HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Luberon ( or ; Provençal: ''Leberon'' or ''Leberoun'' ) is a massif in central
Provence Provence (, , , , ; oc, Provença or ''Prouvènço'' , ) is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which extends from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bo ...
in
Southern France Southern France, also known as the South of France or colloquially in French as , is a defined geographical area consisting of the regions of France that border the Atlantic Ocean south of the Marais Poitevin,Louis Papy, ''Le midi atlantique'', A ...
, part of the French Prealps. It has a maximum
elevation The elevation of a geographic location is its height above or below a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface (see Geodetic datum § ...
of and an area of about . It is composed of three
mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have ari ...
s (from west to east): Lesser Luberon (''Petit Luberon''), Greater Luberon (''Grand Luberon'') and Eastern Luberon (''Luberon oriental''). The valleys north and south of them contain a number of towns and villages as well as agricultural land; the northern part is marked by the
Calavon The Calavon (french: le Calavon, also called ''le Coulon'') is an long river in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Vaucluse ''départements'', southeastern France. Its drainage basin is .Durance The Durance (; ''Durença'' in the Occitan classical norm or ''Durènço'' in the Mistralian norm) is a major river in Southeastern France. A left tributary of the Rhône, it is long. Its drainage basin is .acute accent The acute accent (), , is a diacritic used in many modern written languages with alphabets based on the Latin, Cyrillic, and Greek scripts. For the most commonly encountered uses of the accent in the Latin and Greek alphabets, precomposed ...
on top of the "e"); some dictionaries justify that the two spellings are interchangeable. The total number of inhabitants varies greatly between winter and summer, due to a massive influx of tourists during the warm season. It is a favourite destination for French high society and British and American visitors because of the pleasant and picturesque towns and villages, comfortable way of life, agricultural wealth, historical and cultural associations, as well as hiking trails.
Samuel Beckett Samuel Barclay Beckett (; 13 April 1906 – 22 December 1989) was an Irish novelist, dramatist, short story writer, theatre director, poet, and literary translator. His literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal and Tragicomedy, tr ...
notably lived in Cave Bonelly, a vineyard near to
Roussillon Roussillon ( , , ; ca, Rosselló ; oc, Rosselhon ) is a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the ...
, during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. In the last two decades the Luberon has become known in the English-speaking world especially through a series of books by British author Peter Mayle chronicling his life as an
expatriate An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person who resides outside their native country. In common usage, the term often refers to educated professionals, skilled workers, or artists taking positions outside their home country, either ...
settled in the Luberon village of
Ménerbes Ménerbes (; oc, Menèrba) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains, foothills of the French Alps, constitutes the main s ...
. These are titled '' A Year in Provence'', ''Toujours Provence'' and ''Encore Provence''. Another of Mayle's books, a novel set in the Luberon, was made into a film called '' A Good Year'' (2006) directed by
Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is a British film director and producer. Directing, among others, science fiction films, his work is known for its atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. Scott has received many accolades th ...
, starring
Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe (born 7 April 1964) is an actor. He was born in New Zealand, spent ten years of his childhood in Australia, and moved there permanently at age twenty one. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maxi ...
and filmed in the region.


Flora and fauna

Luberon is particularly rich in biological diversity. There are known to be around 1,500 species of plants, accounting for 30% of the flora and fauna in France, 17,000 species and sub-species of insects with almost 2,300 species of Lepidoptera, or nearly 40% of species living in France, 341 species and subspecies of vertebrate wildlife, 135 species of birds and 21 species of bats or 70% of species present in France. Among the 1,500 different species of plants, there are 700 species and sub-species of higher plants and 200 species of lichens. Rich
fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...
deposits are also preserved here, documenting for example ancient species related to
songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5000 ...
s, as well as an ancestral
pelican Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before ...
. Image:Snake (Elaphe scalaris) by JM Rosier.JPG,
Ladder snake The ladder snake (''Zamenis scalaris'') is a species of non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to southwestern Europe. Distribution The geographic range of the ladder snake includes Portugal, Spain, southern France ...
Image:Habichtsadler.jpg,
Bonelli's eagle The Bonelli's eagle (''Aquila fasciata'') is a large bird of prey. The common name of the bird commemorates the Italian ornithologist and collector Franco Andrea Bonelli. Bonelli is credited with gathering the type specimen, most likely from an ...
Image:Circaetus gallicus 01.JPG, Short-toed snake eagle, the largest bird of prey of the Luberon Image:Dectique à front blanc.jpg, Southern Wartbiter


Nuclear facilities

The '' Force de frappe'' or French strategic nuclear arsenal used to be located on the Plateau d'Albion before being dismantled in the late 1980s. Now, the underground site where the missile controls were located is a public multidisciplinary laboratory of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, the Low Noise Underground Laboratory (LSBB) of
Rustrel Rustrel (; oc, Rustrèu) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. In 2017, it had a population of 688. Sights This village is famous for its ochre, which many people come to vis ...
, Pays d'Apt.Low Noise Underground Laboratory (LSBB) of Rustrel, Pays d'Apt


