An insider tip located directly on the Luberon!
With the rugged, wooded northern flank of the Luberon behind you, a vast cultivated landscape dotted with vines and picturesque, steep paths to the front – this is Oppède-le-Vieux, one of the most authentic and unspoilt villages in the Luberon.
We always like to go right to the top first, to the Romanesque church of Notre-Dame d’Alidon. The path through the narrow, steep alleyways past medieval stone houses is an experience in itself. Once at the top, you can enjoy the sweeping panoramic view over Provence with Mont Ventoux on the horizon.
Back at Place de la Croix, two cafés invite you to eat or drink. You’ll see how you calm down in this place. A few tourists come here, but not as many as in other better-known villages. If you like painting or photography, you will find plenty of motifs and inspiration here.
History
You can already see the old castle ruins from below. They rise impressively on the dome of the hill and you can’t help but wonder how long they will last. After all, they have been standing there since around 1200 AD and were owned by the Catholic Church in the meantime. In 1731, part of the castle was destroyed by an earthquake, in 1789 by attacks and four years later the Romanesque church at the foot of the castle was plundered. In the 19th century, the village was virtually deserted. During the Second World War, however, Oppède-le-Vieux was rediscovered by a group of artists and craftsmen who sought refuge here. Here in seclusion, they founded the Groupe d’Oppède, whose aim was to get back to the roots of French culture and to live and work together peacefully. Since then, the place has been inhabited again and today mainly attracts individual tourists.
Tips
ou can park in the car park of the Jardins de Sainte-Cécile, a landscaped garden where over 80 species of trees, shrubs and herbs from the Luberon grow.
Refreshment stops
Le Petit Café des Jeanne
Homemade dishes made from local produce. You can have lunch or dinner or enjoy an ice cream in the afternoon.
L’Echauguette
Mediterranean and original cuisine, salads, hot dishes, ice cream, crêpes. Closed on Monday evenings and Tuesdays.
Worth seeing
Church Notre-Dame d’Alidon
The Romanesque church is located above the village. From here you have a wonderful view. But the church itself is also worth seeing. It dates back to the 16th century and has been remodelled time and again. The western massif could even date back to the original building from the 12th century.
Atelier Olivia Tregaut
Arts and crafts – animal sculptures made of sandstone and bronze. Well worth seeing on the way from the car park to the village square.
