Discover Saint-Martin-De-Castillon

Saint-Martin-de-Castillon combines religious buildings and historical heritage with trails through a varied landscape. When planning your trip, both the specific chapels and churches and the routes and activities in the commune are of interest.

Landscape and character

The village sits on a hill and offers views of the Grand Luberon. The surrounding landscape is shaped by vineyards, cherry trees, almond trees and lavender. Forest also covers a large part of the commune: 2,318 hectares in total, equivalent to a forest cover of 60 percent. Glorivette is designated as the site of a geological protected area. The cultural landscape, forest and geological protection are distinct aspects of the commune.

Chapels and architectural history

The votive chapel of Saint-Placide was built after the great plague of 1720, which struck the region. A pilgrimage to Saint Roch was held at the chapel until the 1950s. Notre-Dame-de-Courennes is Romanesque in origin and was probably built on the remains of a Gallo-Roman temple. An annual pilgrimage tradition at this chapel was associated with the plea for rain: the residents of Saint-Martin-de-Castillon would ask for rain.

The former Priory of Saint-Pierre is a Romanesque complex, now in ruins. The Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Le Boisset dates from the 17th century and is distinguished by its offset bell tower and hexagonal apse. The parish Church of the Assumption of Mary is Romanesque in origin and preserves, among other things, a wooden image of Christ from the 16th century. In the village centre, you can visit or view from the outside four chapels.

Hiking trails and routes

The commune has a total of 46.5 kilometres of hiking trails. The EuroVelo 8, also known as the “Mediterranean Route,” also passes through Saint-Martin-de-Castillon. The Chemin de Compostelle passes through the commune on the Céreste–Arles stage, including via Les Guis, La Grande Bastide and Glorivette. A historic walking tour has also been established in Saint-Martin-de-Castillon, taking visitors through the village. It is therefore another point of interest for anyone wishing to explore the village on foot.

An unassuming path from the D900 main road passes the medieval chapel, the cemetery and the ruins of the former Priory of Saint-Pierre. The path to Notre-Dame-de-Courennes chapel starts in front of the village of Berdine. The short, wooded path to the votive chapel of Saint-Placide starts at the last left-hand bend before the village and is hard to spot from the road. Check trail conditions and markers before setting out; finding the way to Saint-Placide in particular requires careful navigation.

Activities in the commune also include walks, horse rides and cycling trips. When planning, you can distinguish these options from the named routes: EuroVelo 8 and the Chemin de Compostelle each follow their own route, while the historic walking tour takes you through the village. Check the trail markers on site before committing to a particular route.

Saint-Martin-de-Castillon as a destination

If you are considering Saint-Martin-de-Castillon for a culture- and outdoor-focused trip, you will find a range of points of interest here: churches, chapels and the former priory are part of its architectural and religious history; trails, forest and outdoor activities give your plans a connection to the landscape. When looking for a hotel in the area, you can start by deciding which focus you would like to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Menerbes, Althen-Des-Paluds, Mormoiron, Gargas, Cabrières D'aigues, Cheval-Blanc, Saint-Romain-En-Viennois, La Bastide-Des-Jourdan.

For the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.