Grambois: Historic Lanes, Fountains and Wine Tradition

Get to know Grambois through the history of the village and the paths through the surrounding countryside. When planning your visit, it helps to distinguish between walks by duration and theme, while also exploring the historic buildings and fountains. This gives you options whether you are more interested in a short circular walk, longer walking times or the history of the old village.

Choose Walking Routes by Time and Theme

The “Le petit tour du village” circular route is very easy, 1.9 kilometres long and takes about an hour. It showcases Grambois’s cultural heritage and biodiversity and passes through the Porte de Fontvérane. It starts at the Pont du Moulin du Pas car park and ends in Grambois. The stated distance and duration give you a concrete guide for planning your time.

The Chemin de Valbonette starts in the village, is three kilometres long and takes about two hours. Compared directly with “Le petit tour du village”, this route therefore requires more time. The Chemin de Gaou is also three kilometres long and is a shady walking route that showcases the biodiversity of the landscape and offers beautiful views of Grambois. The Passerelle André Bonnet metal bridge is located along this walking route. A short path, created in 2012, descends to the Fontvérane spring; check the condition of the path before your visit.

Architecture and History in the Old Village

The streets of the old village include restored calades, as well as occasional steps reminiscent of mule tracks. Channels in the steps carry away water and wastewater. Another distinctive architectural feature is the vaulted, covered passage of the Templiers: it is reached via mule-track steps and has a twin-light window dating from the 14th century.

The Rempart dates from 1377 and forms the eastern front of the old village’s second fortification. An exceptionally rare flight of steps, the Perron cavalier, is thought to be one of the last surviving structures of its kind in Provence. The Château de Grambois was a 16th-century seigneurie and now houses the town hall.

Notre-Dame de Beauvoir adds a longer ecclesiastical history to this picture. The church was probably founded as a Benedictine priory in the second half of the 11th century and was dependent on the Abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve-lez-Avignon. In January 2001, it was added to the supplementary list of historic monuments. The tentative date of its foundation and its later listing are two distinct milestones in its history.

Fountains, Orchards and the Christmas Nativity Scene

The fountain on the village square was inaugurated in 1879. In 1989, Yves Robert filmed important scenes from his movie “La Gloire de mon Père” there. The fountain is therefore also nicknamed the “Fontaine des Bartavelles”. Another water feature is the Fontsausse spring: it feeds a fountain whose basin is designed as a wash place. An overflow basin then carries the water into a vegetable garden.

At the foot of Grambois, a heritage orchard preserves 91 traditional fruit varieties from the Luberon and Provence. The village orchard includes a restored former dovecote. Restanques are also part of the landscape: these are dry-stone walls built without mortar, which retain soil and make terraced cultivation possible.

If you are interested in local traditions, the Christmas nativity scene is also a highlight in its own right. It is displayed every year at Christmas. Its santons depict Grambois residents in traditional costumes typical of their respective occupations. The annual display period makes Christmas the ideal time to discover this special representation.

Wine Tradition and Visit Planning

Les Côteaux de Grambois offers wine tastings and tours; arrange your visit in advance, as the visit options may change. The Cave des Côteaux de Grambois has a winemaking tradition that dates back to 1924 in the Luberon. Together with the walking routes, architectural heritage and water features, this offers a range of different themes to explore during your stay in Grambois.

Discover more destinations: Vitrolles-En-Lubéron, Auribeau, Althen-Des-Paluds, Valreas, Cabrières D'aigues, Lioux, Venasque, Le Thor.

See the regional travel overview: Vaucluse.