Aix-en-Provence
Explore Aix-en-Provence with kids: Cézanne's studio, fountain trails, vibrant markets, and day trips to Montagne Sainte-Victoire. Your family guide to the best of Provence.
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🇫🇷Luberon
Discover the Luberon with your family. Hilltop villages, ochre trails, lavender abbeys, and Provençal markets in one of France's most beautiful regions.
Your family guide
Luberon with kids: hilltop villages, ochre trails and lavender fields
“Stop expecting Provence to disappoint you. In Luberon, every hilltop village actually delivers the cobblestone streets and golden light you came for.”
— San & Jo
If you're looking for cobblestone streets, hilltop castles, and golden light over lavender fields, the Luberon delivers exactly that. This corner of Provence in southern France has everything you'd expect from the region, and it's all easily accessible for families.
The Luberon is a region, not a single city, and that is part of what makes it so rewarding for families. You move between medieval villages, each one perched on its own hilltop with its own personality. Gordes dazzles with its limestone architecture, Roussillon glows in shades of red and orange, and Lourmarin invites you to slow down and linger over a long lunch. The whole region sits within a protected Regional Natural Park, so the landscapes between villages are just as beautiful as the villages themselves.
What makes the Luberon genuinely great for families is the variety. On any given day you might hike through a cedar forest, let the kids run loose on an ochre trail, explore a working Cistercian abbey surrounded by lavender, or browse a village market overflowing with local cheese, honey, and fresh fruit. There is no single must-do list here. You just pick a direction and let Provence do the rest.
Provence, FranceRegional Natural Park
April to OctoberBest time to visit
1,500+ plant speciesExceptional biodiversity
Best things to do
Best things to do in Luberon
Gordes: the jewel of the Luberon
Gordes is the village that stops you in your tracks. Perched high on a hillside with stone buildings stacked like a natural pyramid, its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with art galleries, boutiques, and cafés. Kids love scrambling up the lanes and spotting the views over the valley below. It is genuinely one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Arrive early to beat the crowds and catch the best light on the stone walls
Half day
Sentier des Ocres in Roussillon
Roussillon sits on one of the richest ochre deposits in the world, and the Sentier des Ocres walking trail leads directly through the dramatic red, yellow, and orange cliffs. The route is short enough for young children and visually spectacular for all ages. The entire village glows in warm colours that seem almost unreal. Classified as one of France's Most Beautiful Villages.
Wear clothes you do not mind getting dusty. The ochre stains everything it touches
1 to 2 hours
Abbaye de Sénanque and the lavender fields
This working Cistercian abbey is one of the most photographed sights in all of France, and for good reason. When the lavender blooms in late June and July, the purple rows surrounding the ancient stone building create a view that stays with you forever. Even outside lavender season, the abbey itself is beautiful and the drive through the valley to reach it is stunning.
Lavender peaks roughly between late June and mid-July. Check local bloom forecasts before you go
1 to 2 hours
Provençal Colorado at Rustrel
Less famous than Roussillon but just as jaw-dropping, the ochre formations at Rustrel look like they belong in the American Southwest. Towering rust-coloured spires and canyons carved by centuries of erosion make this a fantastic outdoor adventure for curious kids. There are several marked trails of varying lengths so you can choose what suits your family best.
Bring plenty of water and sun protection. There is little shade on the trails
2 to 3 hours
Village des Bories near Gordes
This open-air museum features a remarkable cluster of dry-stone huts called bories, built without any mortar and used by Provençal farmers for centuries. Kids find the beehive-shaped structures fascinating, and the setting among oak trees and lavender makes it feel like a real discovery. It is a gentle and relaxed visit that sparks great conversations about how people lived long ago.
Combine this with a visit to Gordes on the same day. They are just a few minutes apart
1 hour
Pont Julien: a Roman bridge still standing
This beautifully preserved Roman bridge has been standing for over 2,000 years and is one of the most impressive ancient structures in the region. It is free to visit and easy to reach. Kids can walk across it and touch stones that Romans once crossed on their way through Provence. A simple stop but a genuinely memorable one.
Great for a quick stop between villages. Pack a picnic and eat on the riverbank nearby
30 minutes
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue antique markets and waterwheels
Known as the Venice of Provence, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a charming town built around canals and decorated with beautiful moss-covered waterwheels. Every weekend the town fills with one of France's largest antique markets. Even if you are not buying, it is a wonderful place to wander, eat, and soak up the atmosphere. The river is gorgeous and the cafés along the water are perfect for families.
