Villa Pamplemousse and Villa Grenade

Below the perched village of Oppède le Vieux, Villa Pamplemousse and Villa Grenade are located within a large wine-estate owned by a Hollywood filmmaker in the Luberon region of Provence. If arriving by aeroplane the three closest airports are Avignon (29km), Marseille (68km) and Nîmes (80km) whilst Avignon’s TGV train station is 42km away with arrivals from Paris Gare de Lyon and Lille.

Within the approximately 30-hectare wine estate the family follow traditional Provençal winegrowing methods whilst respecting the estate’s environment and producing the wine in their new modern cellar. A one-hour ‘classic’ tour and private tasting of the full range of the estate’s wines is included in your villa rental. You can also visit the estate’s shop, just a short walk away, which is open daily from June to September (or five days a week at other times of year).  

It’s around a 1.5km walk along local country roads (no pavement) or a very short drive to the small local village with its restaurants, a grocery store and boulangerie. Coustellet (6.5km) is home to a couple of good-sized supermarkets and some lovely shops as well as a Farmer’s market on a Sunday morning. Both the Musée de l'Huile d'Olive (3.5km) and the the Lavender Museum (6.5km) are also within easy reach.

Take time to drive up to the exquisite perched village of Oppède le Vieux (4km) where you can step back in time as you potter around its medieval heart and appreciate the incredible views around you. Enjoy walks and hikes in and around the village and admire the vistas from Église Notre-Dame Dalidon.

Passing orchards, vineyards, farmland and forests, explore other gorgeous villages of the Luberon. Hilltop Ménerbes (3.5km) is idyllic with its restaurants, weekly market and characterful lanes – the village inspired Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’. Gordes (12km) attracts artists thanks to its beautiful light and hosts a charming Tuesday morning market whilst visitors are enchanted by the beauty of red-hued Roussillon and its surrounding ochre-coloured landscapes. The Saturday morning market in the handsome town of Apt (22km) is another great attraction of the Luberon – regional specialities include candied fruit, lavender products, cherries, Cavaillon melons, cheeses, charcuterie, olive oil and of course wine.

Beyond the Luberon, soak up the ambience of the Sunday morning brocante in delightful L’Isle sur La Sorgue (17km) with its waterwheels, antique stores and pretty town centre. Canoe or kayak along the Sorgue near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (17km) and discover fantastic hiking opportunities. The Vaucluse also offers wonderful cycling routes from challenging circuits to gentle family-friendly trails as well as horse-riding, mountain biking and rock-climbing.

The small city of Avignon is another brilliant day out thanks to its restaurants, wine-bars, markets and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Visit the Wednesday morning market in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (35km), venture to the art galleries and Roman sites of Arles (65km), sample wines across the Luberon and Rhône valley or even drive to Aix-en-Provence (62km), just over an hour away, to visit the iconic University town which so inspired the likes of Cézanne.

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.