Auribeau: Discover a Mountain Village in Provence

During our last stay in Provence, my daughter Aimée and I stumbled upon a charming little village that we had never heard of before: Auribeau.

Tucked away in the heart of Vaucluse, this tiny village, with a population of just around 70 residents, turned out to be a delightful surprise.

Despite its small size, Auribeau captivated us with its rich history, picturesque streets, and stunning views.

One of the highlights of our visit was the trek up to the old village site perched atop a hill. 

Auribeau may be small, but it left a big impression on us.

It served as a perfect gateway to the Grand Luberon's highest peak, Mourre Nègre, and provided a wonderful blend of Provence’s natural beauty and historical charm.

Aimée and I thoroughly enjoyed uncovering this hidden gem and sharing a special piece of Provence that felt like our own little secret.

Follow the guides!

Watch this short video on the Luberon!

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Auribeau: A Bit of History

Let’s step back in time as we recall the storied past of Auribeau.

From a Windy Place to the Valley of Gold

The first mention of Auribeau dates back to 1274, under the name Auribello.

It is believed that this toponym derives from the Latin Auribellum, which would mean a place exposed to the "fierce wind."

Others have a more positive interpretation, believing that Auribeau means the Valley of Gold.

Surprisingly, the village’s coat of arms displays a third, rather fanciful interpretation: a beautiful ear.

Legend has it that Auribeau was a place of worship to the goddess Cybele.

Indeed, an altar to Cybele from the Roman site of Glanum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is adorned with an ear.

Auribeau in the Middle Ages

In the 12th century, the fief of Auribeau belonged to the County of Forcalquier, then it passed to the Counts of Provence in 1220.

While the castrum dates back to the 12th century, the current village was not founded until 1530.

Previously, the medieval village was perched atop a hill, which we will see in the second part of the visit.

The Discovery Guide of Auribeau

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

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

Understanding the Village

We are at an altitude of 600 metres, on the northern flank of the Grand Luberon, at the edge of the Claparèdes plateau.

Along with the neighbouring village of Castellet-en-Luberon, Auribeau is the starting point for the ascent of Mourre Nègre, the highest point of the Grand Luberon at 1125 metres.

From the village, you have a choice between two paths.

The Village Walk of Auribeau

Let's begin our exploration of Auribeau from the car park located on the D48, coming from Apt and Saignon.

We are at the entrance of the village, and our short exploration will lead us into a typically Provençal setting.

We are entering one of the smallest villages in Vaucluse, with barely 70 inhabitants.

Urban hustle and bustle seem far away, yet Apt is less than 10 km away by road.

Place de la Fontaine

We arrive at the village's main square: Place de la Fontaine. 

On this square, a beautiful façade of an 18th-century house stands out.

The fountain has the peculiarity of having two water outlets.

One outlet is reserved for drinking water, and another for non-potable water.

In French, this type of fountain is called a "fontaine à deux canons."

A small washhouse adjoins the fountain.

Let's now head towards the church via the Rue du Four.

Here is the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

It is the village's main monument.

I don’t know about you, but to me, it resembles a Spanish-style church.

Perhaps it’s due to the bell wall with volutes.

This church is not the village's first; it was built in 1730.

Rue de la Vieille Fontaine

Let’s continue our way through the Rue de la Vieille Fontaine.

As you can see, we have already exited the village. To say, it is truly not large.

We will return via the Route Jean Moulin.

Let's take a right onto the Rue Saint-Pierre to head back into the village.

Rue Saint-Pierre and the Town Hall

On the left, there is the very small town hall, la Mairie.

We are now back on the Place de la Fontaine.

Let’s return to our starting point by following the same path as before.

The old perched village of Saint-Pierre

Before ending the visit to Auribeau, there is one site I absolutely want to show you.

It is the site of the ancient village of Saint-Pierre, perched at the top of a hill and overlooking the entire surrounding countryside.

To get there, I drove to a small car park at the foot of the hill, then Aimée and I climbed the hill on foot.

The Chapel of Saint-Pierre

To begin our visit to the site of the old village, let us first discover the chapel of Saint Pierre.

It dates back to the second half of the 12th century.

The sanctuary was likely consecrated by Pierre de Saint-Paul, who was the Bishop of Apt between 1161 and 1182.

In the Middle Ages, the chapel was the village church, which was perched next to it, on the hillside.

After years of famine, misery, and pillaging, the village was deserted in the 14th century.

The chapel fell into ruins, its vault collapsed, and it was overrun by brambles.

Fortunately, it was restored in the 1990s.

The Castle

The summit of the hill is also occupied by a fortification comprising a wall and a keep.

The castle overlooks the chapel and has also been restored.

It consists of a polygonal enclosure three to four metres high, a platform, and a square tower about six metres high.

From this unique defensive site at an altitude of 720 metres, one can enjoy one of the most beautiful panoramas over the Calavon Valley.

In the distance, on a clear day, you can see Mont Ventoux, the Montagne de Lure, Avignon and the Popes’ Palace, and the snow-capped Alps.

Much closer are the villages of Saint-Martin-de-Castillon, Caseneuve, Viens and Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt.

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
• Explore the neighbouring villages of Saignon and Castellet-en-Luberon
• Find out more about Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
• The official tourist office of the area

Where to stay near Auribeau

Auribeau and surroundings have a high capacity for holiday accommodation. The commune and its surroundings has hotels, bed and breakfasts (covering all price ranges), estate agencies offering seasonal rentals and gîtes.

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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