We are waiting to see the villages in luberon and Valensole lavender fields. Coming mid July and will have a rental car. We are only staying two nights and I imagine we will be driving around for the most part oft he day and returning in the evening for dinner and walking around. Which area would yiubrecommend?
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
1700 posts
I have been to both villages, and I like both of them. Lourmarin also has a chateau you can visit. Lourmarin is about a one hour drive to Valensole, and L'Isle Sur la Sorgue is 1.5 hours from Valensole. So I might choose Lourmarin because it is closer.
What 2 nights will you be there? L'Isle Sur la Sorgue has a wonderful market on Thursdays and Sundays, but the Sunday market is larger and extremely crowded, so I prefer the Thursday market, if that interests you.
Posted by
755 posts
Lourmarin is much smaller and has more of a village feel. L’Isle sur la Sorgue is much larger and a serious crossroads for tourist travel in the summer. Given the short time you have and the Valensole drive, I’d choose Lourmarin. You will eat well in Lourmarin, but be sure to book several days in advance to be sure of a table in this busy season.
If you weren’t going to Valensole, then I’d recommend the countryside around Bonnieux-Menerbes-Jouques as more central. And check the market schedule for the region, you are bound to find a market on one of your days.