We will be between the coast in the Bandol area and Avignon (staying in La Cadiere-d’Azur and Roussillon) May 17 - 21. We have plans to visit wineries and hill towns in the Luberon area. Does anyone have specific recommendations for cafes or festivals museums or other sites/events that we should check out?Thanks!
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
It will be a busy travel time because May 19 is a holiday: the area will be bustling!
I know your post asks for Luberon suggestions, but let me first give you a few for the Bandol area as I am very, very familiar with it.
Wineries:
- La Font des Pères in Le Beausset has great views over the valley, an interesting tour, and a very good restaurant on-site for which booking is advised.
- Pibarnon has great views too and well-regarded wine, but perhaps a bit more bougie and less friendly.
Villages:
- If you only have time to visit one coastal town, make it Sanary. It is quite charming around the harbor. There is a HUGE market on Wednesday mornings that draws large crowds but parking is very scarce: either go early if you want to give it a try, or go in the PM or another day.
- Bandol is still worth going to if you have time; it has quite a few good places to eat according to my family (Cécibon, L'Esperance).
- Le Castellet is a very touristy hilltop village but still worth a visit, it is very close to La Cadière anyway.
- Evenos is a much less travelled hilltop village, which I highly suggest going to if time allows. It feels remote even though it really isn't!
For the Luberon, I wrote a thread last year with a few recommendations: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/in-and-around-the-luberon
Can't say much about cafés/restaurants in these areas as I have the opportunity to self-cater when I go to either Sanary or the Luberon.
Posted by
OP
Birmingham, AL
14 posts
Thank you so much! What great reports you have shared!
Posted by
Paris
7301 posts
Let me add that on your way from La Cadière to the Luberon, you could be interested in Chateau La Coste winery which has Jean Nouvel-designed cellars, a Tadao Ando-designed main building, and modern art dotted around the premises. Good restaurants too. It's all very fancy, it takes itself a bit too seriously perhaps, the wine is secondary, but it's a different take on wineries. Similar to Marques de Riscal in the Rioja (except they have better wine there IMO), in a way.