Ansouis: A Picturesque Escape in the Heart of Provence

Nestled in the heart of Provence, Ansouis is a hidden gem that exudes timeless charm and beauty.

This enchanting village, renowned for its historic architecture and serene atmosphere, offers a perfect escape into the picturesque landscapes of the Luberon region.

Wander through its narrow streets, discover hidden squares, and soak in the stunning views that make Ansouis one of France's most beautiful villages.

Watch this short video on the Luberon!

Why you should visit Ansouis

Ansouis is an enchanting village that promises a journey through time and beauty.

With its charming, narrow streets, historic stone houses, and the magnificent castle perched atop the hill, Ansouis offers a quintessential Provençal experience.

The houses in the village, built in a semicircle on the southern slope of a rocky escarpment, huddle close together to better shelter from the mistral wind.

Visitors can wander through picturesque passages, discover hidden squares, and admire the stunning views over the Luberon region.

The village’s rich history is evident at every turn, from the ancient church of Saint-Martin to the beautifully preserved medieval architecture.

As one of France’s most beautiful villages, Ansouis captivates with its serene atmosphere and timeless allure, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking both tranquillity and a touch of history.

Plan your trip

Ansouis: A Bit of History

The first traces of human occupation of the site date back to ancient times.

Greek coins also attest that Ansouis was later populated by Ligurians, who traded with the Greek population of Marseille.

The village is mentioned for the first time in 963, when Lambert de Reillanne donated the lands of “d’Ansoye” to the Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Montmajour, near Arles.

In fact, Ansouis was located on the road between Aix-en-Provence and Apt.

This ideal observation post for controlling the road justified its fortification in the Middle Ages.

The first protective enclosure of the village was built in an amphitheatre shape during the 12th and 13th centuries.

At the top of the hill, the castle had a central keep and was flanked by four towers.

It bore no resemblance to the Renaissance appearance it has today.

Agriculture and Tourism

Nowadays, the two main economic drivers of the village are the vineyards and tourism.

Agriculture plays an important role in the village's economy, with fields of lavender and orchards of olive, cherry, and almond trees.

In addition, the vineyards produce AOC Côtes du Luberon wines.

In terms of tourism, Ansouis is located south of the Luberon massif and its tourist sites, such as the perched villages.

Ansouis is part of the Plus Beaux Villages de France, a French association and certification brand created in 1982 that connects a network of more than 176 villages.

Other neighbouring villages in the network are Lourmarin, Gordes and Ménerbes.

Ansouis Trivia: A Movie Setting

It was in Ansouis that some scenes from Claude Berri's films “Jean de Florette” and “Manon des Sources” were filmed.

These two films from 1986 are adaptations of the eponymous books by Marcel Pagnol.

They were very successful both in France and in English-speaking countries.

The scenes filmed in Ansouis include the preaching, the Christmas mass, and Manon's wedding.

Discover Ansouis

Here's some tourist information to help you explore the Provencal village.

🎦 Check out my guided walk on YouTube to explore Ansouis with me:

Let's start our discovery walk through Ansouis from the visitors' car park, situated at the foot of the village.

We will climb through the maze of old streets to the top, where the church and the castle are located.

Boulevard des Platanes

As we ascend these steps, we will find ourselves on the Boulevard des Platanes, which we will follow up to the town hall.

On the right is the town hall of Ansouis.

Place des Hôtes and Rue Basse

Enter the Place des Hôtes.

This small square, typical of Luberon villages, hosts a café, the tobacconist, and other shops.

Let's continue along the Rue du Vieux-Moulin.

And take a right onto the Rue Basse.

The streets run parallel to the slope.

Very narrow passages connect them, like the Traverse Esquicho-Couido, the Traverse du Musée and the Traverse du Vieux Platane, which, as its name suggests, leads to an old plane tree.

When reaching the end of the Rue Basse, you find yourself at the intersection with the Rue de France. Climb to the right.

In front of us stand the ramparts.

This stepped ramp allows us to reach the top of the village. 

Grand Portail and Rue Grande

We are at the site of the Grand Portail.

