The Best Things to do in Roussillon, France: A Day Trip Guide

How Much Time Do You Need in Roussillon?

Since Roussilion is so small, you don’t need too much time to enjoy the town. I recommend giving yourself about two hours if you want to do the shorter version of the ochre trail and spend some time walking through and shopping in town. Add an extra half hour or so if you plan on doing the extended version of the trail, as well as more time if you want to eat while in Roussillon (you’ll find restaurant recommendations below!) or visit the Ôkhra museum outside of town. 

I recommend pairing a Roussillon day trip with a visit to Gordes and Lourmarin. It’s easy to see all three in a day, especially if you’re coming from nearby Aix-en-Provence or Avignon. At the bottom of this guide, I’ll share more about how I recommend structuring a day trip to Roussillon, Gordes, and Lourmarin! 

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

Roussillon is a popular day trip destination from both Aix-en-Provence and Avignon. 

Getting to Roussillon by Car: You can get to the village via car – the drive is just around an hour from both cities. Note that you may drive on toll roads, depending on your route!

I recommend navigating to the parking spots along the north end of town, on D169 and Rue de la Fontaine. Your navigation should lead you around town, rather than through it (it’s not the worst thing if you do end up driving through town, it can just get crowded with pedestrians!). From there, it’s a short walk uphill into town. 

An alternative option is to park at the parking lot on the south end of town, right by the Ochre trail trailhead. This is more central, but the lot can get crowded during the busy season. 

Once you park, everything mentioned below (with the exception of Ôkhra, which is a short drive outside of town), is within a short walking distance. 

Getting to Roussillon by Public Transportation: Unfortunately, public transportation isn’t an option for getting from Aix to Roussillon. You can technically take a bus from Avignon, but it will double your transportation time, so it’s not ideal. 

Getting to Roussillon with a Tour: If you don’t have a car, consider booking a guided tour of the Luberon Villages that departs from Aix-en-Provence or Avignon. This is a great way to go, as you’ll be able to see the best of the region under the guidance of a local, and won’t have to worry about coordinating your transportation. 

There are a few different tour options that cover Roussillon, as well as other destinations in the Luberon region. Some options to consider include: 

• Luberon Villages Half-Day Tour from Aix-en-Provence (includes Gordes, Lourmarin, and Roussillon)
• Provence Wineries and Luberon Villages Day Trip from Aix-en-Provence (includes two wineries, as well as Gordes, Lourmarin, and Roussillon)
• Provence in One Day Tour from Avignon (includes Gordes, Roussillon, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Les Baux de Provence, and Pont du Gard)
• Roussillon and Gordes Half-Day Tour from Avignon

If you’ll be in Aix during your South of France trip, take a look at my comprehensive Aix-en-Provence travel guide!

Hike Le Sentier des Ocres (AKA the Ochre Trail)

Hiking the Sentier des Ocres is a must while visiting Roussillon. This trail system takes you through what was once an ochre quarry, so you’ll get a chance to get up close to the beautiful ochre cliffs. The views from the trail are also stunning! 

There is a shorter trail (which takes about 30 minutes) and a longer trail (which takes about an hour). There is a small fee to access the trail, which you pay in person. As noted above, you’ll want to wear shoes that can get dirty! 

Opening hours changed throughout the year, so refer to the ochre trail website before you go. You can also see the map of the two different trail routes on this site. 

Admire the Picture-Perfect View of Town near the Trailhead

Once you finish the hike and start walking towards town, stop right outside the trail entrance (just north of the parking lot) to enjoy the incredible view of the colorful buildings of Roussillon. Be sure to take a photo before continuing on to town! 

Stroll Through the Ochre-Colored Town

As mentioned, many of the beautiful red, orange, yellow, and pink buildings in the town of Roussillon were painted with ochre pigments from the quarries. There are only a few streets in town, so spend some time walking around and enjoying their beauty! One spot that is particularly worth seeing is the very photogenic Place de la Mairie.  

As you walk around, be sure to stop in the local galleries and shops. Some highlights include Cricri Céramique, Céramiques du Luberon, and Il Était Une Flamme (a candle shop). 

If you want a sweet treat, it’s definitely worth stopping for a lavender ice cream at Maison Brémond 1830 (which is also a fun gourmet grocery store worth walking around) or La P’tite Maison Bio. 

Enjoy the Provencal Scenery from the Roussillon Lookout

While you’re in town, be sure to walk up to the Roussillon lookout on the north end of town. You get amazing views of the ochre cliffs, a portion of town, and the Provencal scenery! If you’re visiting during lavender season, you’ll even be able to see purple lavender fields peppering the landscape. 

Shop at the Thursday Market

If you happen to be visiting on a Thursday, take the opportunity to explore the weekly Roussillon market (or Marché Roussillon). Hosted in the center of town, you can purchase fresh foods, dry goods, clothing, trinkets, and more. The market closes at noon, so be sure to visit in the morning if you’d like to check it out. 

Visit the Ôkhra Museum (Écomusée De L’ocre)

To learn more about Roussillon and the history of ochre, head over to Ôkhra, a museum set in a former ochre factory just outside of town (you’ll need to drive over). You can visit without a tour, but if you’d like, you can book a tour or art workshop. If you’re an artist, you can even purchase some pigment to take home!

Where to Eat in Roussillon

If you’ll be stopping in Roussillon for a meal, consider eating at one of these restaurants in town: 

• Restaurant Omma – a popular upscale restaurant (which is part of Hotel Omma) with incredible views overlooking the ochre cliffs. Reservations recommended. 
• Petit Omma – also associated with the hotel, this sandwich shop is a great spot to visit if you’re looking for a quick bit to eat. 
• La Grappe de Raisin – a charming French restaurant in the heart of town. 

How to Visit Roussillon, Gordes, and Lourmarin in a Day

As mentioned above, it’s worth doing a Luberon Village day trip with stops in Roussillon, Gordes, and Lourmarain. 

If you’ll be visiting Gordes on a market day, my advice would be to stop there first. Gordes is one of the most popular Luberon Villages, and it gets especially busy when the markets are happening. It’s best to go there as early as possible, as parking can be hectic. I was unable to park in the lot by town, and had to spend a good amount of time searching for street parking about a 15-minute walk outside of the village. 

For reference, I visited all three during a summer trip while staying in Aix-en-Provence. I stopped at Roussillon first (to beat the heat during the hike), then went to Gordes (on a market day) before ending the day in Lourmarin. If I were to do it again, I’d go to Gordes first to avoid the crowds, and then just deal with the heat (and increase in crowds) in Roussillon. Lourmarin wasn’t super busy in the later afternoon.