Roussillon

The whole village is painted in red, orange and yellow ochre tones. The “Ochre Trail” beside it winds through orange-red cliffs formed by former quarries, like a European Colorado.

Roussillon is about 10 km from Gordes, on the Luberon's largest ochre deposit. From the 18th century to the 1930s, ochre was mined here to make pigments. Every house in the village is painted with local ochre clay, in 17 shades ranging from pale yellow and orange-red to deep ochre. It has been named one of the most beautiful villages in France. The main attraction is the Sentier des Ochres (Ochre Trail) beside the village. Former open-air mines have been eroded by wind and rain into orange-red peaks and gorges, which contrast sharply with the green pines around them. There are two loops, of 30 and 50 minutes, with wooden boardwalks alternating with dirt paths. Admission costs about €3.50. From March to November, it opens at 9:30 (until 19:30 in summer), and it closes on rainy days to protect the landscape. The village can be explored on foot in 30 minutes. The viewing platform by the bell tower overlooks the Luberon Mountains and Mont Ventoux. Cafés and galleries surround the central square. One kilometre outside the village, the Ôkhra ochre and colour workshop (formerly the Mathieu ochre factory) explains how ochre is mined and processed into pigment. Getting there requires a car. A paid car park at the village entrance costs about €3 to €5, and traffic jams occur after 10 am in peak season. Wear old shoes, as ochre powder sticks to shoes and light-coloured clothing. On the trail, keep children away from the cliff edges. Thursday morning is market day. The ochre cliffs look most saturated at sunset.

Roussillon

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