Location

Saignon

Saignon is located in Provence, in the south-east of France and its history permeates its every pore. The village nestles at the foot of a huge rock plateau which, in the 12^th century, housed three separate castles – the remains of which can still be seen. Today the Rocher de Bellevue gives a magnificent view of the Luberon Natural Regional Park and is well worth the climb.

The village grew in the 16th century, and now the winding streets and magical squares are home to a range of restaurants from the tiny, charming Cave Gourmand through to the sophistication of Un Jardin sur le Toit – where you dine on the remains of the roof of one of the castles.

There is an excellent bakery – great for the morning croissants and patisseries, picnic supplies and light lunches – as well as an small but eclectic selection of shops and galleries to visit.

Saignon is very easy to get to – Marseille airport is a spectacular 75 mins drive, the smaller Nimes airport is 90 mins, and Avignon TGV station 60 mins, or of course it’s a lovely drive – we often stop for a night around Burgundy.

The Area

The Luberon lies at the heart of Provence and the area has long been famous for its vineyards, lavender fields and hill-top villages.

Maison Pigalet is ideally located for visiting the best that the area has to offer and we provide a comprehensive set of tourist guides and leaflets for our guests, as well as our insider knowledge of the area. To give you a taste of the possibilities … we love cycling along the peaceful path to the Roman bridge at Pont Julien for a picnic, canoeing along the Sorgue from Fontaines-de-Vaucluse, renting a classic 2CV and trundling the lanes to the nearby villages for lunch, or walking the rust coloured ochre trails at the Colorado de Rustrel. Then there are the traditional local markets and so many fabulous vineyards and restaurants.

The nearby town of Apt is the “capital of the Luberon” – a thriving market town offering everything from quaint squares with charming cafes and restaurants to a range of shops and supermarkets – there’s even a cinema! Its bustling Saturday morning market is one of the largest in the area and has been running all year round for over 500 years.

If you would like help arranging any of these activities, or you need a cook for your time at Maison Pigalet, please just let us know and we can introduce you to a Concierge who offers an excellent service in the area.