Search
Provence Holidays
Gargas - 1

Gargas, Luberon

Located in the heart of the Luberon regional natural park in the Vaucluse, between Apt and Roussillon, this ocher village is a renowned historical and geological site. It is made up of isolated countryside and around thirty small hamlets, surrounded by magnificent landscapes.

What makes this village special?

The village takes its name from the Provençal gargan , which means "mount". At the foot of the hill of Perréal. It is part of La Route de l'Ocre, which starts in Apt and connects the major sites of the Ocher massif: Rustrel, Saint-Saturnin, Villars, Gargas and Roussillon. Outside the village, the ocher mines of Bruoux invite you on a journey between vertiginous cliffs with flamboyant colors and a labyrinth of galleries with a mysterious decor. A unique place in the world! A guided tour is a must! The village has the last active ocher quarry in Europe!

At the top of the hill of Perréal, one can see the remains of a Gallic oppidum as well as those of a chapel. At the bottom stands the pretty church of Saint-Denis, from the 17th century.

Finally, Gargas offers a place that it would be a shame not to visit, the Mathieu chandelier museum, which gives access to more than five centuries of decorative art. Each year, many temporary exhibitions focus on an era, a material or a style... Opened in 2010, the museum offers a history of the chandelier through an exceptional collection of more than two hundred old and recent models.

Régis Mathieu, the founder, is a renowned designer. In the workshops of the site, located in a former ocher factory in the Luberon, the craftsmen restore some of the most beautiful chandeliers in the world, reissue exceptional pieces and manufacture new products. Know-how recognized worldwide. Magical !

Location

Other Local Villages nearby Display all