The 7 essential things to do in Oppède the Old

Visit Oppède le Vieux: what are the best things to do and see in this peaceful medieval village of Luberon?

Located in the heart of the city Luberon , in Vaucluse , go to the discovery of Oppède the Old. Just 35 kilometers away Avignon , don't miss visiting this lovely perched, authentic and preserved village. From the top of its rocky grove, it dominates a spectacular nature, rich and varied.

He is also known as the “old village of Oppède”. The “new village of Oppède” saw the day in the 20th century, in an easier way. It is 1 km below. The old village has an incredible medieval heritage, which makes all its charm. Collégiale du XIIe siècle, ruins of its castle-fort, remains of old clusters, and many more... You won't be disappointed!

The surrounding area is also not to be missed, and will delight nature and hiking enthusiasts. No doubts, you will succumb to this charming little town.

So you're wondering what to do in Oppède the Old? The Wanderlix editor has compiled a list of the 7 essentials not to be missed!

1. The village

Are you visiting Oppède le Vieux during your holidays? So, the first thing to do is to walk around quietly... on foot! Yes, because the village is only accessible on foot. The car is to leave on the parking lot at the bottom of the village. Then the ballad begins, in the middle of the flowery paved alleys, steep and steep.

In this small village, the atmosphere is full of history. The ruins of the castle, the beautiful collegial at the top of the village and the remains of the old shops and shops will make you a good out of time. You can also admire beautiful old houses of the 15th and 16th centuries, tastefully restored and full of charm.

No doubt if you love the rocks before, you will certainly have the heart for this village, which has already seduced many artists, writers and celebrities!

2. The ruins of the feudal castle

Coming to Oppède the Old, you will have no other choice but to admire the ruins of this former fortress of the 13th century. At the time, this huge and impressive castle belonged to the Maynier family of Opidae.

Today there are only ruins, but the site is still very impressive! You can still observe a few vestiges of the walls, arches, vaulted rooms and windows, which will throw you centuries back.

3. The Church of Our Lady of Alidon

If there is something not to be missed and to be done in Oppède the Old, it is his sublime Romanesque church. It is the only vestige perfectly preserved in the village.

This splendid collegial is named after Notre-Dame d’Alidon. It was built approximately during the 10th or 11th century. You will be subjugated by its greatness, beauty, with its vault, frescoes and perfectly preserved paintings. In the summer, concerts take place for the greatest happiness of visitors.

4. The old washhouses

If you're looking for what to do in Oppède the Old, then go looking for the old washhouses in the village. There is even a circuit in the village. He is named: the water circuit. You can admire the lavoir Fondos, the lavoir des Infirmières, or a little more excited about the village, the lavoir du Valadas.

The whole village testifies to men’s effort to facilitate water use and to bring it closer to their habitat. The washers are part of it, as well as the fountains.

5. The stone of the Estaillades

The village of Oppède le Vieux has a precious property: its stone! Indeed, quarries are spread over the commune to extract the stone from the "Estaillades". It is a beautiful natural stone, white limestone, scary, especially used for historical monuments, funerals and sculptures.

In these open-air quarries, you will be able to observe from a distance, the large blocks extracted, then cut into 2 meters cube. They will then be cut to provide sculptors, stone tailors, chimney manufacturers and the building.

6. Les Terrasses Sainte-Cécile

Don't miss the sublime gardens of Sainte Cécile by visiting Oppède le Vieux! In any case, it would be difficult to miss because you have to park nearby to be able to visit the village.

It is actually a landscaped garden, comprising a set of 15 terraces, where more than 80 rustic species, herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees of the Luberon grow. Just beautiful!

7. Olive Oil Museum

When you visit Oppède the Old, you will quickly realize that the olive culture is omnipresent in the territory. So don’t hesitate to come and visit the Olive Oil Museum. It is located in the olive and wine estate of La Royère.

A pedagogical course is set up here, to make you discover the different varieties of olive trees, their culture or the development of olive oil over the centuries.

If you don't have it, you can also go to the Moulin de Saint Augustin the village, which resumed its olive pressur activity in 2001.

How to go to Oppède the Old?

You want to go to Oppède le Vieux and ask yourself how to get there? They tell you everything here!

The village is located 36 kilometers from Avignon. Take about 50 minutes to reach Oppède le Vieux.

By car

• From Montpellier (2h): take theA9 until exit 23-Remoulin, then the N100 direction Avignon, and D900 to Oppède the Old;
• From Lyon (2h35): take theA7 until exit 24-Avignon Sud, then the D900 direction Oppède the Old;
• From Nice (2h40): take theA8 in the direction of Plan-d’Orgon, then theA7 until exit 25 to Cavaillon. Then take it D2, then D3, and finally D188 ;
• From Marseille (1h10) : take theA7 until exit 25-Plan-d’Orgon, then the D188 direction Oppède the Old;

By plane

To fly, the nearest airport is Marseille-Provence Airport, located 68km away. For your flight tickets, do not hesitate to consult the offers on the flight comparison Skyscanner , which will help you find the best prices.

By train

The nearest stations are those of Cavaillon at 12 km or Avignon TGV at 37km.

Where to stay in Oppède le Vieux?

If you choose to visit Oppède le Vieux, we recommend reading our article " Where to sleep in Oppède le Vieux " You will find all the most beautiful addresses of bed and breakfasts, cottages, but also apartments, to stay in the village and nearby.

It is a very small village, so the offer of accommodation is not very abundant. So for more serenity, think to book in advance. With the help of this Compare hotels , you will find the cheapest rates, according to your departure dates.