Route of the Castles and Gardens of Provence

A route to the castles to travel differently... Taking this route offers the opportunity to discover castles, gardens and wine estates with small surprises and some good addresses of museums, restaurants, historical monuments or even small cafes.

Page updated on 16/09/2020

A friendship that shares its treasures of Provence

The owners of six Châteaux located in the Luberon and the north of the Pays d'Aix have launched the “Route des Châteaux et des Jardins de Provence”. First gathered not a beautiful friendship, the owners of these unique sites wanted to share their love of heritage and Provence by creating a “thematic route” filled with architectural and historical discoveries.

Each castle enjoys its own atmosphere derived from its history and geographical location. A unique discovery at every stop.

• Château d’Ansouis

An ancient military fortress erected in the 10th century on a rocky pitch and in the 17th century became a pleasure house for the parliamentary nobility of Aix en Provence. It dominates Ansouis, classified among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”.

To see: fully furnished apartments that take the visitor into the art
of living in the Enlightenment century.

• Château de Lourmarin, premier château Renaissance en Provence

Another village classified as “Most Beautiful Villages of France”, the history of Lourmarin has been linked since the Middle Ages to its castle and family. Known as a historical monument since 1973, the castle offers a beautiful view of the village and its three bell towers.

To see: its medieval and Renaissance architecture, a rich collection made up by the last purchaser of the castle at the beginning of the 20th century (furniture, art objects, musical instruments and library).

• Château du Grand Pré

In Vitrolles en Luberon, the Château du Grand Pré opens its doors to the public for the first time in four centuries. A great castle from the 17th and 18th centuries, it symbolizes all the refinement of the Provencal aristocracy. The works in progress allow visitors to come and enjoy the place and follow its restoration.
To see: very beautiful interior decorations enhancing the specificity of the 18th century Provençal, especially exceptional gypsum decorations.

• Château de Sauvan: The Little Trianon of Provence

What a story and what an architecture! A spectacular revival of the building since 1981 has made it beautiful both inside and outside.

To see: completely refurbished, often by the purchase of original furniture, you will also be amazed by its French garden classified as “remarkable”, where swans and peacocks are joyfully wandered around.

• Castle and underground cathedral of Saint Martin de Pallières: The largest cistern in Europe in the 18th century

Built on a rocky promontory in the 12th and 13th centuries, the castle dominates the Durance plain in the distance. In the 18th century, the exterior approaches were developed with the creation of a 7ha French park. To irrigate the young plants the owners of the time will build a cistern that can hold 28000hl of water!
To see: the 6m high vaults of the underground cistern, the garden and the castle.

• Château d’Arnajon

The Château d'Arnajon is famous for its 17th century bastide and park where water plays a major role between fountains and ponds. By visiting Arnajon, you will enter the intimacy of a family, you will share its history, its daily life on the estate, but also its concerns to preserve and maintain this property transmitted by their ancestors since 1833.

But still... gardens and wineries


The Jardin de Romégas and nine domains are included in this thematic route. In the gardens of Romégas you will stroll under centuries-old pine trees in the middle of a boxwood bed and a labyrinth of laurels between chapel, fountains and washhouse.

As for the wineries, you will discover all the subtlety of the wines of the Luberon and the Pays d'Aix. A subtle blend of different grape varieties cultivated on limestone lands with varied geological influences that give the landscape a natural beauty so pleasant to discover.


On the way!

The castles

Ansouis: www.chateauansouis.fr
Arnajon (Le Puy Ste Réparade): www.chateaudarnajon.fr
Grand Pré (Vitrolles en Luberon): www.chateaudugrandpre.com
Lourmarin: www.chateau-de-lourmarin.com
St Martin de Pallières (Underground Cathedral): www.cathedralesouterraine.com
Sauvan (Mane): www.chateaudesauvan.com
Gardens of Romegas (Aix en Provence): 04 42 23 17 53

Wine estates

Château La Verrerie (Puget sur Durance): www.chateau-la-verrerie.com
La Dorgonne (La Tour d'Aigues): www.chateauladorgonne.com
La Coste (Le Puy Ste Réparade): www.chateau-la-coste.com
Château de Sannes: www.chateaudesannes.fr
La Cavale (Cucuron): www.domaine-lacavale.com
Château Turcan (Ansouis): www.château-turcan.com
Château Val Joanis (Pertuis): www.val-joanis.com
Château de Vauclaire (Meyrargues): www.chateaudevauclaire.com
Château Vignelaure (Rians): www.vignelaure.com

Photo gallery

La Route des Châteaux et des Jardins de Provence
Château d'Ansouis
Château du Grand Près
Château Sauvan
Château d'Arnajon

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