Sunday is the biggest market day. Go early and stay for lunch along the river
Half day
Lourmarin and the Renaissance château
Lourmarin has a wonderfully relaxed pace that makes it ideal for families who want to slow down. The Renaissance château is one of the finest in Provence and well worth a visit. The village is also the resting place of Nobel Prize-winning author Albert Camus. Wander the streets, browse the local shops, and stop for a pastry at one of the village bakeries.
Try to visit on a Friday morning when the weekly market brings the village to life
Half day
Our verdict
How the Luberon scores for families
Kids
Ochre trails, ancient bridges, open-air museums, and endless space to explore. The Luberon keeps curious kids genuinely engaged without needing to try too hard.
Culture
Medieval villages, Roman ruins, a working abbey, and connections to world-famous literature. The cultural depth here is remarkable and surprisingly accessible for families.
Food
Village markets, Provençal classics, and some seriously good local specialities. Families with adventurous eaters will be very happy. Picky eaters will still find plenty to enjoy.
Nature
A Regional Natural Park with cedar forests, lavender fields, ochre landscapes, and extraordinary biodiversity. Nature lovers of all ages will find something to marvel at.
Budget
The Luberon leans towards the premium end of French travel. Village restaurants and accommodation can be pricey in peak season, but many of the best experiences are free.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in the Luberon?
2
2 days
Quick taste
Pick two or three villages and one natural highlight. You will get a feel for the region but leave wanting more.
sweet spot
4
4 days
Sweet spot
Enough time to explore the key villages, walk the ochre trails, visit the abbey, and discover a hidden gem or two at a relaxed Provençal pace.
7
7 days
Full immersion
A full week lets you slow down completely. Morning markets, afternoon hikes, long lunches, and evenings watching the light fade over the valley. This is the Luberon at its best.
Fun facts
Things to know about Luberon
Butterfly capital of France
The Luberon is home to nearly 2,300 species of butterflies and moths, which is almost 40 percent of all species found in the whole of France. The biodiversity here is extraordinary, and on a sunny summer walk you can spot dozens of different species fluttering through the lavender and wildflowers.
The cliffs that paint the world
The ochre around Roussillon was once mined and exported around the world to colour paints, fabrics, and buildings. At its peak in the early 20th century, the region was producing tens of thousands of tonnes of ochre every year. Today those same deposits create one of the most colourful landscapes in all of Europe.
The book that changed everything
In 1989, British author Peter Mayle published A Year in Provence, a memoir about moving to the Luberon village of Ménerbes with his wife. The book became an international bestseller and sparked a wave of visitors discovering the region for the first time. It remains one of the best-loved travel books ever written.
Taste the Luberon
What to eat with your family in the Luberon
Soupe au pistou
Safe choiceVillage market cafés throughout the Luberon
A hearty Provençal vegetable soup finished with pistou, a paste of fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil. It is warming, fragrant, and a great introduction to the flavours of the region for children who like a good bowl of soup.
Gibassier
Local favouriteBoulangeries in Lourmarin and surrounding villages
This crumbly olive oil cake flavoured with aniseed or orange blossom is a Luberon speciality particularly associated with Lourmarin. It is not too sweet, which makes it a lovely morning treat with a café au lait for the adults and a glass of juice for the kids.
Tapenade and market olives
Must tryWeekly village markets across the Luberon
Every market in the Luberon has stalls piled high with olives in every variety and fresh tapenade made from crushed olives, capers, and anchovies. Buy a jar to take home and a baguette to eat right there. Simple, delicious, and very Provençal.
Melonnette de Cavaillon
Kids love itArtisan confiseries in Cavaillon and Apt
A local sweet made by artisan chocolatiers, this is a chocolate ganache flavoured with the famous Cavaillon melon that grows in the Luberon valley. It is delicate, unusual, and utterly delicious. A perfect treat to pick up at a local confiserie.
Tasting menu at JU-Maison de Cuisine
Must tryJU-Maison de Cuisine, Bonnieux
For a special family dinner, JU-Maison de Cuisine in Bonnieux earned a Michelin star in 2024, just one year after opening. It celebrates the finest local Luberon produce with a creative and seasonal menu. Best suited for families with older children who enjoy a longer, more relaxed dining experience.
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