Provence and Luberon castles in 2 days from Avignon
2 days · 6 châteaux · 107 km
Tarascon, Les Baux, Gordes, then Lourmarin, Ansouis and La Tour-d’Aigues: the Rhône bank on day one, the Luberon on day two.
Written for visitors who arrive at Avignon, by TGV or by the A7, and want two days that combine castles with the villages around them. The first day runs along the Rhône and the Alpilles, then climbs into the Luberon; the second stays in a 16 km triangle south of the Luberon, which leaves time for the villages. Three castles a day, and heat in summer: start early, and give Les Baux the first hours of the morning, when the car parks below the village still have room. Ansouis is visited by guided tour, so check the times on its fiche before fixing the afternoon. None of the six requires booking for individuals; the fiches carry the opening days, which differ, and the closing months.
Day 1
50 km on the road
From Avignon 20 km to Tarascon on the Rhône, then 13 km to Les Baux, a village and a ruined citadel on their rock, seen on foot; in the afternoon 37 km into the Luberon to Gordes.
château des Baux (Baux Castle)
Les Baux-de-Provence · Bouches-du-Rhône
13 km from the previous stop16,964 reviews
The rest of the route
The stops on the following days. The full plan, with distances, goes out by email.
Day 2
Three castles within 16 km south of the Luberon: Lourmarin in the morning, Ansouis at midday, guided tour, and La Tour-d’Aigues in the afternoon; the road back to Avignon runs through Cavaillon.
Before you go
Opening seasons vary from one castle to the next, and several close for part of the year. Check each castle’s fiche before you fix your dates: it carries the hours and prices as they were verified, with the date of verification.
The order of stops is chained nearest-first from the starting town, and distances are as the crow flies: allow a third more by road. Only châteaux whose opening to the public we know are included.