Local Area Information
Menerbes is described as being inside the "Golden Triangle" of the Luberon. The main villages include Menerbes, Lacoste, Bonnieux and Roussillon.
Menerbes is located 12 kilometers east of the larger city of Cavaillon, between Oppede and Lacoste. It is one of France's prized "perched villages" or "villages-perchés". The village is spread out on the top of a hill that rises from a valley of agricultural fields, cherry orchards and vineyards from which the celebrated wines of Cotes du Luberon are produced.
In the center of town is the Place de la Mairie surrounded by 16th and 17th century buildings and a little further on is the Place de l'Horloge where you'll find a wine, truffle and olive oil education facility called Maison de la Truffe et Vin du Luberon. The Truffle Fair in Menerbes always takes place on the last Sunday in December.
Just outside Ménerbes is the Abbaye de Saint-Hilaire founded in 1250. If you would like to see a collection of 1000 corkscrews, nearby is the Corkscrew Museum, Musee Du Tire-Bouchon.
Major tourist and market areas in the area are:
Gordes (12km) - seen from the lookout under the bell tower in the main square of Menerbes and from most north facing viewpoints in the village. Abbaye Senanque is near Gordes.
Lacoste (6km) - known for its castle, once the summer residence of the Marquis de Sade.
Bonnieux (10km) - visit the Bakery Museum.
Roussillon (10km) - beautifully situated in a picturesque provencal setting.
L’Isle sur la Sorgue (22km) - Known as the Antiques Capital of the South and it has a famous Sunday market.
St Remy-de-Provence (35km) - Once home to Nostradamus, is a very pretty town with a Wednesday market and great shopping.
Menerbes is 17km from the A7 Autoroute between Marseille and Avignon, the nearest airports are Marseille and Avignon. The closest TGV stations are Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.
