Travelling through the Luberon with children means swapping the frantic pace of the big cities for a string of little adventures seen at a child's eye level: a canoe gliding beneath a red cliff, a goat to stroke at the farm, an ochre trail that looks like the surface of Mars. After years of welcoming families to Le Clos de Manon, a ten-minute walk from the hilltop village, we've learned what really works with children in Provence — and what simply wears them out for nothing. Here is what we share with our guests.
The outdoor activities that enchant children
The Colorado Provençal in Rustrel
About thirty minutes from Gordes, the Colorado Provençal in Rustrel is one of our family favourites. Its former ochre quarries form fairy chimneys, orange canyons and trails of coloured sand that children adore. Two waymarked loops are open to walkers: the shorter one is easy to manage with young legs in under an hour. Be sure to bring:
- Old clothes: the ochre stains permanently, trainers included.
- Water and a hat: there is little shade along the way.
- Morning or late afternoon in summer, to escape the midday heat.
Canoeing on the Sorgue
Near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, about twenty minutes from the villa, paddling down the Sorgue by canoe is an almost guaranteed hit with children. The water is clear and cool, and the current does all the work: you simply drift between the green banks along a route of roughly eight kilometres. Most rental bases welcome children from the age of six or seven, accompanied by an adult. It's an ideal outing for hot days, when the cool of the river feels like a real gift.
The ochre trail in Roussillon
A quarter of an hour from Gordes, the ochre trail in Roussillon winds along a short, shaded loop through a blazing landscape. Children love playing explorer between the scarlet cliffs and the pines. Allow thirty to forty-five minutes of easy walking. Once again, bring clothes you don't mind getting dirty.
Fun and slightly out-of-the-ordinary discoveries
The Bruoux Mines
In Gargas, about twenty minutes away, the Bruoux Mines offer a striking guided tour: you make your way through vast underground galleries carved out of the ochre, sometimes more than fifteen metres high. Their constant coolness makes them a perfect antidote to the summer heat, and the cathedral-like atmosphere of colour leaves a lasting impression on children. The tour proceeds at a gentle pace, with a guide, which reassures the youngest visitors.
The Bories Village
Just three kilometres from Le Clos de Manon, the Bories Village gathers around twenty dry-stone huts. To a child, it's a real miniature elf village: you step inside the huts and imagine the lives of the shepherds of old. The visit is short — a good hour — and lends itself nicely to an impromptu treasure hunt.
Farms and markets
The Luberon is full of petting farms and producers where you can meet goats, donkeys and bees. It's the perfect chance to explain where cheese, lavender honey or olive oil comes from. The Provençal markets are also a wonderful playground for the senses: the one in Gordes, on Tuesday mornings on the Place du Château, brims with colours, scents and little tastings. Hand the children a few coins so they can choose their own fruit or a piece of nougat.
Cycling and swimming: summer as a family
The Calavon greenway
For safe cycling with children, head for the Calavon greenway, a wide, well-maintained cycle path built along a former railway line. Flat and away from traffic, it links several Luberon villages and can be ridden section by section as you please. Plenty of outfitters offer children's bikes, child seats and even electric bikes for the parents. It's one of the gentlest ways to discover the Provençal countryside.
Where to swim
Children always ask for water, and the area is far from short of options: supervised lakes, cool rivers like the Sorgue, or the dedicated swimming spots of the Luberon. To explore the subject further, we detail our favourite places in our article on swimming in the Luberon. That said, after a busy day there's nothing like coming home to a private pool where the children can splash about safely, away from prying eyes and the crowds.
Our hosts' tips for a relaxed holiday
- Managing the heat: in July and August, schedule visits in full sun for the morning before 11 a.m., and save the afternoon for swimming or for cool galleries like the Bruoux Mines.
- Respecting the pace: one real outing a day is enough. Children get far more out of a morning of activity followed by a quiet afternoon than out of three villages back to back.
- Keeping driving to a minimum: choosing a central base, like Gordes, avoids the long car journeys that spoil the mood. Most of our suggestions are less than thirty minutes away.
- Planning for the unexpected: sun cream, hats, water and snacks in the bag, always.
To plan your whole trip, from choosing the season to setting the budget, we've gathered the essentials in our practical guide to staying in Gordes.
Le Clos de Manon, a base camp designed for families
Everything above becomes simple when you have a real home base. A ten-minute walk from the village, Le Clos de Manon offers families space, quiet and, above all, a private heated pool where children can swim in complete peace after a day of outings. It's exactly what couples looking for calm are after too, as we describe in our article on Gordes for couples, as well as travellers who want to combine sightseeing with working in the green, a topic we cover in our piece on remote work and workations in the Luberon. And if you're thinking of bringing the whole tribe together for a big occasion, take a look at our ideas for hosting a wedding or event in the Luberon. Once your dates take shape, simply check our availability to book your family stay.