Maison Figue

In the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southern France, close to the Vaucluse border, Maison Figue enjoys a pretty setting near a Provençal village. Surrounded by a handful of neighbouring houses, it’s around a 15-minute drive from Cavaillon making this villa an ideal location for visiting both Les Alpilles and Luberon regions of Provence.

Soak up the charm of the old part of the village with characterful houses and a picturesque church, then walk up to the impressive Église Notre-Dame-de-Beauregard. The village is home to a small handful of places to eat as well as a large supermarket on the outskirts. A market usually takes place on a Wednesday morning.

The village’s proximity to the A7, near the banks of the Durance, means the highlights of Provence are within easy reach, with Avignon just over half an hour away by car.

Visit its bustling markets and UNESCO World Heritage sites before enjoying a meal in one of the city’s many excellent restaurants. Even closer, Cavaillon (8km) has a fascinating history as well as an authentic market – look out for the melon festival taking place in early July.  

Head into Les Alpilles Natural Park for idyllic villages, market towns and glorious landscapes of woodland, olive groves and hills. Start off in the gorgeous village of Eygalières (9km) where A-list celebrities have been known to own houses. Follow the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh in charming Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (19km) or admire one of France’s classified ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, Les Baux-de-Provence (28km).

Maussane-les-Alpilles (26km) is an attractive spot for lunch – be sure to try some of France’s finest olive oil produced from the endless groves of the Baux valley.
The landscapes of the Luberon also await with picture-perfect perched villages such as Ménerbes, Oppède le Vieux, Bonnieux and Gordes all reached within a 30 to 45-minute drive.

Cycle through the undulating scenery of hills, forests, orchards and vineyards or take long walks through iconic Provençal countryside. Look out for farmers markets – food lovers should try Coustellet’s market on a Sunday morning, just under half an hour away, or pick up some of the sweet delicacies of Apt (43km) at its famous Saturday morning market.

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (20km) is another gem of this region, famed for its picturesque waterways, antique shops and atmospheric Sunday morning brocante. A little further, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is a paradise for outdoor adventurists whether discovering wonderful walking trails, visiting its tree-top activity centre or canoeing along the Sorgue.

Read more about Luberon

With some of the most enchanting landscapes of Provence, the Luberon awaits with its idyllic perched villages, swathes of lavender, cherry trees, vineyards and dense forest.

Become captivated by the scenery as you potter around artistic Gordes with its atmospheric Tuesday morning market before heading to hilltop Ménerbes, the village that inspired Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’. Romantic Bonnieux enjoys the most glorious vistas, surrounded by a sea of vines and orchards, whilst red-hued Roussillon will take your breath away with its ochre landscapes and pine forests. They are all officially classified as ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ in France.

Yet there are so many hidden gems to explore as well. Discover the historic doorways, windmills and summer cherries of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, then head to Goult to embrace its Provençal charm with little shops and pavement cafes. Surrounded by fields of lavender, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt is another historic jewel of the Luberon, often overshadowed by the handsome and historic town of Apt.

To the south of the Luberon, follow Albert Camus’ footsteps in Lourmarin, sip coffee by the picturesque bassin lined with plane trees in Cucuron and soak up the history of Ansouis – all three villages have a fine reputation for their high-end dining with a choice of Michelin starred restaurants.

Indeed, across the region look out for restaurant terraces serving Provençal cuisine with superb vistas alongside characterful markets showcasing seasonal delights from the Luberon and beyond (olives, melons, strawberries, cherries, truffles, chestnuts, lavender products and more). Most villages host a lovely weekly market whilst the largest in the Luberon is held on a Saturday morning in Apt. Just on the edge of the Luberon, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is famed for its antique stores and Sunday morning brocante. Meanwhile, wine lovers should visit the vineyards and wineries of the region producing Luberon and Ventoux AOC wines.

The walking, hiking and cycling opportunities in the Luberon seem endless and you will also find horse-riding, rock-climbing and tree-top adventures as well as canoeing and kayaking along the Sorgue near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Come across hiking trails for all abilities passing vineyards and forest or venture through the hills and mountain gorges for spectacular scenery. Cycling is also extremely popular – as well as more challenging routes, we especially love the family-friendly Véloroute du Calavon, a paved voie verte following a former railway line near the Calavon river passing poppies, lavender and orchards so typical of the Luberon.