which villages to visit in Provence?
 

I am trying to plan our itinerary for a one day visit in Provence. We are on a cruise ship and only have about 11 hours in this area. Since we are there on a Sunday I really want to go to L'Ilse sur la Sorgue for the market, but then I am torn between which other towns to visit. I am deciding between Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Meberbes and Oppede le Vieux. I want to stay away from the large crowds and experience some beautiful villages. Any advice on your experiences either positive or negative would be greatly appreciated.

I love Roussillon--the colors and the ochre cliffs distinguish it from all other Provencal villages for me. Bonnieux was sweet, although we didn't spend much time there, and our experience with Gordes was limited to gazing at it from a picnic area while we enjoyed an impromptu lunch of roast chicken, fougasse, macarons, and rose that we picked up at the Carpentras market that morning. It certainly looked like a beautiful and typical town for the region.

Where are you starting from and how do you plan to get around?

We are starting from Marseille and hiring a private driver to take us around to the smaller towns. Hopefully, if we're on shore by 8am we will be able to be in L'Isle sur la Sorgue by 10am. I'm not exactly sure how long it takes to get there, but I'm guessing an hour and a half to two hours.

I enjoyed a brief visit to Gordes but adored Roussillon. I wish you had time to enjoy a dinner watching the sunsets in the midst of the red rocks. Amazing!

Just driving the countryside of Provence is amazing. I enjoyed the countryside around St. Remy and lunch in Arles.

Having a driver is a wonderful way to maximize your time. How wonderful and how lucky you are!

Here's one of the better sites

http://www.provenceweb.com/e/villages.htm

If you finish up at Isle sur la Sorgue shortly after lunch, you should be able to visit several of the Lubéron villages. They're not far apart, and none is large enough to require extensive walking. Of those you list, Oppède le Vieux is probably the most difficult to visit, as you must park in a lot and then climb up to the village. The others are easily accessible by car.

My husband and I just returned from a week in Provence so I can offer you some suggestions. We loved Roussillon as it is very charming and it was not overly crowded. Views are outstanding. We spent a brief time in Gordes but it was overwhemled with tourists, bus tours, and crowds. It is a beautiful town but way over the top for us in terms of crowds. Loumarin in the Luberon is also a beautiful village and less touristy. We also went to Lacoste which was very interesting and has beautiful scenic views. It is not at all touristy - no shops/cafes. Very medieval and the site of the castel of the Marquis De Sade. Its undergoing renovation but the hike up to the top will reward you with gorgeous views of the valley and Bonnieux. Have a wonderful trip.