Villa Grenade

In the Luberon region of Provence, Villa Grenade is set in a large family-run wine estate which is owned by a prominent English filmmaker, located below the perched village of Oppède le Vieux.

Surrounded by approximately 30 hectares of vines, you can visit the estate’s wonderful shop and newly created wine cellar, just a couple of minutes away on foot, which is open seven days a week from June to September (closed Mondays and Sundays in low season). A one-hour ‘classic’ wine-tasting and tour is included in the villa rental. The owners and their family take pride in following traditional Provençal wine-growing methods respecting the estate’s biodiversity.

Following local country roads you will reach a small village in around 1.5km - a 20-minute walk (no pavement) or just a few minutes in the car. The village is home to a café and a couple of restaurants, a boulangerie and small grocery store. A choice of good-sized supermarkets can be found in Coustellet (6.5km) as well as a delightful Sunday morning Farmer’s market and other inviting shops. Here you will also find the Lavender Museum whilst the Musée de l'Huile d'Olive (3.5km) is en route.

The exquisite village of Oppède le Vieux (4km) is a short drive above the wine estate, an absolutely beautiful place to explore with its medieval lanes and rich heritage. Enjoy some stunning walks in and around the village including the hike up to Église Notre-Dame Dalidon for amazing views.

You are also well located for reaching Ménerbes (3.5km), a charming hilltop village made especially famous by Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’ as well as other nearby gems such as Lacoste (12km), Gordes (12km) and red-hued Roussillon (17km). Indeed, you can explore the gorgeous landscapes that inspired the wine estate’s owner when creating one of his much-loved films in the Luberon – the wine château where it was set is close to Bonnieux (16km) and is worthy of a visit for more excellent wine tasting opportunities.

Discover a wealth of seasonal delights including summer cherries, Cavaillon melons, Vaucluse strawberries, candied fruit, goats cheese, olive oil, wine and lavender products at atmospheric markets in places such as Gordes (Tuesday), Lourmarin (Friday), Apt (Saturday) and Coustellet (Sunday). Furthermore, the Sunday morning brocante in L’Isle sur La Sorgue (17km) is one of the most well-known antique markets in southern France.

The Luberon and beyond is perfect for long walks or hikes through vineyards, orchards, wooded hills and perched villages and there are some fantastic cycling trails from challenging circuits to family-friendly routes. Horse-riding can be found near Joucas (16km) whilst Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (17km) is the place to go for canoeing and kayaking along the Sorgue River.

Then there’s Avignon (37km) and its two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the vineyards of the Rhône valley near Châteauneuf-du-Pape (48km), the art galleries of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (35km) and Arles (65km) and the romance of Cézanne’s beloved Aix-en-Provence (62km).

If arriving by aeroplane you can fly into Avignon (29km), Marseille (68km) or Nîmes (80km) whilst Gare d’Avignon (42km) has arrivals from Paris Gare de Lyon or Lille via its fast train service (the direct journey from Paris takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes).

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.