Communes in the Parc naturel régional du Luberon


In Vaucluse

*
Ansouis Ansouis (; oc, Ansoís) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.Apt, small town near the eastern end of the Luberon valley *
La Bastide-des-Jourdans La Bastide-des-Jourdans (; oc, La Bastida dei Jordans) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. See also * Côtes du Luberon AOC *Communes of the Vaucluse department The follow ...
*
La Bastidonne La Bastidonne (; oc, La Bastidona) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. See also * Côtes du Luberon AOC *Communes of the Vaucluse department *Luberon The Luberon ( or ; P ...
*
Beaumettes Beaumettes (; oc, Lei Baumetas) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Geography The village lies on the right bank of the Calavon, which forms all of the commune's southern bor ...
*
Beaumont-de-Pertuis Beaumont-de-Pertuis (, literally ''Beaumont of Pertuis''; oc, Bèumont de Pertús) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Beaumont de Pertuis is a small village situated in the ...
*
Bonnieux Bonnieux (; oc, Bonius) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,206. In the plain below the village stands the notable Roman bridge the Pont Juli ...
*
Buoux Buoux ju̟ːksis a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Located on the north side of the Luberon, the town is known for the high cliffs that surround it, making it a popular venue f ...
*
Cabrières-d'Aigues Cabrières-d'Aigues (; Provençal: ''Cabrièras d'Egues'') is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. See also * Côtes du Luberon AOC *Communes of the Vaucluse department * Étang ...
*
Cadenet Cadenet () is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Cadenétiens'' in French. Geography Cadenet is a village located on the southern slopes of the L ...
*
Caseneuve Caseneuve (; oc, Canòva) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Geography The river Calavon forms the commune's south-western border. See also *Communes of the Vaucluse depa ...
* Cavaillon, small town at the western entrance to the Luberon valley *
Cheval-Blanc Cheval-Blanc (; oc, Lo Chivau Blanc) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. See also * Côtes du Luberon AOC *Communes of the Vaucluse department *Luberon The Luberon ( or ; ...
* Cucuron * Gargas * Gordes * Goult * Grambois *
Joucas Joucas (''Jocaç'' in Occitan) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The town is located on the perimeter of the Parc naturel régional du Luberon. Geography Located between ...
*
Lacoste Lacoste S.A. is a French company, founded in 1933 by tennis player René Lacoste, and entrepreneur Mangkha. It sells clothing, footwear, sportswear, eyewear, leather goods, perfume, towels and watches. The company can be recognised by its ...
*
Lagarde-d'Apt Lagarde-d'Apt (, literally ''Lagarde of Apt''; oc, La Gàrda d'Ate) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is a local centre for lavender distilling for the perfume trade, ...
* Lauris * Lioux *
Lourmarin Lourmarin (; oc, Lormarin) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Lourmarinois''. Geography Lourmarin is located in the French region of Provence, a ...
* Maubec *
Ménerbes Ménerbes (; oc, Menèrba) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains, foothills of the French Alps, constitutes the main s ...
*
Mérindol Mérindol (; oc, Merindòu) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The village, located south of the Luberon massif, has some prominence in the plain of the Durance river which ...
* Mirabeau *
Murs Murs may refer to: People * Marc Athanase Parfait Œillet des Murs (1804-1878), French ornithologist * Olly Murs (born 1984), English singer-songwriter * Murs (rapper) (born 1978), American rapper Places * Murs, Indre, France * Murs, Vaucluse, ...
*
Oppède Oppède (; oc, Opeda) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. ''Oppidum'' is the Latin word for 'town'. History It is in fact two villages: Oppède-le-Vieux ("the old" in Fr ...
* Pertuis * Peypin-d'Aigues * Puget *
Puyvert Puyvert (; oc, Puègvèrd) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Puyvert borders the Bouches du Rhone department, sitting on the river Durance. The former priory of Saint- ...
*
Robion Robion () is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The new part of the village runs along the D2 road, and the old part of the village is clustered at the foot of the Luberon mo ...
*
Roussillon Roussillon ( , , ; ca, Rosselló ; oc, Rosselhon ) is a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the ...
*
Rustrel Rustrel (; oc, Rustrèu) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. In 2017, it had a population of 688. Sights This village is famous for its ochre, which many people come to vis ...
* Saignon * Saint-Martin-de-Castillon *
Saint-Martin-de-la-Brasque Saint-Martin-de-la-Brasque (; oc, Sant Martin de la Brasca) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. See also * Côtes du Luberon AOC *Communes of the Vaucluse department *Luberon ...
* Saint-Pantaléon * Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt * Sannes * Taillades *
La Tour-d'Aigues La Tour-d'Aigues (; oc, La Torre d'Egues) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Geography The town is located at the south of the Grand Luberon, away from Pertuis. It is the ...
* Vaugines * Viens * Villars * Villelaure * Vitrolles-en-Luberon


