Les Châteaux et Châteaux-Forts du Vaucluse
Castles and Forts of the Vaucluse Department


To the north of Aix and the Department of the Bouches-du-Rhône is the Vaucluse (84), for which Avignon is the major cultural and administrative center.  

The word "Vaucluse" comes from the Latin, "vallis clausa" or "closed valley."  The rugged terrain of the region, bordered by mountains to the north and the south, and with lush hills and vineyards in between, is home to some of the most interesting medieval castles, forts, and villages in Provence--all within an hour or so from Aix-en-Provence.  

Below you will find pictures and bits of historical information of some of the sites of Vaucluse, including excursions UF students took to Lourmarin, Gordes, the Abbey of Sénanque, and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (home to the World War II Resistance Museum).  



Abbaye de Sénanque
The Abbey of Sénanque is one of the most recognizable images of Provence with its beautiful azur lavender fields in bloom during the summer.  

Founded in 1148, the abbey is one of three cistercine monasteries in Provence.  

UF students had an opportunity to visit the abbey and take the guided tour of the interior.



Professor Conley and the UF crew in front of the Abbey

Ansouis

The little fortified village of Ansouis is home to a castle dating back to the 12th century which was built by the Barons of Ansouis as a military structure.  The castle later belonged to the Sabran-Pontevès family, who transformed it into a «château de plaisance» during the Renaissance.

Buoux (Fort of)
The little commune of Buoux, with only 118 residents, once occupied a site of great strategic importance.  Indeed, as the picture of the town entry sign reads in old Provençal, "Buous, clau dau Leberoun" (Buoux, the key to the Luberon Valley). The fort sits atop a mountain that requires a good hike--but well worth it for the view of the valley below and the remnants of this fort which date back to the 9th century.  The fort fell out of use and was dismanteled in 1660.  Today the vestiges of a church, fortified walls, the cistern, and living quarters tell the story of a self-contained and protected village that was the subject of continual military quarrels, particularly during the wars of religion in the 12th-14th centuries.




Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
Nestled along the River Sorgue just downstream from the headwaters or source, the village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is as charming as it is refreshingly cool during the summertime.  Tourists can walk along the trail through the village up to the natural spring that feeds the cristal-clear waters of the Sorgue.  

Fontaine was once home to the humanist poet Pétrarque, who stayed in Fontaine to write of his tragic love for Laure.  

The town is also home to two other important sites.  The first is the domineering vestiges of the castle, which is accessible by foot.  

The second is the history museum in Fontaine that recounts daily life under the Nazi occupation of the Vaucluse region, the Vichy regime, the Résistance fighters, and the liberation--including the story of favorite son Jean Moulin, General de Gaulle's emissary who was captured, tortured, and killed by the Nazis.  Students in the French Politics course spent part of an afternoon walking through the museum and examining the many artifacts and films. 




 
Jean Moulin
 
war poster encouraging the French youth to join the Résistance


 war poster announcing the allied victory in Europe

General de Gaulle in Paris after the liberation
 

General de Gaulle and General Leclerc in Paris after the liberation


victory war poster

Gordes



 
 Gordes is a perched village that dominates the Luberon Valley on one side and the Imergue and Coulon Valleys on the other side.  The road leading out of town to the north/northwest narrows significantly and reaches the Abbaye de Sénanque, just a few kilometers away.

The village is literally built out of the side a cliff.  The château was built during the Renaissance and houses an art museum.  

Lacoste

Lacoste is a charming medieval village with the remnants of an old castle that once belonged to the Sade family -- yes, the infamous Marquis de Sade whose writings continue to be the suject of much controversy.  Pierre Cardin, the famous clothes designer, has bought the castle of Lacoste and is currently undertaking restoration.  Thanks to Cardin as well, Lacoste now hosts a summertime classic music festival.  



Lourmarin


Lourmarin is located in the Luberon Valley of the Vaucluse.  The castle is comprised both of Renaissance and 15th century structures.  The town figures prominently in Marcel Pagnon's novel "Jean de Florette," which was adapted into a movie with leading star Gérard Dépardieu.  

The castle of Lourmarin was also frequented by writers Henri Bosco and existentialist Albert Camus.  

Camus is actually buried in a small church just outside the medieval centre of  Lourmarin.  


Top left: Lourmarin castle from the town;
Bottom left: the entrance to the castle
The medieval town viewed from the castle
Mornas

Rising 137 meters straight up (over 400 ft), the fortified village of Mornas was once a powerful military stronghold.  During summer weekends the fort is transformed into a working medieval village, complete with costumes of the era.  The forteress itself comprises a wall roughly 2 kilometers that encircles the village.  Villagers once underwent a terrible episode in history: During the wars of religion the Baron des Adrets took control of the fort and ordered that all inhabitants be thrown from the sheer drop of a cliff (see the second picture below; if you make out the flags, you can identify where the bloody ordeal took place).  




Réalisation par Richard Conley; dernière mise à jour le 22.08.03.