Bonnieux

Bonnieux is one of the most photographed villages in Provence — a cascade of honey-coloured houses climbing to a Romanesque church with panoramic views over the Luberon valley. It sits on a limestone spur 400 metres above the valley floor, and the view from the terrace beside the old church takes in Lacoste on the opposite hill, the Luberon ridge to the south, and the Vaucluse plateau to the north.

The village has a boulangerie, several restaurants, and a small museum of baking history (Musée de la Boulangerie) that is charming rather than essential. The main pleasure is wandering: the streets are steep, the houses are beautiful, and the views change at every corner.

things to do sight neighbourhood
A story
Bonnieux sits directly opposite Lacoste across a valley, and the two villages have been staring at each other for centuries. The view from Bonnieux's terrace takes in Lacoste's ruined castle, the ochre cliffs of Roussillon in the distance, and a patchwork of lavender and cherry orchards below. Peter Mayle lived not far from here, and the landscape he described hasn't changed much — only the number of visitors has.