If we had to choose a single season to discover the Luberon, we would whisper "spring" without a moment's hesitation. From April to June, Provence shakes off its winter slumber: the light softens, the orchards burst into blossom, the trails smell of thyme and rockrose, and the hilltop villages recover a calm that summer takes away from them. It is the season we most love to welcome guests at Le Clos de Manon, because it brings together everything we cherish here — the mildness, the colour and the sense of space — without the bustle of the high holidays. Here, from one insider to another, is what to see and do in the Luberon between April and June.
Why spring is the best season in the Luberon
Spring ticks almost every box. The temperatures are ideal, generally between 15 and 25°C during the day, perfect for walking for hours without suffering from the heat. The nights stay cool, which makes for delicious sleep behind closed shutters. And above all, it is still the low season for tourism: you can park without circling the Place du Château in Gordes, the café terraces are welcoming, and you can enjoy Roussillon, Ménerbes or Gordes almost to yourself.
The only real drawback, in all honesty: the lavender is not yet in bloom. The fields around the Sénanque Abbey, 4 km from the villa, stay green until mid-June, and the peak bloom only comes in July. If the sea of purple is your one and only goal, it is better to come later; we explain it in detail in our guide to the seasons in Provence. But for everything else — the flowers, the walking, the markets, the tranquillity — spring is unbeatable.
The blossoms: cherry trees, poppies and broom
Before the lavender, the Luberon goes through a succession of blooms that set the rhythm of the weeks. The almond trees open the dance as early as late February, but it is in April that the show truly settles in.
- The cherry trees: the plain at the foot of the Monts de Vaucluse, around Robion and Coustellet, turns white in April. The Luberon is one of the great cherry-growing areas of France, and the blossom there is a moment suspended in time.
- The poppies: in May and June, they blaze along the edges of fields and pathways. Set against the still-green wheat, they make up the most photographed landscapes of the Provençal spring.
- The broom: on the slopes of the Petit Luberon, it carpets the hillsides in yellow from May onwards, scenting the air with a honeyed fragrance.
Add to that the irises, the wisteria spilling over the cobbled lanes of Gordes, and the first roses in the gardens: spring is, quite simply, the season of colour.
Hiking in the Luberon in April–May
Spring is the dream window for walking. The heat is not yet crushing, water still runs through the valleys, and the vegetation is at its peak. From Gordes, several routes are within easy reach on foot:
- The path to the Sénanque Abbey: 4 km from the village (about 8 minutes by car, or a lovely walk), the 12th-century Cistercian abbey is tucked into the hollow of a small valley. In spring, you admire it in its green setting, before the bloom brings the crowds.
- The Village des Bories: about 3 km from Gordes, these dry-stone huts can be visited without the summer crowds, in soft light.
- The Régalon Gorges and the Cedar Forest: on the southern slope of the Luberon, these classics are at their best in spring, when the ground has not yet dried out. The Cedar Forest, planted above Bonnieux, offers a welcome coolness.
An insider's tip: take water, a windbreaker (the mistral can pick up) and set off early. Spring mornings, with their low, raking light, are magical. For fuller ideas, we have gathered our favourites in our selection of outdoor activities in the Luberon.
The markets and the villages rediscovered
In spring, the Provençal markets come back to life without yet being besieged. The Tuesday morning market on the Place du Château in Gordes is one of the finest in the Luberon: you'll find goat's cheeses, Carpentras strawberries, green asparagus from the Alpilles, honeys and the first cut flowers. About fifteen minutes away, the Sunday market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue blends local produce with antiques, in an atmosphere that is still relaxed before summer.
It is also the perfect time to wander the hilltop villages without jostling for room. Roussillon and its red-ochre cliffs, Ménerbes and its rocky spur, Lacoste crowned by the ruins of the Marquis de Sade's château, Bonnieux and its stepped lanes: all are best savoured when you can linger over a drink on a terrace. Spring does justice to these villages that the July crowds end up smothering.
Late June: the lavender finally appears
If you come in very late spring, you might be lucky enough to glimpse the first lavender flowers. In the Luberon, the fields around Sénanque usually begin to turn blue around mid-June, ahead of the July peak. It is not yet the postcard sea of purple, but it is a delightful — and far more peaceful — foretaste. To plan ahead for the full season, take a look at our article on the Luberon in summer: lavender, markets and cool retreats, which naturally takes over from these weeks of transition.
And after spring?
Spring is only one of the four Provences. For those who dream of coppery colours, grape harvests and a renewed gentleness, autumn in the Luberon, between harvests and colour, is an underrated marvel. And for lovers of silence, of skies washed clean by the mistral and of deserted villages, the Luberon in winter, between mistral, calm and light, holds some lovely surprises. Each season has its charm, but spring remains, for us, the most generous in balance.
Your spring stay at Le Clos de Manon
A ten-minute walk from Gordes, Le Clos de Manon is a perfect base from which to explore the Luberon from April to June. After a hike to Sénanque or a market in Gordes, you come home to enjoy the walled garden, and you make the most of the heated pool, which we switch on as soon as the fine weather arrives — the water stays pleasant even when the evening air turns cooler. As spring is a gentler season for bookings, it is also the time when it is easiest to secure your ideal dates: we invite you to check our availability online and to write to us with any questions. We will be delighted to help you put together a stay worthy of this season.