Castles and historic monuments in Vaucluse: a journey through time
Vaucluse is a land of memories, where every stone tells a story. Discovering the castles of the Vaucluse, true jewels of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, is like stepping back in time, from ancient Rome to the sumptuous palaces of the Popes. To fully experience this adventure, our La Simioune campsite in Bollène is the ideal base, right in the heart of these heritage treasures.
What you need to know for your visit
Before you set off to explore this exceptional heritage, here’s an overview of the sites that dot the département. This table will help you visualize the highlights of your Provence tour.
| Monument | Main period | Key point of interest | Address | Opening hours | Full price | Google reviews (rating / no. of reviews) |
| Théâtre Antique | 1st century | Stage wall (UNESCO) | Rue Madeleine Roch, 84100 Orange | Varies according to season (e.g. 9am-7pm in summer) | 11.50 (with museum) | 4.6/5 on >11976 reviews |
| Popes’ Palace | 14th century | Largest Gothic palace (UNESCO) | Place du Palais, 84000 Avignon | Varies according to season (e.g.: 9am-7pm from March to Nov.) | 12 € | 4.5/5 on >50275 reviews |
| Château de Gordes | 11th-16th century | Fortress in the heart of a listed village | Place Genty Pantaly, 84220 Gordes | Varies according to season (e.g. 10am-6pm in summer) | 6 € | 4.5/5 on >8587 reviews |
| Château du Barroux | 12th-16th century | Panoramic view of Mont Ventoux, distillery | Chemin de la Garenne, 84330 Le Barroux | Varies according to season (e.g. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. from May to Sept.) (closed in January) | 8,50 € | 4.3/5 on >1219 reviews |
| Lourmarin Castle | 15th-16th century | Provence’s first Renaissance château | 2 Av. Laurent Vibert, 84160 Lourmarin | Varies according to season (e.g. 10:30am-6:45pm in summer) | 8 € | 4.4/5 on >4500 reviews |
| Château de Lacoste | XIth century | Home of the Marquis de Sade | Chemin du Château, 84480 Lacoste | Varies according to season (mainly open in summer/sept.) | 8 € | 4.2/5 of >2368 reviews |
| Mornas fortress | 10th-12th century | View of the Rhône valley, animated tours | Haut du village, 84550 Mornas | Open from April to early November | from € 8 | 4.6/5 of >2957 reviews |
| Château de la Tour d’Aigues | 16th century | Renaissance jewel in ruins | 84240 La Tour-d’Aigues | Courtyard open to the public, museum temporarily closed | Free courtyard access | 4.5/5 of >267 reviews |
| Château d’Ansouis | 10th century | Fortress turned pleasure home | Rue du Cartel, 84240 Ansouis | Guided tours by prior arrangement (weekends and selected days in summer) | 13 € | 4.4/5 out of >988 reviews |
| Buoux Fort | 13th century | Rocky spur site | 84480 Buoux | 10am-5pm (closed Tuesdays and in bad weather) | 6 € | 4.5/5 on > 472 reviews |
| Thouzon Castle | XIth century | Old fortified monastery | Chemin de Thouzon, 84250 Le Thor | Free access all year round | Free access | 4.4/5 out of >426 reviews |
| Castle of St-Saturnin-lès-Apt | XIth century | Ruins with panoramic view of the Luberon | 84490 Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt | Free access to the ruins | Free access | 4.5/5 of >196 reviews |
| Château des Évêques | 13th century | Home to the Petrarch Museum | 1 Av. François Pétrarque, 84800 Fontaine-de-Vaucluse | Free access | Free admission | 4.5/5 on >161 reviews |
Orange: a unique heritage from imperial Rome
Any visit to the châteaux of the Vaucluse should begin in Orange, where the imprint of Rome is particularly well preserved.
The Théâtre Antique, built in the 1st century during the reign ofAugustus, is one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is distinguished by its 103-metre-long, 37-metre-high stage wall, described by Louis XIV as “the most beautiful wall in my kingdom”. With a capacity of 9,000 spectators and exceptional acoustics, it hosts the Chorégies d’Orange, France’s oldest festival, as well as rock and electro concerts. Immersive experiences such as the Odyssée Sonore transport visitors two millennia back in time.
Not far away, theArc de Triomphe, also a UNESCO World Heritage site and erected between 10 and 25 A.D., celebrates the Pax Romana and pays tribute to the victories of the Roman army through its bas-reliefs.
Palais des Papes in Avignon: a giant of history
The Palais des Papes inAvignon is a must-see. The seat of Western Christendom in the 14th century, it is the largest Gothic building in the world, with a surface area of 15,000 m². Both a fortress and papal residence, it was built in less than twenty years, mainly by Popes Benedict XII (Palais Vieux) and Clement VI (Palais Neuf).
The interior reveals over 20 accessible rooms, including the popes’ private apartments and chapels adorned with precious frescoes by Italian artist Matteo Giovannetti. For total immersion, theHistopad, an augmented reality tablet, lets you visualize the rooms as they were in the past.
The palace also remains a major cultural center, hosting exhibitions and shows, notably in its Cour d’Honneur during the Festival d’Avignon.
An overview of Provence’s fortresses and mansions
Beyond these giants, the list of Vaucluse castles is long, providing a panorama of the history of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. To find the best Vaucluse châteaux to visit, follow this journey through the Luberon.
- Château de Gordes: at the summit of one of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France”, this thousand-year-old château blends medieval fortress and Renaissance elegance. Today, it hosts art exhibitions.
- Château de Lourmarin: nicknamed the “Little Medici Villa of Provence”, Château de Lourmarin is the region’s first Renaissance château. It offers a dense cultural program, and is a top-notch venue forevents.
- Château de Lacoste: the history of Château Lacoste is linked to the Marquis de Sade and fashion designer Pierre Cardin. The restored site hosts a lyric art festival every summer.
- Château du Barroux:facing Mont Ventoux, Château du Barroux is a 12th-century fortress housing a whisky distillery.
- Fortress of Mornas: perched on a cliff, the fortress of Mornas dominates the Rhône valley. Costumed tours bring to life the era of the Counts of Toulouse.
- Château de la Tour d’Aigues: a Renaissance gem now partly in ruins, the Château de la Tour d’Aigues hosts exhibitions and festivals in its elegant remains.
- Château d’Ansouis: in the heart of a listed village, Château d’Ansouis is a private estate that can be visited from April to All Saints’ Day. It’s the perfect setting for a wedding in a Vaucluse château.
- Fort de Buoux: Fort de Buoux, or Château de Buoux, is a 13th-century rock site built on a rocky spur, offering breathtaking panoramic views.
- Château de Thouzon: located on a hill in Le Thor, the remains of this former fortified monastery are open to the public and offer views of Mont Ventoux.
- Château de Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt: the ruins of the Château de Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt (11th century) lead to an ancient hilltop village with a remarkable panoramic view of the Luberon.
- Château des Évêques de Cavaillon: located in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, the Château des Évêques houses 16th-century furniture and offers a treasure hunt for youngsters.
This journey through the ages reveals all the richness of the Vaucluse. For a successful stay, our La Simioune campsite is the ideal base camp for discovering the castles of the Vaucluse. This French department boasts an exceptional heritage that will delight all history and culture lovers.
