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Gordes & Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque

Posted by (Oregon, USA) on

We will be traveling to France May 2022 and plan to go to Gordes (along w many other stops over 6 days in Provence). I read that you really need to get there early to beat the buses & crowds. Would that still be true if I am going mid-week (Wed) in mid-May? Or is that really only for the high season? Would appreciate input since trying to plan my travel for that day.

Also, we were planning to stop for a photo op at Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque since I have seen that in so many photos with the lavender in bloom out front and it looks so lovely. I know the lavender would not be blooming in May. However, I read in a post recently that tourists trampled the lavender field in front trying to gather souvenir lavender so the monks plowed up the lavender and replanted wheat. Is true? And if so, is it still pretty with wheat in front? I assume in May the young wheat will be short and green. Lastly, can you enter the Abbey and is it worth seeing inside?
Merci!

Posted by
10176 posts

I can answer only the last question. The interior is nearly bare because the Cistercians don’t adorn their structures with statues, paintings, choir stalls, etc. It’s worth seeing to note the difference with decorated religious buildings. Whether you like it or not is personal taste. I find it a bit bare but some of my friends find bare buildings more interesting and inspiring.

Posted by
752 posts

The monastery offers tours year round to support their work and the recently completed renovation of the church, which was in serious danger of collapsing. The tour gives an extraordinary opportunity to see the lives of the monks and the ancient monastery rooms. It is well worth the hour, in my opinion. They also sell their lavender essence and products.

There is also a fairly easy hiking trail from Gordes to Sénanque, which should be very pretty in May.

Book on their website: https://www.senanque.fr/
May dates should open up in a few months.

Posted by
40 posts

We were at the Abbaye in July and there was plenty of lavender in bloom. Even without lavender you should be able to get good pictures.

Posted by
115 posts

Thanks everyone for the input on the Abbey. Glad to hear there is still lavender! Now I just need some input on timing of getting to Gordes - as in original post above.

Posted by
6883 posts

When in "mid-May" are you going? The week of May 23rd will be very busy with French tourists because the Thursday is off. If you are going that week, go early, but no need to go crazy early either because Gordes is quite far from population centers, so day trippers need some time to get there. Just aim for the time of the first guided tour of the day!
Worst comes to worst, if it is really crowded, drive twenty minutes further to Vénasque. It is a really beautiful village.

Posted by
115 posts

We are coming from St Remy and planning to go on Thurs May 19th, the week prior. We were planning to stop at Village des Bories and Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque fisrt so we probably wouldn't get to Gordes until approx 1030am. Not sure what time tour buses start to arrive. I'm thinking maybe around 10am?

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