Welcome to Luberon Cœur de Provence

Press release
April 2016
Welcome to Luberon Cœur de Provence
Welcome to Luberon Cœur
de Provence
Combining contemporary culture and Provençal
heritage, the Luberon area is a wellspring of delightful,
unforgettable experiences and activities. And it is less than an hour away from the
Marseille Provence airport!
Through the architecture, gastronomy and local culture, you can explore the ageless
charm of Provence and reap the benefits of superlative services, all at the same time.
The Luberon is the heart of Provence, where the major attractions in Marseille, Arles
and Nîmes are only an hour’s drive away, and it is even closer to Avignon, Aix en
Provence and St. Rémy de Provence.
You can take your own time to explore all the charming villages and the splendid
scenery, including vineyards and olive groves in the Luberon and on the lower slopes
of the imposing Alpilles; perched villages such as Gordes (one of France’s most
beautiful villages), and other unusual villages with cave dwellings and stone quarries,
or hidden at the foot of the Luberon.
The Luberon Cœur de Provence
way of living
Five-star hotels with spas and unique geographical locations
 Hôtel La Bastide de Gordes***** located in the centre of Gordes. Sisley Spa and
swimming pools.
 Hôtel Les Bories***** located in the garrigue amid downy oaks and olive trees
(about a quarter of a mile from the Gordes village centre by footpath). Spa and
swimming pools.
Charming three- and four-star hotels and bed & breakfasts
Located in wooded areas or next to vineyards, these quality establishments propose
spacious bedrooms, swimming pools and peaceful parks. All the rooms are very
comfortable, both in the old bastides and in the more recently built establishments.
More unusual are the accommodations in treehouses!
All the restaurants associated with these establishments are run by reputed chefs.
Michelin-starred restaurants and bold chefs all over the region
 Three one-star Michelin restaurants:
 the restaurant in the four-star Hotel Les Bories in Gordes, with chef Grégory Mirer
 the Restaurant Prévot in Cavaillon, with chef Jean-Jacques Prévot
 the Restaurant Péir at La Bastide in Gordes, with chef Pierre Gagnaire and his chef
de cuisine Léo Forget
 All of our chefs are passionate about giving prominence to the flavours and
specialities of Provence, and they work actively with local producers to make the
most of fresh, colourful products that are full of vitamins and incomparable flavour.
Summer evenings are balmy out on our restaurant terraces, and mid-day meals are
refreshing in the shade of the tall plane-trees.
Vineyards with protected designation of origin: AOP Luberon and
AOP Ventoux
 Meeting wine producers: 10 vineyards and 3 cellars for AOP Luberon and AOP
Ventoux, and a producers’ wine cellar for Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas.
 Wine tasting: visits to vineyards and tasting workshops to learn to recognise
varieties and blend compositions, with an introduction to pairing food and wines.
 Hosted evening parties and “wine-tasting days”: parties to “launch” new wines,
pairing chocolate or cheese with wines, etc...
Activities in Luberon
Cœur de Provence
Guided visits of the villages
Gordes, one of France’s most beautiful villages (with an unusual summer feature:
Gordes by night and torchlight!); Oppède le Vieux, which has earned the
“picturesque village & town” label; Cavaillon with its unique synagogue; nature walks
out in the garrigue, etc.
Cooking classes
Learning to cook like a chef, and then sharing it, for groups of 5 to 10, all year round
or seasonal. Classes from two to three-and-a-half hours long with shared tasting of
the dishes prepared. Possibility for inviting a guest to share the meal.
Exploring the region by bicycle
There is a safe itinerary for family bicycle rides (the Calavon bike path) and a bicycle
itinerary on small marked roads all around the Luberon. You can rent standard
bicycles or, if hilly roads don’t agree with you, electrically assisted ones! Some
bicycles are even available directly at the hotels.
Exploring the region in a 2CV
You can have an original and unforgettable road trip in one of Citroën’s iconic little
Deux Chevaux cars.
Music festivals
There is access to quality music festivals in local villages (folk, classical and/or light
music) and to prestigious festivals close by, including the Piano Festival in Roque
d’Anthéron, the Opera Festival in Aix en Provence and the Avignon Festival.
Museums and art galleries
 The Musée de la Lavande: learn all about lavender growing, harvesting and
essential oil extraction for fine lavender fragrances. An impressive collection of stills
and an upscale boutique for lavender-based beauty products, including “Château
du Bois” cosmetics.
 Art galleries in Robion and Coustellet: the Richard Nicolet Gallery, the Art Concept
Gallery, and Galerie 22.
Provençal markets
All those wonderful Provençal recipes are based on fruits and vegetables that are
grown here. You can visit the producers directly in the Coustellet market every
Sunday morning from April to December, and Wednesday evenings from June to
August.
Other markets in surrounding villages are held in the morning or late afternoon during
the summer months.
Contact & Information
Anne Guillaumin
Office de Tourisme Luberon Monts de Vaucluse
Place François Tourel
BP 70027
84301 Cavaillon cedex
Tel +33 (0)4 90 71 32 01
Galerie Richard Nicolet
[email protected]
www.luberoncoeurdeprovence.com