Caseneuve combines a fortified old village with a setting in the Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon. The village offers views across the Calavon Valley and faces the northern slope of the Grand Luberon. Village history and landscape come together here. Activities also merit a distinction: the Les Ocres à vélo cycling route passes through Caseneuve, while a stage of the Tour des ocres du Luberon runs nearby.
Castle and Old Village
The old village was built around an 11th-century castle and is surrounded by defensive walls. The present-day fortress is 32 metres high; its origins are dated to between the 10th and 12th centuries. The castle was probably built of stone around the year 1000, likely replacing a wooden fortification. Archaeologists date the castle’s present appearance to the 12th century. These accounts emphasise different points: its presumed early construction and the dating of its present form.
The remains of the defensive walls are also part of the heritage. At the entrance to the village stands the Oratoire de Caseneuve, built using the portal of the former Notre Dame des Aumades chapel. It is considered the largest oratory in Provence. The lanes paved with stone slabs are also part of the village’s character. The Church of Saint Etienne is thought to date back to the beginnings of Christianity. Together, these sites offer several historical points of reference, from the castle and fortifications to the chapel and church.
Cycling and Hiking Around Caseneuve
Les Ocres à vélo passes through Caseneuve. On this route, you reach the village after the trail climbs from Saint-Martin-de-Castillon via the D35. If you plan to take this cycling route, check its course in advance, as paths and roads may change. The stage described combines a specific climb with arrival in Caseneuve; it is therefore in a different location from the nearby hiking route.
The first stage of the Tour des ocres du Luberon runs near Caseneuve to the panoramic ridges of the Colorado provençal between Caseneuve and Rustrel. When choosing, it makes a difference whether you are looking for a cycling route through the village or a hiking stage in the surrounding area. Conditions on hiking sections may change, so check the current situation before setting out.
More Activities and Events
Les Ecuries du Luberon in Caseneuve offers pony rides and horseback rides for children aged three and over, teenagers and adults. The activities also include lessons for beginners, leisure riders and advanced riders, Equi-Coaching on foot or in the saddle, and pony trekking. The range of options gives you concrete points to consider if horse riding or ponies are to be part of your stay.
The Amicale de St Jean organises events about the fauna, flora and cultural heritage of the Ferme de St Jean. If you are interested, check the dates before your trip. Wine tastings at Domaine AlloĂŻs can also be part of your itinerary; check in advance whether they are available on your travel dates.
This makes it possible to take cultural and landscape interests into account when choosing a destination, without treating the different routes as though they followed the same course.
Discover more destinations: Sainte-CĂ©cile-Les-Vignes, Lourmarin, L'isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, Saint-LĂ©ger-Du-Ventoux, Avignon, Faucon, Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron, Goult.
For the wider travel overview: Vaucluse.
