’Aigues, Vaugines.
Then also on the north side of the Luberon Cabrières d’Avignon, Gordes, Goult, Joucas, Murs, Lacoste… These villages also have a Vaudois history.
Many of today’s Protestants in the Luberon, originally from this range, have Vaudois ancestors.
Merindol is the symbolic village of this historic road.
The Vaudois study center “La Muse” in the upper old village is the guardian of this memory, with archives that people from all over Europe come to consult, historians or descendants of the Luberon Vaudois, seeking out their past.
A memorial, accessible by a little path thirty minutes from la Muse, overlooks the ruins of the Vaudois village, totally destroyed in 1545 and never rebuilt.
In Lourmarin, one must visit the castle which to a large extent was built by the Vaudois and where they sought in vain refuge during the 1545 assault.
The Merindol oil mill is located in the former Vaudois temple of the village, first temple authorized in Provence and built in 1563. The millers have a Vaudois origin.
IN Cabrieres d’Aigues, the Domaine des Vaudois is a vineyard kept by a descendant of the Vaudois.
We invite you to contact our agency Plaisirs & Maisons de Provence by clicking here, we can create a custom-made stay for a hike on the Vaudois road with a specialized guide
For lodging we offer a selection of vacation rentals in Luberon, or a vacation rental in Provence by clicking here.
