La Saluade

Some rich and diverse natural environments…

The Luberon is a combination of rocky, open (low scrubland, dry grassland), agricultural (vineyards, orchards, lavender, market gardening, meadows, etc.), forest (over 50% of the Park’s surface area), wetland (rather rare and localised), etc. environments.

As a result, it is home to an exceptionally diverse range of flora and fauna.
The area is home to 1,800 plant species, 270 vertebrate animal species, including 135 bird species, and 17,000 insect species.
This is why it was included in the UNESCO Man And Biosphere programme (MAB) in 1997.

The ochre of Luberon

A unique site in France, the Luberon ochres, a listed and protected area, extend over ten communes and nearly 25 kilometres.

​These unique, colourful landscapes in the heart of Provence are the result of geological formations that have been subjected to erosion and industrial activity. The region’s tourist attractions include the Colorado Provençal in Rustrel, the Sentier des Ocres (Ochre Trail) and the Ecomuseum of Ochre in Roussillon, and the Bruoux Mines in Gargas.

More information about the ochre on the Pays d’Apt website.

A privileged site for culture (literature, cinema, visual arts)…

This setting has inspired (and continues to inspire) many artists:
– in painting: Cézanne, Van Gogh
– in literature: “Classics” such as Daudet, Giono, Mistral, Pagnol and more contemporary artists such as Mayle.
– in cinema: virtually all of Marcel Pagnol’s work has been adapted for the screen, as have many other French films.
– in music: a host of events take place in the summer, including the La Roque d’Anthéron piano festival

A distinctive architectural culture

From the dry-stone hut (the ‘borie’, symbol of the Luberon Park) to the aristocratic bastide, via dovecotes, rural chapels, fortified castles and peasant houses, the variety of buildings bears witness to the history and constraints of the natural environment imposed by the Luberon.

From Ansouis to Volx, discover the most typical towns and villages in the region: Ansouis and Lourmarin for their castles, Cucuron and its pond, Lauris and its terraced gardens…
Some have even been recognised as the ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’.

A land rich in scents and flavours…

The Luberon is home to a unique domestic biodiversity, made up of products from :

arboriculture: the Vaucluse is one of France’s leading orchards, with several varieties of apples, pears, cherries, grapes, figs, almonds, etc. These fruits can be made into jams or candied fruits (from the Aptés region).

market gardening: summer vegetables (tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, peppers) in particular

olive growing: natural or processed into oil, tapenade, tian, oulivado and cosmetics, the olive is one of the symbols of Provence

beekeeping: transformed into honey, royal jelly, flower pollen, propolis, wax and by-products, as well as biscuits, confectionery and drinks.

aromatic plants: in addition to the well-known lavender, the “real” Herbes de Provence include marjoram, thyme, savory, rosemary and basil.

truffle-growing: this favours uncultivated, south-facing land with limestone soils (as in Provence, particularly in the Luberon), planted with holm oaks and downy oaks. The typical variety in the region is Tuber melanosporum, which is harvested using the cavage technique. The production period runs from December to March.

Wine-growing *: the ‘Luberon’ AOC comes in 3 colours (red, rosé and white) and mainly 4 grape varieties (grenache and syrah for reds and rosés, clairette blanche and grenache blanc for whites). Find out more about Les vins du Luberon.
As well as the well-known ‘Pastis’, the region has other aperitifs to discover, all based on plants or fruit (Rinquinquin, Noix de St Jean, Orange Colombo, Absente, Gentiane de Lure…).

More information about the Luberon on hisTourism Offices website.

(*) Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health.