Gordes and the Luberon day trip from Avignon or Aix-en-Provence
A day trip to Gordes and the Luberon from Avignon or Aix-en-Provence: Sénanque Abbey in its valley, Gordes on its hill round the Renaissance castle, the dry-stone Village des Bories, then the red village of Roussillon and its Sentier des Ocres. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Gordes and the Luberon in 1 day
Day 1
Sénanque Abbey
Twelfth-century Cistercian abbey in a narrow valley, still home to monks, with its rows of lavender in front in early summer.
Gordes village and castle
Stone village piled on a hill around its Renaissance castle, with steep lanes and a classic view of it from the road below.
Village des Bories
Restored hamlet of dry-stone huts on the plateau below Gordes, built and used by farmers, with a signed walk through it.
Historic centre of Roussillon
Hilltop village painted in every shade of ochre, from yellow to deep red, with cafés and views over the cliffs.
Sentier des Ocres
Short walk through old ochre quarries among red and orange cliffs and pines, just below Roussillon; it closes for part of winter.
Getting there
A car is needed. Gordes is about 45 minutes from Avignon and about an hour from Aix-en-Provence, and the villages are 10-20 minutes apart by road. Tours from Avignon also visit the area.
Staying in Avignon or Aix-en-Provence? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Gordes and the Luberon
Lavender flowers from about mid-June to late July, the busiest time, when the villages are crowded. May, June and September are warm and calmer. Summer is hot, and the mistral wind can blow hard at any time of year.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Gordes and the Luberon on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Gordes and the Luberon on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Gordes and the Luberon on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for France from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Gordes and the Luberon
- A car is needed; parking in Gordes and Roussillon is paid and fills early in summer.
- The lavender in front of Sénanque Abbey usually flowers from about mid-June to late July; outside that time the fields are green.
- Visits inside Sénanque are guided and need booking; the monks live there, so dress modestly and keep quiet.
- Wear shoes you don't mind staining on the Sentier des Ocres; the red dust gets everywhere.
- Go to a village market: Gordes has one on Tuesday mornings and Apt holds the big Luberon market on Saturday mornings.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Gordes village and castle: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Roussillon: Hawobo at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
- Sentier des Ocres: Hawobo at German Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 2.0 de
- Sénanque Abbey: Chris Down, CC BY 4.0
- Village des Bories: Wolf Meusel, Public domain
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
