Bonjour!

We will be driving from Moustiers‑Sainte‑Marie to Marseille in late June and are trying to decide on the best places to stop along the way. We plan to leave Moustiers around 10 AM and reach Marseille around sunset, so we only have time for one or two stops max.

We are definitely planning to visit the Valensole lavender fields since they are right on the way. Beyond that, I am having trouble narrowing it down as there are so many beautiful villages in the Luberon.

The towns that caught my eye are:

• Saignon
  
• Roussillon
  
• Lourmarin
  
• Bonnieux
  

If you could only pick one village as a stop between the above, which would you choose and why?

I have also read that Lourmarin is best experienced with an overnight stay. Is that true? Would it be worth rearranging the itinerary to spend a night there before continuing to Marseille?

Would love any tips, timing advice, or alternatives I might not be considering.

Thanks.

I skipped Lourmarin (and Saignon and Bonnieux); I adored Roussillon! The Sentier des Ocres is truly spectacular, IMO.

If you haven't already seen it, you might find some useful information in my trip report, including possibilities for other stops. The section on Roussillon is in post # 180; the section on Marseille (marvelous Marseille!) starts with post # 126.
A stellar month in southeastern France

Roussillon is more attractive than Lourmarin.

https://flic.kr/p/8jBfhT

https://flic.kr/p/29TW9Jx

https://flic.kr/p/cNh7mS

Both Lourmarin and Roussillon are attractive villages, but I think Roussillon is more unique and more interesting because of the Sentier des Ocres. We also like Bonnieux. Visited one time in December when it was very quiet and very pleasant without tourists. We loved our walk to the top of the hill, via stone staircases, where there is a church with gorgeous views. My memory of Bonnieux is that it felt sort of mysterious, but that perhaps is because there were so few people there in December. And trees without leaves.

Haven't been to Saignon. My vote would probably be for Roussillon because of the Sentier des Ocres which makes it more unique.

Roussillon is one-of-a-kind. I made a pilgrimage there because of Laurence Wylie's Village in the Vaucluse, as many others have done through the years.

Hi PT,
For us, those 4 villages have meant the following:

Saignon: more wind than others--bring a sweater!
Rousillon: very rarefied due to its tones and superb place to witness a wedding at the old church.
Lourmarin: best local weekly farmers market hands down.
Bonnieux: nIce place to drive to with an audio tape of one of Peter Mayles' books playing in the car.
I am done. The south err, le sud

Thank you.