Apt can be explored from several perspectives: along the Riaille, walking paths, picnic areas and a seasonal natural swimming area take centre stage; museums focus on the history of the local economy and geology. The Véloroute du Calavon passes through Apt and offers another way to explore the surrounding area. When planning your visit, it is worth checking the conditions for each attraction: swimming is limited to July and August and the pools’ supervised opening hours.
Nature and swimming along the Riaille
The Plan d’eau de la Riaille is accessible on foot, by bicycle and by car; there is also a Mobily bus stop there. Facilities include walking paths and picnic areas. In July and August, a free natural swimming area with two pools is also available. Access to the pools is limited to their supervised opening hours. If you plan to swim there, check the specific swimming dates before your trip. This distinguishes the seasonal swimming area from the walking paths and picnic areas, which are also part of the site.
The Véloroute du Calavon in Apt
The Véloroute du Calavon is a largely car-free green route with no significant climbs. For most of its length, it follows a former railway line. You can start at the Office de Tourisme d’Apt, where the route is easy to access. It passes through Apt and crosses viaducts, with viewpoints along the way. These features give the cycle route a different focus from the walking paths along the Riaille: here, the route along the former railway line, the viaducts and the viewpoints shape the experience; there, walking paths, picnics and seasonal swimming take centre stage.
Museums spanning economic history and geology
The Musée d’Apt presents the economic history of the Pays d’Apt through faience, candied fruit and ochre, which have helped make the region famous. Its collections also preserve the memory of the people involved in processing the region’s natural resources. It is therefore not just about products and raw materials, but also the work involved in processing them.
The Maison du Parc du Luberon is located in Apt, in an 18th-century hôtel particulier. It features a permanent exhibition and a geology museum that traces the region’s history over 150 million years. Compared with the Musée d’Apt, its focus shifts from regional economic and labour history to geological timescales. Together, the two venues offer different ways to explore history and landscape.
Architectural history and regional specialities
The Cathédrale basilique Sainte Anne also reveals different layers of history: the Baroque basilica stands on Roman structures and encompasses several successive building phases. For architecture enthusiasts, it offers a tangible look at how its Roman foundations and later construction phases come together.
La Maison du Fruit Confit sells candied fruit and Provençal specialities directly in Apt, and also has a museum and a tea room. This means visitors can enjoy two additional attractions alongside the shop. Check the latest visiting and sales arrangements before your visit. The protected Parc naturel régional du Luberon is also an interesting part of the regional landscape: it is recognised as a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO Global Geopark.
Discover more destinations: La Roque-Sur-Pernes, Grillon, La Motte-D'aigues, Murs, Rustrel, Lourmarin, Villars, Courthézon.
For the wider travel guide: Vaucluse.
