Location is everything:
Menerbes is the heart of one of the most enchanted corners of this world – the Luberon. Everything you read about in ‘A Year in Provence’ is here - the lavender-scented landscapes; daily markets overflowing with local produce that actually tastes of something; hilltop villages rising above the sea of vineyards and sunflowers; outstanding food and wine; and the sensational quality of light that has always brought painters and poets here. In Provence, everything simply tastes, smells, and looks better than at home. And it’s all right on your doorstep.
This is a year-round destination - the Luberon in winter is as beautiful in its way as during the long summer that can stretch from May to October. High above the cares of the world, the house is perfect for a romantic couple or an artist in need of inspiration.
Things to do:
Choose from an endless number of walks in the 120,000 ha Luberon Natural Park, starting from your doorstep.... Go to the daily local markets and rediscover what food used to taste like....Cycle round the famous hilltop villages: Gordes, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Roussillon, Lourmarin....Antique and bric-a-brac hunting at Isle-sur-Sorgue – France’s antiques capital.... Explore Fontaine de Vaucluse - source of the crystal-clear Sorgue river (or ride a canoe down it)....Visit the Marquis de Sade's castle at neighbouring Lacoste....Learn to paint sunflowers....Picnic in the cedar forests outside lovely Bonnieux....Drive to the top of Mont Ventoux (cycle if you're mad) and let the Alps and the Med take your breath away...Marseille, 1 hour away, is France's most exciting city, and home to the world's best bouillabaisse....Avignon, half an hour away, is a fascinating medieval city you can walk around in a day....Go wine-tasting at the local vineyards or just beyond Avignon for some great Rhone wines
Nearby attractions:
Within 15 minutes: Gordes, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Rousillon, Oppede le Vieux, Isle sur la Sorgue, Fontaine de Vaucluse, Cavaillon.........
Within 1 hour: Aix en Provence, Avignon, St Remy, Tarascon, Mont Ventoux, Alpilles, Chateauneuf du Pape, Orange.........
Within 90 minutes: Marseille, Arles, Nimes, the Camargue, Gorges du Verdon, Rhone wine trail.........
WIthin 2.5 hours: Monte Carlo, Cannes, St Tropez, Cote d'Azur, Italy, Lyon..........
Within 3 hours: the Alps, the Pyrennees, Spain.........