Travel Joural

The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence

We’ve visited many corners of Provence, but it’s the villages that capture our hearts most, each one offering a glimpse of life lived simply and beautifully.

August 4, 2025

Over the years, our journeys through Provence have taken us to hilltop villages and sun-drenched squares, hidden cafés, and market mornings filled with colour and chatter. But among all these memories, a few villages have left an especially lasting impression. These are the places we return to, each one with its own mood, its own soul, and its own story to tell. Below, we’ve gathered a handful of our absolute favourites.

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Lourmarin

Lourmarin is one of those places where everything feels just right; the light, the terraces, the galleries tucked behind ivy-covered doors. Located at the foot of the Luberon mountains, it’s a gentle, elegant village with golden stone façades and a château that watches over the vines and olive trees. You’ll find yourself wandering through quiet streets, coffee in hand, admiring window displays and the Friday morning market brimming with Provençal flavours. It’s also a place of quiet reflection, Albert Camus made it his home, and his presence is still felt in the air.

Goult

Less famous than its neighbours, and all the better for it, Goult has stolen our hearts quietly over the years. There’s a softness to life here, the sound of footsteps on old stone, the shadows of shutters opening in the morning. We love to walk to the windmill at the top of the village and take in the stunning views, then stop at Le Carillon for lunch or a coffee in the sun. We often recommend Goult to those seeking something a little more peaceful, a little more authentic and it never disappoints.

Gordes

There’s no denying it, Gordes is breathtaking. With its honey-hued stone houses cascading down a hillside and sweeping views over the valley, it’s no wonder this village has become an icon. But beyond the picture-perfect first impression, we love it most in the early morning or late evening, when the light softens and the day-trippers have gone. Be sure to wander past the château, stop for an apéritif, and, if time allows, visit the nearby Abbaye de Sénanque and its lavender fields, a sight you won’t forget.

Roussillon

Perched in the heart of the Luberon, Roussillon is one of Provence’s most iconic villages, instantly recognisable thanks to its striking ochre cliffs and warm-toned façades. The entire village seems bathed in colour, from soft golds to deep terracotta reds, creating a harmony with the surrounding landscape that feels almost surreal.

Listed among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, Roussillon charms visitors with its winding lanes, sun-drenched squares, and the natural beauty of the nearby Sentier des Ocres, a scenic trail through former ochre quarries that glows with rich, earthy tones.

Bonnieux

There’s something timeless about Bonnieux, with its tall cypress trees, winding staircases, and the grand church that watches over the village. From up here, you can see across the valley, all the way to Mont Ventoux on a clear day. Bonnieux is ideal for wandering, with charming boutiques and welcoming cafés at every turn. It’s peaceful without being sleepy, refined without being showy and always reminds us why we fell in love with the Luberon in the first place.

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