Discover Joucas: Landscapes, Art and Heritage

Joucas lies on the foothills of the Monts de Vaucluse. From Joucas, views stretch across the plain and the Petit Luberon; the village’s cultural character is also shaped by its architectural history, art and film. When choosing a destination, you can consider the landscape and your specific cultural interests together.

Architectural History and Everyday Life

The former Templar commandery in Joucas is partly protected as a historic monument. A decree dated 5 August 1976 placed its façades and roofs under protection. This brings together its former function as a Templar commandery and a precisely dated heritage designation—two distinct aspects of the village’s history.

The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste was built in the 18th century to replace the former Notre-Dame church, which had been destroyed during the Wars of Religion. Its trompe-l’œil interior features pilasters and arcades painted to imitate marble. Trompe-l’œil is a painting technique that imitates three-dimensional forms; here, it draws on architectural elements. The church’s history and its distinctive artistic decoration can therefore be considered as separate points of interest.

The former washhouse is also part of the village’s history: it is a surviving reminder of the everyday life of its former inhabitants. Alongside the commandery and the church, it draws attention to the everyday side of Joucas’s history.

Art and Film

In Joucas, works from the “Labyrinthe d’Art” are displayed along the calades, leading to the artists’ studio’s shady garden. This arrangement differs from the church’s trompe-l’œil decoration: there, pilasters and arcades form part of the interior; here, the works are spread along the calades. If you are interested in art and architecture, you can compare these two different forms of artistic design.

According to the municipal bulletin of January 2026, the Festival du Cinéma d'Afrique screens a film every year at the Centre Culturel in Joucas. In 2026, screenings of La Strada took place on the first Thursday of each month; the programme may change. If film screenings are important to your trip, check the latest dates in advance.

Several past exhibitions at the former olive mill showcased artworks and provided historical information about the building. They add the building’s former use as an exhibition venue to Joucas’s architectural history.

For planning purposes, it is useful to distinguish between historic features of the village and event programmes: the commandery, church and washhouse represent architectural and everyday history. Film screenings, by contrast, take place on specific dates; in particular, the La Strada programme may change.

Getting There on ZOU Route 9901

The ZOU route list shows that, from 1 September 2026, route 9901 runs from Joucas via Roussillon, Lioux, Murs, Gordes, Goult, Beaumettes, Saint-Pantaléon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Menerbes and Oppède, then continues to Taillades, Robion and Cabrières-d'Avignon. The route places Joucas on a line serving these towns and villages. If you plan to use this connection for your trip, check the timetable before travelling, as schedules may change.

Discover more destinations: Cairanne, Châteauneuf-De-Gadagne, Le Boisset, Lagarde-D'apt, Loriol-Du-Comtat, La Tour-D'aigues, Puyméras, Flassan.

For the regional travel overview: Vaucluse.