Auribeau: Hiking, Lavender Routes and History

Auribeau lies at the foot of the Grand Luberon and at the end of the Claparèdes Plateau. When planning your trip, you can compare two circular hikes that differ considerably in length. There are also historic buildings along the route to Mourre Nègre and lavender routes connecting several villages.

Hiking options for different time frames

The route guide dated June 26, 2026, describes the Tour de Saint-Pierre as an easy circular hike: 2.8 kilometres, 149 metres of elevation gain and a duration of 1 hour and 15 minutes. The hike is part of the Vaucluse département’s tourist hiking trail network and is also designated as a local PR trail of the municipality of Auribeau.

The route guide dated August 12, 2026, describes the Route Mourre Nègre et biodiversité en chemin as a difficult circular hike covering 11.6 kilometres, with 667 metres of elevation gain and a duration of 4 hours and 15 minutes. This route also starts and ends at the municipal car park at the northern entrance to Auribeau; it is designated as a local PR route of the municipality of Auribeau. The Tour de Saint-Pierre also starts and ends at this car park.

Time required and elevation gain are the main factors for a direct comparison: the Route Mourre Nègre et biodiversité en chemin takes 4 hours and 15 minutes instead of 1 hour and 15 minutes, and has 667 rather than 149 metres of elevation gain. The distances also differ considerably: 11.6 kilometres compared with 2.8 kilometres. The stated difficulty levels range from easy for the Tour de Saint-Pierre to difficult for the Route Mourre Nègre et biodiversité en chemin. This lets you compare the two hikes using specific details when planning how much time to allow for your trip.

Landscape and lavender routes

The Aiguebrun River rises in Auribeau. The lavender routes also offer a specific connection to the region’s landscape and villages. The official Route des Lavendels lists Auribeau as one of its village stops. This is distinct from the Routes de la Lavande, which connect Auribeau, Castellet, Saint-Martin-de-Castillon and Viens via roads lined with lavender fields. Bloom varies from year to year, so the scenery changes with the season. When planning your trip, both a stop at a single village on the official Route des Lavendels and the connections between the four places named above may be relevant.

Buildings along the route to Mourre Nègre

The Fort d’Auribeau is an 11th-century medieval fortification on the route to Mourre Nègre. The Chapelle Saint-Pierre, also on the route to Mourre Nègre, dates from the 12th century. It was once the village church of Auribeau. The two buildings represent different aspects of the area’s history: the fort is a defensive structure, while the Chapelle Saint-Pierre was once the village’s religious centre.

The church of Saint-Pierre in Auribeau is also documented from an early date: in 1158, Pope Adrian IV confirmed the Bishop of Apt’s ownership of properties that included this church. Along with the Chapelle Saint-Pierre’s former role as the village church, this provides another chronological reference point for the area’s history. If you take the hiking trails and buildings into account when planning your trip, you will find specific landscape and historical themes in addition to hikes of different lengths.

Discover more destinations: Sivergues, Caumont-Sur-Durance, Valreas, Buisson, La Roque-Sur-Pernes, Monieux, La Motte-D'aigues, Goult.

For the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.