Gordes

Since I’ve been living near the Luberon, I have constantly been reading and hearing about Gordes. I finally made it there and it did not disappoint. This city sits high upon a hill with and elevation of about 1,200 feet.

When you first arrive, you will be blown away by the beauty of the village as it greets you in the distance. This is a photo opportunity so pull over and take your shot here. You will know when you see it. The entrance is the best opportunity to photograph the village.

As it’s off season, we were able to visit in silence as there seemed to be very few people there. The small, cobbled streets of Gordes wind around, up and down and take you on a tour of the beautifully ancient homes that are built into the walls of this beautiful city.

If you’re adventurous, take a walk down to the ancient washing well where you will find running water which is coming from the natural source from up above. Once here, you will come upon a small neighborhood where you’ll see some beautiful homes that are just sitting in the midst of the valley with views of the hills above. It is breathtakingly beautiful and one can only imagine warm summer days, swimming in the pool and enjoying local French food that was bought at the market.

*A word of warning to those with walking difficulties. Gordes is beautiful but not easy to walk. There are cobblestoned streets that have steep descents and big climbs. If walking is difficult for you in any way, I would say to stick to the center and take a little walk through the streets that surround the church. It’s great excercise if you can do it but beware if you can’t.

We had a fantastic lunch at L’Estaminet (they don’[t have a website) which is right off the main square. The food was excellent and the price was right!

I would recommend that you combine this day out with a visit to the Abbey Notre-Dame de Sananque which can also be found in Gordes. No matter what time of year, you will be charmed by the beauty and tranquility of this beautiful Abbey as you breath in the scent of Lavender.