Roussillon

If you are in Sablet or other parts of the Vaucluse region of Provence, you should plan your time so you can include a visit to Roussillon which is our favorite village in the Luberon.

The Luberon region stretches some 30 miles along a ridge of rugged hills east of Avignon and hides hill towns and sensuous landscapes.

If you are like me and were enchanted by Peter Mayle's tales of life in Provence, you will love driving through the region.

Classified as one of the Plus Beaux Village de France, Roussillon is a one hour drive southeast of our home in Sablet. This village sits in the heart of one of the world’s biggest ocher deposits, where 17 shades of soil--violet, blood red, orange, yellow, and everything in between were once worked.

Roussillon is beautiful as seen from the outside; set in a deep green pine forest on bright red-ocher hills. Roussillon is even more spectacular inside the village, with the colorful old buildings and narrow medieval streets.



Roussillon has been protected since 1943 so there is absolutely no modern development.

11th century church of St. Michel.


Don't forget your camera, you will definitely want to take a lot of pictures.



Le Bistrot de Roussillon is the best place to eat lunch on the square with excellent salads and plats (main courses).

The incredible beauty draws hordes of artists and visitors. So it is best to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

The village is fairly small so it doesn't take very long to explore. It is easy to combine a visit to Roussillon with a visit to other hill towns in the Luberon.