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Provence holiday rental home
Menerbes rises up like a ship from the sea of vineyards that run along the Luberon valley. In French it is called a 'perched village'. The Luberon has several perched, hilltop villages, and most, like Menerbes, are also members of that select group officially recognised as 'The Most Beautiful Villages in France'. What you will notice about Menerbes is that it is less touristy than the other villages of the Luberon, and less crowded too. |
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Place de la Mairie. |
Menerbes from the south, house circled in red. |
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The village of Menerbes has ancient buildings,
towers and churches, with narrow streets that wind their way up to the
square at the top of the village. From up here there are lovely views
of the surrounding countryside - the Luberon to the south, and other hill-top
villages like Gordes to the north, as well as the towering Mont Ventoux.
The house is at this top level too, which sets it apart from the shops
and restaurants a two-minute stroll down the hill.
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Menerbes village centre |
What's in Menerbes: Three restaurants. |
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Looking up at Menerbes from the cherry trees |
Menerbes is at the heart of the
Luberon, a part of Provence that enjoys the
benefits of a Mediterranean climate with none of the 'progress'
so evident on the coast. This land is a protected natural park, and it
is the closest thing to the idealised Provence we see in popular culture.
In fact, Peter Mayle wrote his bestseller 'A Year in Provence'
here in Menerbes. Picasso was equally inspired to install his mistress,
the artist Dora Maar, in a house a few doors down from mine.
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You should visit the Luberon if you want beautiful, varied landscapes and scenery; pure air to breathe; the light that has always brought painters and poets here; the best natural produce (fruit and vegetables here actually taste like they used to); fascinating places to visit within a short drive or cycle; sunny days when you can eat outside in every month of the year. |
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I've put together some information on the Luberon and Provence which you can see by clicking here. It includes links to newspaper and magazine articles so you can see what others think. For recommended books and films about the Luberon and Provence, click here. You can see what past guests have written in the guestbook here. |
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 The 'other view' from Menerbes, looking away from the
Luberon mountain, towards the village of Gordes and the Mont Ventoux. |