In Alpes-de-Haute-Provence

*
Aubenas-les-Alpes Aubenas-les-Alpes is a Communes of France, commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Departments of France, department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of south-eastern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as ''Albascecois'' or ...
*
La Brillanne La Brillanne (; oc, La Brilhana) is a commune in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in southeastern France. Population Its inhabitants are referred to as ''Brillannais''. See also *Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department ...
*
Céreste Céreste (; Occitan: ''Ceirèsta'') is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It is known for its rich fossil beds in fine layers of "Calcaire de Campagne Calavon" limestone, which are now protected by the ...
* Dauphin * Forcalquier * Limans *
Lurs Lurs () are an Iranian people living in the mountains of western Iran. The four Luri branches are the Bakhtiari, Mamasani, Kohgiluyeh and Lur proper, who are principally linked by the Luri language. Lorestan Province is named after the Lur ...
*
Manosque Manosque (; Provençal Occitan: ''Manòsca'' in classical norm or ''Manosco'' in Mistralian norm) is the largest town and commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. However, it is not the ''préfecture'' (capital) ...
*
Montfuron Montfuron () is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. Population See also * Luberon * Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC *Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department The following is a list of the 198 co ...
* Montjustin *
Niozelles Niozelles (; oc, Nuasèlas) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. Population See also *Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department The following is a list of the 198 communes of the Alpes-de ...
*
Oppedette Oppedette is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. Geography The commune is traversed by the river Calavon. Population See also * Luberon *Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department The fol ...
* Pierrerue *
Pierrevert Pierrevert (; oc, Peiravèrd) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. Population See also * Luberon *Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department *Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC Coteaux de Pierreve ...
*
Reillanne Reillanne (; oc, Ralhana) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. It is due north of Toulon and west of Nice. History The earliest record of a city on this site is the Roman town of Alaunia in 909. Tha ...
*
Revest-des-Brousses Revest-des-Brousses is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. Population See also * Luberon *Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department The following is a list of the 198 communes of the Alpes- ...
* Saint-Maime *
Saint-Martin-les-Eaux Saint-Martin-les-Eaux (; Provençal: ''Sant Martin deis Aigas'') is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. Population See also * Luberon The Luberon ( or ; Provençal: ''Leberon'' or ''Leberoun'' ) ...
* Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire *
Sainte-Tulle Sainte-Tulle (; oc, Santa Túllia) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in southeastern France. Population See also * Luberon * Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC *Communes of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department The followin ...
* Vachères * Villemus * Villeneuve *
Volx Volx (; oc, Vòus) is a commune in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Population See also * Coteaux de Pierrevert AOC * Luberon The Luberon ( or ; Provençal: ''Leber ...


Golden triangle of Luberon

*
Bonnieux Bonnieux (; oc, Bonius) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southeastern France. In 2019, it had a population of 1,206. In the plain below the village stands the notable Roman bridge the Pont Juli ...
, village on the border between the Little and Big Luberon * Gordes, facing the Luberon, this village is considered the top of the Golden Triangle (the base being made by the Little Luberon mountains) * Goult, perched on a hill in the middle of the valley of the Luberon *
Lacoste Lacoste S.A. is a French company, founded in 1933 by tennis player René Lacoste, and entrepreneur Mangkha. It sells clothing, footwear, sportswear, eyewear, leather goods, perfume, towels and watches. The company can be recognised by its ...
and the ancient castle of the uncle of "le Marquis de Sade" *
Ménerbes Ménerbes (; oc, Menèrba) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of Southeastern France. The walled village on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains, foothills of the French Alps, constitutes the main s ...
*
Oppède Oppède (; oc, Opeda) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. ''Oppidum'' is the Latin word for 'town'. History It is in fact two villages: Oppède-le-Vieux ("the old" in Fr ...
with its historic section perched on the hillside Oppéde-le-Vieux *
Roussillon Roussillon ( , , ; ca, Rosselló ; oc, Rosselhon ) is a historical province of France that largely corresponded to the County of Roussillon and part of the County of Cerdagne of the former Principality of Catalonia. It is part of the ...
, like Goult, perched on a hill within the Luberon valley


Southern Luberon

*
Lourmarin Lourmarin (; oc, Lormarin) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. Its inhabitants are called ''Lourmarinois''. Geography Lourmarin is located in the French region of Provence, a ...
, village on the border between Little and Big Luberon * Cucuron * Pavillon de Galon


References


Further reading

*Mayle, Peter. ''A Year in Provence''. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. *Mayle, Peter. ''Encore Provence: New Adventures in the South of France''. New York: Knopf, 1999. *Mayle, Peter. ''Toujours Provence''. New York: Knopf, 1991.


External links


Discover the Luberon on Notreprovence.fr in EnglishAerial photos LuberonPhoto essay - Experience the Luberon
{{coord, 43, 47, 46, N, 5, 13, 26, E, region:FR-U_type:mountain, display=title Geography of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence Geography of Vaucluse Biosphere reserves of France Global Geoparks Network members Geoparks in France Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region articles needing translation from French Wikipedia