Pertuis:
The town of Pertuis is a busy, working centre for the surrounding area. It has most necessary facilities, including two large supermarkets, a swimming pool with 5 pools, several restaurants and a hospital. On Friday mornings the centre of the town is given over to a large market. There is a growing commercial zone on the outskirts of the town.
With good road connections, Pertuis is an ideal centre from which to explore this part of Provence. In the immediate vicinity is the famous Luberon district with wine chateaux, beautiful scenery and charming hill-villages, including Lourmarin, Ansuois, Cucuron and Vaugines south of the Luberon mountain, and Bonnieux, Menerbes and Gordes north of the mountain. There are a number of beautiful old abbets in the area, including Senanques near Gordes, best seen in July when surrounded by fileds of lavender.
Provence:
Within easy driving distance are the stunning historical cities of Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Nimes, Arles and Orange. In the summer period most of them hold major international festivals, but they are all of great interest throughout the year.
Marseille and the coast:
Some 40 minutes from Pertuis is Marseille, a busy port city and France's largest after Paris. It has everything a major city has to offer, including shopping, entertainment and good restaurants. Nearby are several beaches and the stunning resort of Casis, with lots of atmosphere and many-coloured houses grouped round a pretty port, dramatically backed by hills and cliffs.
Slightly further afield are the famoous resorts of the Cote d'Azur, including St Tropez, Cannes and Nice. In the other direction and towards Spain, lie the Carmargue area, Carcasonne and Montpellier.