Destinations, Europe, France

The Best Things to do in Gordes, France: A Complete Guide

The picture-perfect, dreamy hilltop town of Gordes is a must-visit during a Provence trip. It’s often considered to be among the most beautiful villages in the South of France…and for a good reason! With picturesque cobblestone streets, beautiful stone buildings, and a charming weekly market, it’s no wonder so many travellers include Gordes in their itinerary. 

This Luberon village is a super popular spot for a day trip. For those looking for a peaceful escape to Provence, Gordes can also serve as an excellent home base (I’ve included hotel recommendations below!). 

In this guide, I’m sharing the best things to do in Gordes, France, whether you’re planning on visiting for a few hours or a few days. I’ve also included helpful tips to make the most of your trip, as well as restaurant recommendations.

A view of the town of Gordes on the hilltop from the Gordes viewpoint just outside of town
A light tan colored building with light blue shutters and greenery growing down the side. There is a mural of a black cat jumping over a green fence on the wall.
The exterior of the Senanque Abbey. There is a field of lavender in front of the abbey.

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Quick Tips for Visiting Gordes, France

  • Wear Flat and Supportive Shoes – the cobblestone paths in town are uneven, and in some cases a bit slippery!
  • Bring Plenty of Water and Sunscreen – if you’re visiting Gordes in the summer or early fall, pack lots of water and sunscreen.
  • Have Cash on Hand for the Market – some market vendors only take cash, so be sure to have some on hand if you want to shop. 
  • Arrive Early (Especially on Market Day!) – Gordes can be incredibly busy on market day, especially during peak season. I highly recommend arriving early, ideally before 9…mostly just so that you don’t have trouble parking! During my last visit, I arrived in the mid-morning after first stopping in Roussillon, and the parking situation was hectic. I ended up spending a good amount of time searching for street parking that was about a 15-minute walk outside of the village. Next time, I definitely plan on stopping in Gordes first!

How Much Time Do You Need in Gordes?

Gordes is small, so you don’t need a ton of time to explore the village. That said, if you want to enjoy a slow-paced visit, you could easily spend the whole day in town! 

Give yourself at least three hours to stop by the abbey outside of town (without a tour), stroll through the village, shop the market (if you’re visiting on a Tuesday), and stop at the village viewpoint. These are what I consider to be the must-dos while in Gordes. 

Add extra time to your itinerary if you want to stop for lunch or a drink, visit the Château de Gordes and/or the Palais Saint-Firmin caves, check out the Village des Bories outside of town, or do a guided tour of the abbey.  

Since you don’t necessarily need a full day to explore Gordes, I recommend pairing your visit with a day trip to Roussillon and/or Lourmarin. It’s possible to visit all three in a day, especially if you get out first thing in the morning! 

How to Get to Gordes from Aix-en-Provence and Avignon

Gordes is a great day trip destination from both Aix-en-Provence and Avignon. 

Getting to Gordes by Car: You can easily get to Gordes via car. The drive is about an hour from Avignon, and closer to an hour and a half from Aix-en-Provence. Keep in mind that you may end up taking toll roads, depending on your route. 

There are parking lots right in town, as well as a lot on the edge of town. As noted above, try your best to arrive early to find a spot! 

Getting to Gordes by Public Transportation: Public transportation isn’t super convenient for getting to Gordes from either city, but it is possible. From Avignon, you can get to Gordes via bus lines 907/915 and 917. From Aix, you can get to Gordes via bus lines 57/63, 907, and 917. Just keep in mind that these journeys can take double the time of driving (or sometimes even more!). 

Getting to Gordes with a Tour: If you don’t have a car, I highly recommend booking a guided tour of the Luberon Villages that departs from your home base city. You’ll have a chance to see the best of the Luberon with a local, and won’t have to deal with driving (or parking!).  

There are many highly-rated tour options that visit Gordes alongside other destinations in the Luberon region. I recommend booking one of these tours: 

The Best Things to do in Gordes, France

Here’s a look at what to do in Gordes during your visit. 

Shop the Famous Gordes Market

If you can, I highly recommend visiting Gordes on market day (which is Tuesday). The Gordes market is considered to be one of the best in the region. 

Hosted in the center of town, this large open-air market features vendors selling a wide range of items. This includes produce and food items like olives, bread, honey, herbs and spices, cheese, and more. You’ll also find lavender products (this is a great spot to pick up lavender oil or a pouch of dried lavender!), soap, Provencal linens, local art, handmade goods, and so much more. 

Rows of different colored soaps in wooden boxes at the Gordes market
An old light orange colored building in Gordes with a mural of three cats on it.
A variety of herbs and spices in baskets on a vendor's table at the Gordes Market

Stroll Through the Scenic Streets & Take in the View of the Provencal Scenery

It’s worth visiting Gordes just to stroll around town. The village is small, so you can easily explore all the pretty streets in a short amount of time. 

