For a stay in La Bastidonne, the landscape around Saint-Julien and the area’s built heritage offer clear focal points. A walk, views and historical traces can be seen as different interests—from planning a route to visiting an art studio. You can decide whether you would rather spend your time outdoors, exploring archaeological remains or enjoying art.
Saint-Julien: ridge, geology and views
The Saint-Julien plateau is less than 1.5 kilometres from the village and lies at an elevation of 449 metres. It is suitable for a walk. The Saint-Julien hill also reaches 449 metres; from there, views extend towards the Luberon and Sainte-Victoire. As a small cuesta landform, it has a steep southern slope and a gently sloping northern slope. The term therefore also describes a marked change in the steepness of the slopes.
The Saint-Julien hill is one of around sixty designated geosites in the Luberon Geopark. Its geological character adds a specific feature to the landscape: this is not only about elevation and views, but also a designated area within the geopark. For walkers, the view is another point of reference when deciding whether to focus their stay more on the landscape or on the area’s built and cultural heritage.
The circular route to Saint-Julien Chapel
The circular route to Saint-Julien Chapel is rated very easy. It is 3.1 kilometres long and listed as an out-and-back route with a stated duration of 1 hour 30 minutes. The route description gives Castellet car park as the starting point and La Bastidonne as the destination. Check parking options locally. Trail conditions and signage may change, so it is worth checking the current conditions.
The official route descriptions lead through La Bastidonne, past the covered washhouse. This makes the washhouse one of the specific stops included on the circular route. When planning the route, you therefore have a named landmark in the village to follow, in addition to the chapel at the end.
Oppidum, chapel and church
The Saint-Julien plateau preserves the remains of a large oppidum that was inhabited during the Iron Age and the Gallo-Roman period. Saint-Julien Chapel was also built on the site of an oppidum. Remains of the walls and a monolithic altar have survived at the chapel. A hermitage was established beside it at the end of the 17th century or during the first third of the 18th century. The different dates convey the long history of the site without treating its various construction and use phases as one and the same.
The grounds of Saint-Julien Chapel offer walkers panoramic views of the Luberon and the Durance Valley. Check the access conditions locally before your visit. Église Notre Dame de Bonne Aventure offers another historical perspective: its Romanesque choir dates from the 13th century. In 1486, it was granted the status of a parish church, with a baptismal font and cemetery.
Painting and planning your stay
Atelier de Peinture « Lou Sarraïé » hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions, and admission is free for all visitors. As exhibition arrangements may change, it is advisable to check the current arrangements before your visit. The studio also offers the opportunity for personal and convivial conversation with the painter Toni Balenci. Visits are subject to the studio’s arrangements.
When looking for hotels in La Bastidonne, you can first consider what you would like your stay to focus on: a walk with its viewpoints, traces of the oppidum and chapel, the history of the church or exhibitions at the studio. This helps you plan your days around your interests instead of putting all the themes into a fixed order.
Discover more destinations: Entrechaux, Flassan, Cabrières D'aigues, Ansouis, Orange, Bédoin, Grillon, Caseneuve.
Go to the main travel guide: Vaucluse.
