GORDES

'Gordes' (Occitan: ''Gòrda'' in classical norm, ''Gordo'' in Mistralian norm) is a mountain village and commune in the Luberon area in the Vaucluse ''département'' in Provence, France. Population: 2,100 (''Gordiens''). It covers an area of 48.04 km², ranging in altitude from 115 m to 635 m above sea level.
Gordes is a great address of the North Luberon Valley. Other villages use the same postcode 84220 : Goult, Murs, Roussillon, Cabrières d'Avignon, Les Beaumettes, Saint Pantaléon. Located on "les Monts de Vaucluse", a group of mountains and hills. The most famous mountain of this group is the Mont Ventoux, a prestigious road cycling destination dubbed the "Giant of Provence" which is frequently visited by the tour de France.
After occupation by the Roman empire, the village was named "Vordao" in the 4th - 5th century. In 1031 it was named "castrum Gordone".
Located in the middle of the village, the castle, which was destroyed and rebuilt in 1525, is an extraordinary Renaissance monument with great pieces of architecture (e.g. the fire place in the main room of the castle).
Once a week, on Tuesday morning, is market day. All the merchants from the area set up booths and sell their wares. There is food, clothing, instruments, Provencial dishes, decorations, and much more. Hours can be spent here easily.
In the 2 bakeries you can buy bread or delicious pastries. Just looking at the display can make mouths water. There are no supermarkets, but a mini-market and lots of stores that specify in a certain item. Clothes, fruits and vegetables, bread and pastry, butchery, honey, Olive oil, tourist items, etc.
Several art stores and exposition areas are also located throughout the village.
In the direct area of Gordes is the Sénanque Abbey (a Cistercian abbey still use by Monk) and the "village des bories". The "village des bories" is an extraordinary village only made with "Bories" (also spelled "boris", borris" and "borries"), ovoid ancient houses only made of stone.
No-one can talk about Gordes and Luberon without talking about its real estate business. The "Luberon Gold triangle" has been created using the Luberon as the base and Gordes at the top. The expression/concept had been many times re-used by journalists since then. The real estate business had been developed in the 80’s by Christian-Jacques Rosier, a famous figure in the area who created the oldest real estate agency Gordes Immobilier in the 70’s, still activite in the north Luberon valley.
All the buildings in Gordes are made of stones and use terracotta tiles on roofs. No fences are allowed, only stone walls. All electricity and telephone cables have been put underground. The street are paved with stones. A unique place full of charm !
Gordes is also famous for its artists (André Lhote, Marc Chagall, Philippe Ragueneau, Victor Vasarely, Victor Spahn, Walter Salles, Willy Ronis, etc.) and politics (including François Mitterrand).

Contents

Nearby tourist attractions

Gordes in movies

See also

Nearby tourist attractions

★ Sénanque Abbey

★ Roussillon

★ Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

★ Murs

★ Venasque

Gordes in movies

★ A great year - Ridley Scott (2006)

★ Mr.Bean ? (2006).

See also

★ Victor Vasarely