This old entrance to the village no longer exists, and the wrought iron cross we just saw commemorates its existence.

Let's now walk along the Rue Grande.

This lovely old street is lined with beautiful stone houses.

The Rue Grande provides access to charming little alleys, like this cul-de-sac: the Impasse de l’Aubarestié.

Place du Château and Maison des Consuls

The Place du Château is a lovely square with a typical Provençal touch.

The large building at the corner of Rue Grande and the square is the Maison des Consuls.

This was where the city council met in the 15th and 16th centuries.

The consuls were usually wealthy bourgeois, appointed by the lord, tasked with administering the community.

The ground floor housed grain silos, an oven, and stalls for meat and fish.

These were intended to supply the villagers who sought refuge within the castle walls during a siege.

Find your way to the Place de l'église. We enter one of the most picturesque parts of the village.

The watchtower above us was only built in the 19th century.

Saint-Martin Church and the Viewpoint

The square of Place de l'église is bordered by an 18th-century building (the former presbytery) and the austere stone facade of the Saint-Martin church.

The church is attached to the castle’s curtain wall and likely dates back to the late 13th century.

The parish of Ansouis appears in texts around the end of the 11th century as a dependency of the cathedral chapter of Aix-en-Provence.

Inside, the church consists of a nave with three bays and a transverse vessel vaulted with a broken barrel vault.

The vessel is complemented by a square-plan apse flanked by two small apses.

The altarpiece and paintings date back to the 17th century.

On the right, we can access the Balcony, a panoramic terrace overlooking the surrounding region, from Lourmarin to Cucuron, and ahead of us, the opening towards the Durance on the Villelaure side.

Let's retrace our steps and head towards the castle.

The Castle of Ansouis

The castle of Ansouis is an iconic site of Provençal heritage.

It was originally a military fortress belonging to the powerful family of the Counts of Forcalquier.

Their lordship over Ansouis lasted until 1178 when this domain became part of the Sabran family’s estate.

Then, at the beginning of the 17th century, it passed into the hands of the Escalis family.

This noble family from Aix-en-Provence expanded and transformed the castle into a pleasure residence.

It is possible to visit the castle during guided tours in the afternoons from April to the end of October.

Rue du Cartel and Rue des Remparts

Let's now follow the Rue du Cartel and descend via the Rue des Remparts.

The later street offers some fine views of the former ramparts, the castle and the picturesque Rue du Petit Portail below.

Take the Rue du Grand Four and pass through a very quaint part of Ansouis.

The Belfry of Ansouis

This arcade leads us to the foot of the belfry.

It is in a house here that the Ansouis city council held its meetings from 1540 onwards.

This house later became the town hall of Ansouis.

Towards the end of the 16th century or the beginning of the 17th century, a belfry was built on top, crowned with a wrought iron campanile.

The clock itself was only installed in 1909.

Rue du Petit Portail

We find ourselves again at the Place du Château that we saw earlier.

Let's descend the Rue du Petit Portail.

As its name suggests, it leads to a small gate.

The Portalet is the only remaining gate of the three that the second medieval enclosure once had.

Rue du Rocher and Rue du Buis

Let's continue the visit along the Rue du Rocher.

We arrive at a charming spot shaded by fig trees.

Now, let's follow the Rue du Buis, which runs parallel to the Rue du Rocher.

We find ourselves again at the Traverse Esquicho-Couido that we saw earlier from the Rue Basse.

And after a few metres, we enter the Rue du Petit Portail.

Let's turn right to head towards the exit of the old village.

We have arrived at the Boulevard des Platanes, and after a few more metres of walking, we will reach the car park, our starting point.

I hope you enjoyed this walk through the streets of Ansouis.

In any case, it was a pleasure to introduce you to this lovely village in Provence.

Find out more

Here are some pages from our blog and other websites to find out more about this Provencal destination.

• Discover the hilltop villages of the Luberon
• Find out more about Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
• The official tourist office of the area
• Click here to book your accommodation in the Luberon or browse the map below:

What to do in the Luberon

Be inspired by a list of things to do in the Luberon:

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