Great Things to Do Near Le Mas Martin
Discover beautiful Lourmarin
Classed as 'one of France's most beautiful villages', Lourmarin has all the charm you'd expect of a typical Provençal village: winding streets, dappled squares, and a weekly market which takes place on Friday morning. There are plenty of pavement cafés and restaurants to stop at and shops to browse, and it is a lively place all summer long. Don't miss the 15th/16th century castle, part of which is open to visitors, and the Albert Camus walking trail in honour of the famous writer who lived and was buried here.
Try the local sweet snack
Try a 'gibassier' which is a sweet cookie made with olive oil, shaped like an oval leaf and about a foot long!
A day in and around Gordes
The beautiful village of Gordes, perched on the hillside, is deservedly popular with its superbly restored buildings and the most fantastic views, but try to get there early or late to avoid the lunchtime crowds. On the edge of the village, you can visit the Village de Bories, a cluster of the conical stone shepherd huts typical of this area, with information about those who used them in the past. This could be combined with the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, a Cistercian abbey set in tranquil countryside just north of Gordes. Follow one of the guided tours around the monastery, which has been there since 1148. In June/July you will see the lavender fields in front of the abbey in bloom.
The ochre village of Roussillon...
Take time to visit Roussillon (approx 45 minute drive), where you can walk through a vivid landscape of a former ochre quarry; the colours span the spectrum of reds, oranges and yellows and are truly amazing. The village itself is a delight to wander around with its arty shops and lovely cafés.
Read a book set in Provence
Take or download a book set in this area and let the towns and villages come to life. 'A Year in Provence' by Peter Mayle, Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources by Marcel Pagnol are a few that spring to mind. You are not too far from the restored villages of Ménerbes, Oppede le Vieux where much of 'A Year in Provence' was based.
A must-do on any list is a trip to Avignon (1hr drive),
the capital of the Vaucluse. Head for the car park called 'Parking Palais des Papes'. This underground car park is underneath the Palais des Papes square and so when you surface, you greeted with an awe inspiring view of the Palais itself.
Château de la Barben (30 mins)
This medieval fortress with gardens designed by Le Nôtre is situated between Salon de Provence and Aix en Provence. Built in the 11th century on a rocky peak, the chateau was impregnable, and belonged to successive families including royalty. The Château has become the setting for events: heritage days, candlelit tours, medieval banquets and shows. It is also lived in and fully furnished, and can be explored by guided tour by costumed guides. The gardens are open to the public on certain days and include ponds, fountains, statues, and even a 30-metre long underground passage.
Visit Apt on market day
The largest town in this area, Apt holds a big weekly market on a Saturday year round and between April and October on a Tuesday morning too. Once you are stocked up on fresh fruit, bread, olives, have lunch in one of the many cafés. If you are here around the first week of June, you may be able to catch the Luberon Jazz Festival here.
Barben Zoo
Near Salon de Provence, this zoo is set in a 33 hectare forest and has over 600 animals of more than 120 different species. Many large mammals, as well as reptile and bird collections. Why not combine with a visit to the Chateau nearby?
Explore the Luberon Valley
Take a day to drive along the beautiful Luberon valley, whose spectacular countryside ranges from farms, vineyards and orchards to vast fields of lavender to dramatic river gorges. There are Roman remains and medieval castles to discover and a number of lovely hilltop villages including Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes and Goult.
Make a splash!
Enjoy a family day out on a hot day at the water park in Monteux (1 hour). Ride the surf simulator 'Da Wave', cool off in the pools and water slides, and explore the Adventurers' Castle playground.
Holiday games
Challenge the rest of your party to a game of table football or boules at the villa!
Antiques and canoeing!
L'Isle sur la Sorgue (45 mins) is well worth a visit for various reasons. Not least of all, because it is lovely to look at. The River Sorgue flows through the town in a network of canals, leading to its nickname 'the Venice of Provence’. Canoes or kayaks can be hired here for a fun family afternoon on the water. It is also particularly interesting for being home to the most antique shops outside of Paris, and on Sunday morning a huge market takes place with antique dealers coming from far afield to sell their wares, as well as a fantastic Provençal market where you can buy everything from fresh fruit and olives to handmade soaps and artwork. There are many riverside cafés and restaurants offering a picturesque spot for lunch.
A castle and an extraordinary museum
At Ansouis (near Pertuis) take a tour around the imposing, golden stone château with its romantic gardens. And for something different and interesting for children, visit the ‘Musée Extrordinaire’, extraordinary as it is dedicated to ‘underwater life’ – where an underwater cave has been created with the help of blue stained glass windows.
Festivals in Aix
Various events and exhibitions are held in Aix during the summer. The town's main event is the Festival d’Aix en Provence, a two month programme of concerts (mainly operatic and orchestral) as well as talks and workshops which takes place in late June to early July. Among the many other cultural events are an orchestral music festival at Easter, a theatre festival at the end of May/beginning of June, various concerts of different genres, an art and crafts festival in July/August, and a cinema festival in late October.
Aix-en-Provence
This bustling university city makes for a good day out, especially if you are interested in the arts. It was the birthplace of Post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, and you can do a walking trail linking his childhood home and his former studio. Many of Cézanne's paintings were inspired by the countryside around Aix, particularly the Mont Sainte-Victoire, a distinctively shaped mountain close to the city. The city centre has some grand Renaissance architecture, lovely squares and tree-lined avenues packed with shops and restaurants, and its main art gallery Musée Granet.
