Located right in the middle of all of the action, Oaks and Olives is the perfect jumping off point for loads of fun day trips. That is, if you decide wine and cheese beside the pool isn't quite enough.
Within 5 minutes:
Coustellet is a short jaunt down the road and where we head every morning for the day's bread and fresh croissant. Everyone in the know goes to the same bakery - the line ups and red awning are a dead give away. (Insider hint: it's closed Mondays).
For a more "over-the-top" pastry experience, La Vie en Rose just down the street is a great option. The decor is best described as an explosion of pink so be prepared if you plan to sit in for a coffee. This is your best bet if you're looking for a dessert to celebrate a special occasion.
And while you're out getting treats... between the wine co-op and the pharmacy there's a specialty wine shop offering a fantastic selection. Worth a stop!
Coustellet is on the list of best markets in Provence... not to be missed on Sunday. As the seasons progress so do the products available - early spring veggies all the way through to Christmas gifts. This is the real deal, so you may have to race the locals to get to the best products in the morning.
Coustellet is also the easiest place to head for all of your daily needs. The town has a large grocery store, pharmacy, and the wine co-op. There's nothing better than filling your jug with local wines.
Menerbes lies in the opposite direction of Coustellet and up a hill that I wouldn't recommend climbing on foot. It's claim to fame is the annual truffle market held the last Sunday of December. However, all year it welcomes visitors to its twisted streets and beautiful vistas. Visiting in the summer? There's a great wine and truffle museum located across from town hall that's open all year. Bistrot 5 is a no-fuss restaurant with a huge patio and stunning views of the valley (food can be hit or miss).
Maubec isn't a destination, but an easy drive for a casual dinner. We recommend La Bergerie (which means sheep fold) for a hyper local experience offering pizza and basic bistro fare. In the summer they do jazz nights that get pretty busy and only take two seatings, so call ahead about that.
Oppede le Vieux is walkable, though be warned this one is also up a hill. At a normal pace it takes about 45 minutes to get to the top of the old, crumbling castle. There's a cafe and restaurant up there (about 30 minutes from the house) as well as a lush park and a few homes scattered inside the castle walls. Absolutely spectacular, especially for a sunset. If you've had enough exercise for the day, you can drive as far as the restaurant and just walk up the castle cobblestones.
Within 15 minutes:
Bonnieux lies just past the ancient Roman Pont Julien. On the same road is the site where "A Good Year" was filmed. If Russel Crowe was your inspiration for traveling to Provence, then we recommend dropping by Chateux La Canorgue for a visit (both the red and white wines are delicious). Enter the town of Bonnieux at the bottom and visit the lower of the two churches first. It's a beautiful town to wander around in. Take it slowly as it is a hill, and reward yourself with the more impressive second church located at the top, a gorgeous view, and lunch at L'Arome or Le Fournil (a personal favourite).
If you're interested in how bread is made in the artisanal manner, Bonnieux houses a traditional bread museum, Musee de la Boulangerie, on the rue de la Republique.
L'isle-sur-la-Sorgue is THE place to go for antiques, even if it's just to take it all in at the Sunday market. The town is also super cute and has a great artisan cheese shop and chocolatier.
Plan ahead! Book lunch at Le Jardin de Quai - make sure you specify sitting outside in the garden. It's beautiful.
Les Taillades is tiny but is home to a great family restaurant that we have been to many times: L'auberge Des Carrieres
Gordes is famous for a reason. The historic stone village epitomizes provencal charm and the vistas of the valley are breathtaking.
Goult has a tiny market worth stopping into for Pauline, the cheese vendor. While in town have a seat at Cafe de la Poste and watch the crowd go by. At the bottom of the hill on the way in or out of Goult be sure to stop in Edith Mezard's atelier for beautiful handcrafted items in a lovely space.
Roussillon is in the heart of the ocre hills of Provence. The town and the hill on which it sits are stunning shades of red and orange. There's a great art store in the centre of town, but it's also worth going just to walk the Ochre Trail at the far end of town.
Within 30 minutes:
Apt has a wonderful market (one of the largest). Make sure you get there early for the goodies, as you can wander from the outskirts of town through all of the nooks and crannies as it will take you a while to find everything. When you've completely exhausted your feet and budget take a seat in the middle of town and watch the excitement continue around you.
St Remy market day is Wednesday. This is bustling townwith lots going on and is also on route to Les Baux, where you'll find the light show at Carrieres Des Lumieres. Les Baux is about 15 minutes past St Remy, but parking can be challenging so give yourself extra time.
Eygalieres on market day is not to be missed. Friday mornings the town becomes a lively hotspot with great market and many local shops. Other days of the week this is quite a sleepy town.
Lourmarin is also a Friday market and not to be missed! It's much larger than Eygalieres with a host of stalls ranging from clothing to food. The first clothing stall as you enter on the right often has interesting pieces and a remarkable number of people walk away having purchased something. As the market peters out at the far end there are a couple of cafes on the low road to sit and have a coffee and watch the world go by.
This is a great stop on the way to Le Puy-Sainte-Reparedes (another 30 minutes drive) and Chateau La Coste. The wine is ok, but the real draw is the welcome centre and incredible art installations dotted around the winery. Most recently (2021), Richard Rogers' project "The Floating Bridge" was on display. You need at least 2 hours to walk through this and could realistically take longer. Plan to stay for a late lunch at the casual outdoor cafe. Avoid the restaurant in the welcome centre.
Plan ahead! If you really want to treat yourself then book a table at Francis Mallman's restaurant at the chateau. We consider this to be a must.
Within 45 minutes:
Les Pastras is truffle hunting and grape stomping experience run by a charming couple on their family farm. This makes for a very memorable experience, but make sure to draw straws on who will be the designated driver as there's often a lot of wine involved. More information here.
