Vaugines: Building History, Fossils and the Luberon

Vaugines lies on the foothills of the Luberon’s southern slope. When choosing a hotel in Vaugines, the village offers some specific points of interest: a church with several building phases, historic houses, fossils in the lanes of the old village centre, and a circular walk. You can plan your stay around whether you want to explore local history, architecture or a walking route.

The church and its historic building phases

The Église paroissiale Saint-Barthélémy has been classified as a historic monument since 20 January 2000. Its original building, dedicated to Saint-Sauveur, dates from the 11th century; the nave was built in the first half of the 13th century. Its building history therefore spans the original structure and a clearly dated later phase. The classification also includes the adjoining former cemetery and its enclosure, which were covered by the same decree of 20 January 2000. The cemetery is no longer in use and contains several 19th-century gravestones.

Another chapter in the village’s history is reflected in the Maison dite la Commanderie. It developed from a house dating from the 13th or 14th century and retains openings from three later periods: the late 15th century, the early 16th century and the mid-17th century. While the church’s history stretches back to the 11th century, this house highlights later building phases. The Capitainerie adds to this picture of historic buildings: it was built around 1550.

Chapelle Saint-Joseph, lanes and film history

The history of the Chapelle Saint-Joseph also spans several periods. Between 1873 and 1875, a private individual bequeathed a house for use as a chapel. On the chapel’s south side, a remarkable triple sundial shows solar time as well as winter and summer time. The former Chapelle Saint-Joseph was converted into the Vaugines municipal library in 1988.

The lanes in the old village centre are rich in fossils; Rue des Coquillages is one example. Another distinctive local feature is the church square and its fountain: both served as filming locations in 1986 for Claude Berri’s films Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. Together with the church’s building phases and the historic houses, they create a village setting that can be explored through different periods and themes.

Circular walk and getting there

Vaugines lies on the foothills of the Luberon’s southern slope. The Cucuron–Vaugines pilgrimage route passes through Vaugines and is described as an easy circular walk: the route is 7.9 kilometres long and takes about three hours on foot. These details come from a route description dated 3 November 2023; check local conditions before setting out. You can plan the walk as a separate block of time alongside a visit to the village’s historic sights.

For travel by bus, a timetable dated July 2020 lists ZOU line 19, with stops at Les Vaisses (RD56) and Centre in Vaugines. Check the current timetable before travelling. This lets you plan around the transport options that suit you without assuming an earlier timetable entry is still a current service.

Wine from Vaugines

Domaine Michel Isouard in Vaugines is an organic producer. It makes AOC Côtes du Luberon wines in red, white and rosé, as well as Vin de Pays; the wine is made using natural methods. If you plan a visit, check visiting options and availability in advance. The producer adds a local wine connection to the village’s historic and scenic attractions.

Discover more destinations: Piolenc, Mormoiron, Crestet, Althen-Des-Paluds, Saint Didier, Loriol-Du-Comtat, Morières-Lès-Avignon, Blauvac.

For the wider travel guide: Vaucluse.