Perched on the edge of the Vaucluse Mountains, Gordes overlooks the Calavon Valley and faces the Luberon massif. Its stone houses rise in tiers beneath the château, linked by calades, narrow lanes paved with pebbles. The village is one of France’s Most Beautiful Villages, as are its neighbours Roussillon and Lourmarin.
Choosing where to stay in Gordes is mostly about deciding how far you want to be from the village: a few minutes on foot or true seclusion among the holm oaks. This guide will help you decide, with places we have hand-picked one by one.
Guesthouses and holiday homes far outnumber hotels. You’ll find our full selection on the places to stay in Gordes page.
How to choose an area
There are few rooms in the village itself: accommodation is spread across the slopes and plateau.
- Below the village, less than two kilometres away: reach Place du Château on foot or in a few minutes by car.
- On the road to Sénanque: the plateau to the north, among lavender and scrubland, with the abbey at the end of the road.
- The countryside and hamlets, two or three kilometres away: farmhouses with gardens and pools, but you’ll need a car for every outing.
For a weekend, stay as close as possible to the lanes. For a week exploring the Luberon in summer, a farmhouse with a pool is worth a few extra kilometres. Here are our picks.
Below the village
Less than two kilometres from the centre, these three places let you enjoy the village in the evening, once the buses have left.
La Calade, maison de village
The closest to the centre in our selection, less than a kilometre from the lanes. Three bedrooms with bathrooms, a garden with a heated pool and a terrace make this a good fit for a family or two couples. Private parking means you won’t have to look for a space in the village in summer.
Domaine de l'Enclos
An old Provençal farmhouse on the road to Sénanque Abbey, a kilometre and a half from the village. The heated pool and sauna extend the season, while the air-conditioned rooms overlook the garden or come with a terrace. Pets are welcome.
Le Mas Natán
A four-star guesthouse on Chemin des Luquets, just over a kilometre and a half from the centre. The air-conditioned rooms open onto a terrace with a view, and the pool is set in the garden. With private parking, it’s a convenient base for a couple splitting their time between the village and the Luberon roads.
In the Gordes countryside
Two or three kilometres from the village, the landscape opens onto orchards and oak woods. These places suit anyone looking for peace and quiet who doesn’t mind driving.
Mas Val-Chênaie Gordes
Adults-only, this farmhouse on Chemin de Fontblanche, about two kilometres from the village, is aimed at couples seeking peace and quiet. There’s a heated pool, a Provençal garden and air-conditioned rooms, some with private terraces; breakfast is continental. An independent cottage with a kitchen lets you stay longer at your own pace.
Gîte Aux Bons Voisins
An air-conditioned home on the road to Saint-Pantaléon, less than three kilometres from the centre, with a private pool, garden and terrace facing the Luberon. Two bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen accommodate up to six people, making it a good option for a family. Private parking is available on site, but you’ll need a car for everything.
Le Clos de Gordes
The furthest from the village of our picks, on Chemin des Prés, just over three kilometres away. Come for the garden, the pool open in the warmer months and breakfast served on site. Air-conditioned rooms with bathrooms; pets welcome.
What to see in Gordes
Start your visit around the château, rebuilt in 1525 on an older fortress. Listed as a historic monument, it now hosts exhibitions year-round. Nearby, the cellars of the Palais Saint-Firmin reveal a village carved into the rock, with an old underground olive oil mill.
On the plateau, the village of Les Bories is a cluster of dry-stone huts built without mortar. In the countryside, the Moulin des Bouillons preserves a monumental 16th-century press and basins carved into the rock.
To the north, at the end of a valley, Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey, founded in the 12th century, is still home to a Cistercian community. You can visit with a guide or explore independently with a HistoPad tablet.
Nearby
- Roussillon: a few kilometres to the east, this ochre village is known for its red cliffs.
- Coustellet: in the plain, home to the Lavender Museum and a farmers’ market.
- Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: the source of the Sorgue and antique shops along the water; see our places to stay in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
- The villages of the Luberon: Bonnieux, Lacoste, Ménerbes and, further south, Lourmarin.
When to visit Gordes
Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant seasons for walking. The lavender at Sénanque blooms from late spring to early summer, the busiest time of year. Winter is quiet, though the mistral sometimes sweeps through.
All year round, the market brings the village centre to life on Tuesday mornings. Every year in early August, the Gordes Festival brings concerts and comedy shows to the open-air Théâtre des Terrasses. Book well in advance for these dates and for the lavender bloom.
Getting there and getting around
A car is the easiest option: Gordes is less than an hour’s drive from Avignon TGV station, and you leave the A7 at Cavaillon. Paid car parks are grouped at the entrance to the village.
If you’re travelling without a car, you’ll need to plan ahead. Regional bus route Zou! 917 runs from Coustellet to Apt via the hamlets of Gordes and Roussillon, with a few services a day, Monday to Saturday, except public holidays. You’ll find other places to stay on our Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur page.
Gordes is part of our guide to where to stay in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. For comparison, read our guides to where to stay in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, for its canals and antique markets, where to stay in Lourmarin, on the southern slopes of the Luberon, and where to stay in Avignon, for a combination of city and villages.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions you might have before a stay in Gordes.
Where should I stay in Gordes to get around on foot?
Most small places to stay are on the slopes and in the countryside, not in the hilltop village. To reach the lanes on foot, look for a home or guesthouse less than a kilometre from the centre. Beyond two kilometres, the terrain and roads without pavements make a car essential, especially in the evening. In return, outlying farmhouses offer more space and often a pool.
Can you visit Gordes without a car?
Yes, but you’ll need to plan ahead. Regional bus route Zou! 917 runs from Coustellet to Apt, serving the hamlets of Gordes and Roussillon, with a few services a day, Monday to Saturday, except public holidays. The nearest train stations are in Cavaillon and Avignon. A car is much more convenient for Sénanque and the Luberon villages.
When can I see the lavender in bloom at Sénanque?
The lavender around Notre-Dame de Sénanque Abbey blooms from late spring to early summer, depending on the weather each year. Come early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the crowds. The abbey, still home to Cistercian monks, can be visited with a guide or independently with a HistoPad tablet. Accommodation nearby books up well in advance at this time of year.
What day is market day in Gordes?
The Gordes market is held in the village centre on Tuesday mornings, all year round. You’ll find local produce and crafts. It attracts many visitors in summer, so arrive early to find a space in the paid car parks at the village entrance. In the plain, Coustellet also has a farmers’ market known for its fruit and vegetables.
Is Gordes a good base for exploring the Luberon?
Yes, its position in the north of the Calavon Valley makes it a good starting point. Roussillon and its ochre landscapes are a few kilometres away; Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue are a short drive away, as are Bonnieux, Lacoste and Ménerbes on the other side of the valley. You’ll need to cross the massif to reach Lourmarin and the southern slopes. A farmhouse with a pool makes it easy to explore by day and return to a peaceful setting in the evening.
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