Roussillon.
- WHAT TO DO
- WHAT TO SEE
- WHAT TO EAT
Roussillon sits fifty kilometres east of Avignon in the Luberon valley, roughly fifty minutes by car along the D900. The village is known for the massive ochre deposits beneath its feet, which tint the town's facades and surrounding cliffs in shades of rust and saffron. The narrow streets climb up to a panoramic 11th-century church terrace overlooking the Vaucluse plateau. Roussillon is worth visiting if you want to walk through former ochre quarries and eat Provençal cooking on high stone terraces.
Last updated 13 Sept 2026
Field notes
Photographs · Wikimedia Commons._(IA_dr_compte-de-roussillon-southern-roussillon-9741268).jpg)
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What to do in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Roussillon clusters along a ridge of iron-rich sandstone, where the day is paced by the sun moving across terracotta walls. Visitors come primarily to wander the pigment-stained trails of the old quarries, linger over long lunches on shaded village squares, and photograph the red-gold palette of the buildings. It suits travellers who enjoy unhurried walking, geological oddities, and quiet village evenings once day-trippers disperse.
24 hours in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Arrive before nine to walk Le Sentier des Ocres before the heat settles into the canyon. Eat lunch on Place du Pasquier with a carafe of chilled Luberon rosé and a plate of grilled lamb chops with herbes de Provence. Spend the late afternoon wandering Rue de la Poste to the church terrace as the setting sun ignites the sandstone. Select 1 Day above to see it.
2 days in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Spend morning two at the Conservatoire des Ocres, learning how pigments were washed and refined in the old mill. Drive ten minutes south to Goult for a quiet lunch of daube de boeuf in the village square, then explore the restored terrace gardens of the Moulin de Jérusalem before returning for an evening stroll through Roussillon. Choose 2 Days to expand the plan.
3 days in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
A third day allows an early morning trip to Apt for its sprawling Saturday produce market, followed by a hike along the limestone cliffs of the Gorges de Lioux. End your loop with wine tastings along the D900, stopping at family estates to pick up bottles of Grenache-heavy Luberon reds before a quiet dinner overlooking the valley.
Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France itineraries by interest
Walking Trails in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Follow Le Sentier des Ocres through pine forests and sculpted red sands, choosing the 30-minute or 60-minute marked loops from town.
Industrial Heritage in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Tour the Conservatoire des Ocres et de la Couleur at Usine Mathieu, an old processing mill demonstrating pigment extraction and washing.
Wine & Vineyards in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Sample crisp AOC Ventoux and Luberon reds built from Syrah and Grenache at Domaine Chasson Château Blanc just outside the village.
Weekly Markets in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Browse Thursday morning stalls on Place de la Mairie for Cavaillon melons, Banon goat cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves, and lavender honey.
Village Architecture in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Trace the 17th-century bell tower belfry and pastel lime-washed facades along Rue de la Poste up to the orientation table at the summit.
Traditional Cooking in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Eat daube provençale simmered in red wine, pieds et paquets, and tapenade served with toasted country bread at small village bistros.
Sacred Architecture in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Step inside Église Saint-Michel to see its Romanesque choir, 17th-century nave, and stone portal resting against the cliff edge.
Art Galleries in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Visit local painters working along Rue Richard Casteau who use natural ochre pigments to capture the Luberon light on raw canvas.
Craft Traditions in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Find earthenware pottery glazed in local iron-oxide pigments at workshops scattered around Place du Pasquier.
Hill Walks in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Trek the GR6 trail through oak woods and dry-stone bories connecting Roussillon to neighbouring Gordes across the valley.
Day Trips in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Drive fifteen minutes to the cliff-hung village of Gordes and the 12th-century Cistercian Sénanque Abbey surrounded by lavender.
Scenic Viewpoints in Roussillon Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur France
Stand on the Castrum panoramic viewpoint near the cemetery for wide views stretching across the Luberon massif to the Monts de Vaucluse.