Things to Do in Oppède and Around Maison Yomana: Our Best Addresses in the Luberon
Updated: Aug 3
Staying at Maison Yomana means settling at the exact centre of the Luberon: everything the region is famous for lies within thirty minutes of the house. Hilltop villages, markets, ochre trails, fine tables, here are our tried-and-tested suggestions, with real distances, to shape your days without constraint.
Start with Oppède-le-Vieux, minutes away
The first village to discover is our own. Oppède-le-Vieux, the old village clinging to the northern slope of the Petit Luberon, rewards the climb: cobbled lanes, stone houses restored by artists, and at the top, the collegiate church and castle ruins, with a view sweeping across the valley. Spared from mass tourism, this is the Luberon at its most discreet, the version we love best. Allow one to two hours, ideally late in the day when the light grazes the stone.
Hilltop villages, all within 30 minutes
Ménerbes (approx. 10 min): listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, once home to Picasso and Nicolas de Staël. Discreet and elegant.
Gordes (approx. 20 min): the most famous, spectacular from the approach road. Our advice: go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the summer crowds.
Roussillon (approx. 25 min): ochre-coloured façades and the Ochre Trail, a walk unlike any other between red cliffs and pines.
Bonnieux (approx. 20 min): terraced on its hillside, facing the Petit Luberon.
Provençal markets
Treat yourself to a colourful morning: the Coustellet farmers' market on Sunday morning (approx. 10 min, the closest to the house), Apt on Saturday for the largest market in Provence (approx. 25 min), Lourmarin on Friday for the most elegant, or L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on Sunday, where market and antiques become one (approx. 20 min). Our full selection is in our guide to the finest Provençal markets.
Nature and escapes
For lovers of the outdoors: the Ochre Trail in Roussillon, the peaceful banks of the Sorgue, the paths around Sénanque Abbey (approx. 25 min), and for a full day out, the Colorado Provençal in Rustrel (approx. 35 min), which we cover in detail here. Not forgetting the Cedar Forest, on the heights of the Petit Luberon, for shaded walks even at the height of summer.
Our favourite table: Le Chanut, in Oppède
Minutes from the house, Le Chanut is our favourite address in the village: sincere, precise cooking built on fresh produce, served in a warm dining room. Booking strongly advised, the room is small and much in demand. For a more panoramic evening, head to Monsieur Tu in Ménerbes, whose terrace looks out over the Luberon.
A frequent question: do you need a car to stay in Oppède?
Yes, it is the key to the Luberon. From the house, everything is ten to thirty minutes away along small roads between vines and olive trees, and that is precisely the charm of every journey. Avignon TGV station and Marseille-Provence airport both have car hire on site.
The Yomana tip: alternate outings with time at the house. The real luxury here is being able to do everything… or nothing at all.
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