Rustrel
Published on 08/11/2024 by CAMPASUN
Between the Luberon and the Monts de Vaucluse lies Rustrel, a village perched above the Apt basin. Nicknamed the “Colorado Provençal,” it stands out with its landscapes and colors, thanks to the exploitation of ochre quarries.
In the surrounding area, several other towns and villages are a must-see during your stay at the campsite in the Luberon, such as Avignon, Bonnieux, Roussillon…
Visit Rustrel in the Vaucluse
In the village of Rustrel stands a beautiful castle, proudly attached to the “Grande Montagne” (1,000 meters). To the south, the Colorado Provençal and all its colors unfold.
In the center of the village, you will discover the “promenade de l’eau,” which leads to the Romanesque church of the Nativity of Our Lady, the “castle-town hall,” as well as an olive oil mill and the Renaissance-style Castelet.
Here and there, you can also spot beautiful fountains, calvaries, a washhouse, and the Oratory of Saint-Roch. From here, you can embark on a hike along the Sentier de la Baume du Midi, or on the toponymic trails of the Grande Montagne, which provide numerous explanations about the area through 6 orientation tables.
Rustrel is also home to market gardens, hills, and valleys, not to mention the ochre and garrigue.
Less than 30 kilometers away, you’ll find the Campasun Les Hautes Prairies campsite, located in the municipality of Lourmarin.
What to do around Rustrel in the Vaucluse?
Here, the Sentier des Ocres and the dedicated museum are not to be missed. In the same theme, you can visit the Mines de Bruoux to admire the dizzying cliffs and the vast labyrinths of galleries. The underground quarries are open to visitors.
Not far away is Bonnieux, with its cedar forest, its beautiful Saint-Julien bridge, its castle, and its church made of old stones. Here, one can admire one of the most beautiful gardens in France: La Louve, with its stones and garrigue plants (boxwood, laurel, thyme, rosemary…), as well as the Bories enclosure, amidst lavender fields.
The Sentier des Ocres leads to the village of Roussillon. This picturesque village dazzles with its narrow streets and all the colorful facades you’ll find there.
Avignon is just over an hour from Rustrel. It’s a great opportunity to visit this wonderful city filled with history, architecture, and culture (the history of the Popes, its UNESCO-listed heritage, including its famous bridge… and its gastronomy!).
