Travel bucket list idea:
Roussillon, Provence, France
The picturesque village Roussillon is famous for its vibrant ochre cliffs. Nestled in the Luberon region, the village is renowned for its stunning red, yellow, and orange hues, thanks to the rich deposits of ochre pigment found in the surrounding cliffs and quarries. These striking colours give the village a unique and visually captivating appearance, especially under the bright Provencal sun.
The village’s pretty narrow, winding streets are lined with charming houses painted in various shades of ochre, but otherwise, it has that quintessential Provencal village feel. You can also wander the so-called Ochre Trail (Sentier des Ocres) to see the magnificent 100 million-year-old ochre cliffs. There are two different trails, one short (30 minutes) and one longer (60 minutes). Signs en route explain the local geology and unusual ecosystem.
Roussillon is about a 1.5-hour drive from Marseille, a one-hour drive from Avignon or Aix-en-Provence. Many guided tours will take you there, often as part of a wider tour of The Luberon. If you prefer to go independent, it’s straightforward to rent a car and self-drive.
The best time to visit Roussillon is between late spring and early autumn (May to October) when the weather is warm and the ochre cliffs are most vibrant under the bright sun. Summer, especially July and August, offers lively village markets and festivals but can be crowded. Visiting in May, June, or September provides a balance of pleasant weather and fewer tourists, allowing for a more relaxed experience of this picturesque Provencal village.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
Avignon
Price €80
Min age 0
Rating 4.62 / 5 [144 ratings]
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