Oppedette: Discover the Village’s Gorges in Provence

I must confess, until our last stay in Provence, I had never heard of Oppedette.

Tucked away in the heart of Haute-Provence, this tiny village had completely escaped my radar. But what a delightful surprise it turned out to be!

Oppedette may be small, with its quaint stone houses and narrow streets, but it holds a hidden gem that took my breath away: the Oppedette gorges.

This stunning natural site, carved by the Calavon River, offers a dramatic, awe-inspiring landscape that is nothing short of incredible.

As we wandered through the village and ventured onto the belvedere tracks, I found myself continually amazed by the sheer beauty and tranquillity of the place.

Join me as I share the wonders of Oppedette and its magnificent gorges, a discovery that added a new dimension to our Provençal adventure.

Watch this short video on the Luberon!

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Oppedette: A Bit of History

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

An Ancient Oppidum

During Ancient Times, a Celto-Ligurian oppidum was built on the rocky spur overlooking the gorges carved by the Calavon. 

It is believed that the village’s name derives from this structure: Oppidum becoming Oppedette. 

In fact, the village's location on the heights was linked to a desire for defence.

A Great Access to Water

But we must not forget that it was also likely due to the presence of water, which is rare on the limestone plateaus. 

The water supply comes from an elevated spring, captured more than 2 kilometres away.

The forced water supply feeds a reservoir, a fountain, and a covered washhouse.

Until 1958, the fountain remained the village's only water source. 

A Rural Place

Oppedette was once a land of vineyards and olive trees.

But since the mid-20th century, these cultivations have been abandoned.

You can still find a few grapevines, but they are only good for table grapes.

The Discovery Guide of Oppedette

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

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

Understanding the Village

Oppedette is located in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence département, far, very far from the city. 

In fact, Oppedette is lost in the Upper-Provence countryside, and one arrives here after a long journey on small roads.

The village is perched on a rocky promontory at the entrance of the Calavon Gorges, at an altitude of 525 metres, forming a picturesque site.

This is indeed a wild setting of limestone rocks and gorges carved by the Calavon River. 

The village has about fifty inhabitants. In the mid-19th century, there were nearly 250 residents. 

The only shop in the village is a small refreshment bar that replaced the old café.

The village does not have any exceptional monuments but it is primarily the charm of this typical mid-mountain Provençal village that stands out here. 

The Village Walk of Oppedette

Lets' start the excursion at the car park of Les Belvédères, located 300 metres south of the village.

This spot allows us to start our exploration with breathtaking views of the famous Oppedette Gorges.

The Oppedette Gorges

Two viewpoints were built in 1951 to enable us to get a closer look at the ravine. 

The Oppedette gorges are the result of long-term erosion by the Calavon River. 

The river has carved its bed into a limestone mass, creating a canyon that is 100 to 150 metres deep and 2.5 kilometres long. 

One must not be afraid of heights to stand here.

The gorges are the destination of superb hikes. 

A 7 km route allows you to explore them on foot and descend all the way down to the riverbank. 

The enclosed gorges create ideal conditions for the development of cliff-dwelling fauna and the nesting of the eagle owl. 

In the Calavon Gorges, where Protestant assemblies were held, seats and a pulpit were carved into the rock.

The Way to the Village

Now, let's head towards the village.

To do this, we must follow a small road that runs along the gorges.

This is the Montée du Cimetière, which, as its name suggests, passes by the village cemetery.

Rue de la Fontaine and the Town Hall

Now that you've reached the first houses, head towards the town hall. 

It is located outside the historic village at the end of the Rue de la Fontaine.

The Oppedette town hall is a charming little stone building with blue shutters. 

Let's turn back. 

On the left, we can see the small war memorial.

Later, you will pass by the fountain and its covered wash house.

En Route to the Place du Village

You will discover old stone houses lining the narrow street until you arrive at the Village Square, la Place du Village.

To the left is the Saint-Didier church which dates only from 1834. 

Do you see the small structure embedded to the right of the church door? 

It is an altar to the god Mars, dating from the Roman era. 

The Tip of the Promontory

The street will lead you to the end of the village. 

At the tip of the promontory, you will enjoy a spectacular view of the gorges.

We will now turn back and take the same route to return to the Belvedere car park. 

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 Joucas and Gordes
• Find out more about Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
• The official tourist office of the area

Where to stay near Oppedette

Oppedette and the Luberon have a high capacity for holiday accommodation. The region 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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