The road of the Waldenses in the Luberon

Five villages in our territory witnessed the repression of the Waldenses in the Luberon in the 16th century.

In Mérindol: The Muse Museum retraces history. At the top of the village, ruins of the castle and magnificent views of the Durance valley and the southern flank of the Petit Luberon.

In Oppède: Ruins of the castle of Baron Meynier d'Oppède. President of the Parliament of Provence, François I asked him to orchestrate in 1545 the massacre of the Waldenses and the extermination of their villages with the arrest of Mérindol (1540).

Cabrières d'Avignon: In this village located on the southern flank of the Monts de Vaucluse came to take refuge the last Vaudois hunted during the 5 bloody days of 1545 at the castle of Cabrières. At their head: Eustache Marron, leader of the Vaud resistance. The castle was taken on April 20, 1545, in 5 days 11 villages were destroyed, 2700 people killed and more than 600 men sent to the galleys in Marseille.

Also discover Lauris and Lourmarin in the south of the Luberon. These two villages have played a major role in the history of the Luberon.

The castle of Oppède le Vieux and Cabrières d'Avignon cannot be visited.