In culinary, Provence France is well known for the trademark “à la Provençale,” which encompasses superlative descriptions for its fancy and tasty cuisine. Tourism-wise, this title is also perfectly applicable to Provence’s breathtaking attractions. Whether you are on a vacation in France for your honeymoon, wedding anniversary or simply a romantic date, take with you a Range Rover Sport and drive around and out of Bonnieux, following the routes of this 2-day itinerary, each day of which starts and ends in La Bastide de la Capelongue. The destinations along the path are specially picked to satisfy your wanderlust.
La Bastide de CapelongueDeparture point
The Lavender Fields in Valensole Plateau
Valensole PlateauPopular lavender fields
Be prepared to feast your eyes with a glorious mix of blue and violet shades from the largest lavender field in France. Start the day early; leave La Bastide de Capelongue after taking your sumptuous breakfast, and drive South through D36 to get on A51. In just an hour, you’ll arrive to the lavender heaven of Lavandes Angelvin in Valensole Plateau, 80 kilometers from Bonnieux. This stunning view of lavenders, stretching to as far as your eyes can see, is at its best from late June to beginning of August, when the plants are ready for harvesting. If you visit around July, you’ll get a treat of sunflowers in full bloom along with the lavenders, too. Don’t forget to bring your wide-range camera! There are also shops around where you can buy lavender souvenirs such as oil, soaps and perfumes.
Hilltop Lunch at Moustiers Ste-Marie
Moustiers Ste MarieLunch at hilltop village
The best meal in the hilltop village of Moustiers Ste Marie awaits you in La Cantine Restaurant. From Plateau de Valensole, drive to D56 for 45 minutes to reach this authentic provençal restaurant. What’s better than enjoying great food on a lovely terrace with amazing views, with your loved one? To assure that you will experience this, book an outdoor table at least 2 days prior to your visit as the restaurant gets fully-booked fast. Its address is Rue de la Bourgade, 04360 Moustiers Sainte-Marie, and you can contact +33 4 92 77 46 64 for reservation.
A Romantic Cruise at the Lake of Ste Croix de Verdon
Ste Croix de VerdonMagnificent lake, popular place for water sports
The serene clear waters surrounded by massive karst plateaus of Ste Croix de Verdon will rejuvenate any couple meandering it. Take a 24-minute drive from La Cantine to Lac de Ste Croix de Verdon. Hire a pedalo for two people which is usually rented for 20€ an hour. Otherwise walking along the shore and having a picnic by the lake is a sweet alternative. You can easily spend the whole afternoon exploring or relaxing. Leave the lake vicinity and drive for an hour and forty minutes back to your hotel where you can enjoy flavoursome dishes at La Bergerie d’Edouard Loubet Restaurant.
Bonnieux and Goult: The Impressive Luberon Villages
A more relaxed tour follows the previous day’s adventurous long drive. Just around Bonnieux where Bastide de Capelongue hotel is located you can find plenty of restaurants and interesting spots. This route will also take you up to the ancient village of Goult, which is built around 17th century castles.
Leave your hotel around 10am for a town tour. Visit first the remarkable Bakery museum called Musée de la Boulangerie, less than 10 minutes walk from your starting point in Bonnieux, and experience how the bread is is prepared as well as get acquainted with France’s bread history.
Luberon Natural Regional Park
GoultLunch at a photogenic village in Petit Lubéron
From Bonnieux, head Northwest to Goult, an off-the-beaten-track, yet charming village in the Luberon ranges. Have lunch at Aux Fines Herbes; beef steak with the truffle mashed potatoes, and grilled lamb on skewers with thyme are must-try! Take your time before heading to Old Goult Town, all made of golden stones, some of which carved out of the hill rock. The Moulin de Jérusalem, an impressive windmill on top of the hill is worth a visit.
Le Pont JulienRoman Via Domitia Bridge
Head on D145-D900 in the afternoon to reach Le Pont Julien, a terrific ancient Roman Via Domitia (Roman bridge) architecture that bears great importance in history, as old as 2000 years ago. It was used to connect Italy to Roman territories in France. Even today, you can still walk on it and step back in time.
Bonnieux townWineries and restaurants
Château La CanorgueWinery featured in Russel Crowe's movie
Bastide de CapelongueReturn point
To cap off your day tour around Bonnieux, celebrate at Château La Canorgue for a taste of France’s exceptionally good local wine. Experience wine-tasting and buy some bottles for souvenir. More than just a wineshop, it also has scenic and well-maintained grounds for memorable photos. Its popularity greatly increased since it was featured in Russell Crowe’s movie “A Good Year.” Finally, head back to Bastide de Capelongue for a rewarding dinner.