The stone buildings and cobblestone passageways are beautiful, giving that quintessential South of France village experience. Be sure to keep an eye out for the fun cat murals all throughout town! 

I highly recommend walking down to Rue du Belvedere. The street itself is very pretty, and you get stunning views of the Provencal landscape. 

A stone building in Gordes covered with greenery growing up the walls. There are also pink flowers in front.
A woman in a black dress looking in the opposite direction of the camera, up a cobblestone street surrounded by stone walls.
The view of the rural Provencal scenery below Gordes from a viewpoint in town

Explore Les Caves du Palais Saint-Firmin (The Caves of the Palais Saint Firmin)

A cool Gordes landmark that you can visit is Les Caves du Palais Saint-Firmin. These underground cellars date back to the Middle Ages, and were built due to the lack of surface space in the village. They were used for storage and production, and were an essential part of life in Gordes during that time period.  

Today, you can visit the caves and watch a short film, learn about the history, and explore the cisterns, oil mills, and canals. If you’re visiting in the summer, it’s also a great spot to cool off from the heat! Tickets can be purchased in person. 

Note: the caves are open from April through November, and close for the winter. 

Visit Château de Gordes

Right in the heart of the village is Château de Gordes, a medieval fortress that dates back to the 11th century. Today, you can go inside the historical monument to explore the fortress and see the extravagant fireplace, Renaissance doors, and the spiral staircase. They also have art exhibitions inside. Tickets can be purchased in person. 

Stop at Eglise Saint-Firmin (The Church of Saint Fermin)

As you explore town, it’s worth making a quick stop inside the beautiful Eglise Saint-Firmin. The 18th century church has a colorful, intricately detailed interior that’s well worth checking out. 

Enjoy the View of Town from the Gordes Viewpoint 

When you’re driving into or leaving town, be sure to stop at the Gordes viewpoint, located on Route de Cavaillon. You get a really amazing look at how the village is built on the hilltop, as well as an amazing view of the surrounding Provencal scenery. 

Note: you’ll turn off Route de Cavaillon and onto Chem. de Bel air (which is a one-way road) to get to the small parking area for the viewpoint.

The view of the town of Gordes on the hilltop from a viewpoint just outside of town

Visit Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque (Sénanque Abbey) and See the Lavender

You’ll absolutely want to stop by the iconic Sénanque Abbey, which is just a 5-minute drive outside of town. This picturesque Cistercian abbey dates back to 1148, and is set among a field of lavender. Lavender season in Provence is around late June to early August, so it’s an especially special time to visit!

You can visit the property for free, enjoying the view of the exterior and stopping inside the shop. If you’d like to see more, you can book a tour of the abbey. They offer a one-hour guided tour (which is in French) as well as a self-guided tour with a HistoPad (which is available in a variety of languages). 

Both guided and self-guided tours should be booked in advance online. You can also see the visiting hours on the website. 

There is a parking lot by the entrance, but if you’re visiting during peak season, you may have to park on the street and walk up. It can get very crowded, especially when the lavender is in bloom!

Rows of blooming lavender in front of the Senanque Abbey in Gordes, France
A close up shot of lavender in bloom
A woman in a black dress looking towards the Senanque Abbey. She is standing between rows of lavender in bloom.

See the Village des Bories 

Another historic site is the Village des Bories, which is about a 10-minute drive outside of town. The open-air museum exhibits “bories” (traditional dry stone structures) that date back to the 18th and 19th centuries. 

You can learn more about these huts, their agricultural uses, and rural life during this time period at the museum. Tickets can be purchased in-person. 

Where to Eat and Drink in Gordes

There are plenty of great restaurants, cafes, and bars in Gordes, including the following: 

  • La Bastide de Pierres – I highly recommend reserving a lunch or dinner table at this charming Italian restaurant (which is associated with the Airelles hotel) in the heart of town.
  • Restaurant L’Outsider – a well-loved restaurant serving Provencal cuisine for lunch and dinner.
  • Le Teston – a cute casual eatery nestled in a small alley. 
  • Le Fournil de Mamie Jeanne – a bakery with amazing pastries, desserts, breads, savory bites, and more. 
  • Ladurée Gordes – if you want to pick up a macaron or another sweet treat, stop by Ladurée’s Gordes location!
  • Le Cercle Républicain – a casual bar/cafe serving coffee drinks, alcoholic beverages, and more that offers amazing views of the landscape. 

Where to Stay in Gordes

If you’re considering staying in town during your trip, there are some amazing Gordes hotels to consider, including:

If you’ll also be visiting the coast during your South of France trip, take a look at these French Riviera guides: 

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Kyra is the founder of Sea to Sequoia, a site she launched in 2020. As a type A traveler who loves to extensively research destinations to create the perfect vacation itinerary, she’s here to help readers so that their travel planning process is as easy as possible. In addition to running this site, she is a professional content writer in the wellness and skincare spaces, and also works as an actress.

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