The author Peter Mayle fell in love with Luberon in Provence and in turn he made many of us fall in love with Provence. Said to be the reality of the image we conjure up in our minds when we imagine Provence - lavender fields, vineyards, medieval hilltop villages and the most incredible light, which has so attracted many famous artists over the years, we had great expectations for the day!
Would the reality match up? Read on to find out! Luberon lies in the South of France in the region of Provence. Luberon lies south of the River Durance and approximately 40km east of the Roman cities of Arles and Avignon and to the north of Aix-en-Provence. The Luberon region of Provence is famous all around the world and attracts many tourists each year.
Real estate in this area has sky-rocketed over the past 20 years and there is an abundance of stunning holiday villas, secluded second homes and bijoux, expensive hotels - due in part to the Peter Mayle effect! People flock to this beautiful part of France and Provence to experience its charm and relaxed lifestyle and the outstanding natural beauty offered by the Luberon Regional Nature Park , with imposing limestone hills, green forest valleys, vineyards, lavender fields and olive groves.
However, Luberon Provence is most famous for its beautiful medieval hilltop villages. These villages were created in the Middle Ages, forming originally around castles, which were constructed high up on hilltops to provide a better view of the enemy approaching.
The castles attracted trades people and crafts people and the villages steadily urbanised, with fortifications usually being added between the 12th and 14th centuries. Many of the most spectacular and most visited perched villages are located within a 30km area in the Vaucluse west side of the region, called Petit Luberon.
