Ménerbes, Provence, France
Ménerbes is a beautiful village in Provence, near Bonnieux and Oppède le Vieux, surrounded by walls. It is situated on a hilltop in the Luberon mountains, which are located at the foot of the French Alps. This region is rich in truffles, mushrooms, lavender and red wine with a distinctive flavor. Ménerbes is widely known since 1990 because of the books written by Peter Mayle, a British writer who lived here. The film "A Good Year" (directed by Ridley Scott, with Russell Crowe) is based on one of his books. The film was shot in nearby the village of Ménerbes.
Parking in Ménerbes
The town has a fairly large parking lot (1; GPS: 43.831855, 5.207867). You can of course try to park in the street, but we suggest to park just on this large parking lot.
Ménerbes town tour
After parking the car you may visit the old town. You can use the Rue du Portail Neuf or Chemin du Portail streets. You'll come to a small square (Place de l'Horloge), where the headquarters of local authorities is located (A; GPS: 43.834316, 5.203883). Then you can go under an arched alcove in the building, topped by a coat of arms of the town, to enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding areas of Provence in a north-easterly direction, such as the village of Gordes and Roussillon. You can also notice the Mont Ventoux mountain. Then you can go farther the Rue de l'Église street, until you reach the northern edge of the village, where the fourteenth-century church of Saint Luc was built (B; GPS: 43.835424, 5.202609).
Interesting places nearby
Near Ménerbes is also located an interesting Museum of Corkscrews - Musée du Tire-Bouchon (C; GPS: 43.844498, 5.197590). Between Ménerbes and Lacoste you can find an interesting monastery Abbaye Saint-Hilaire from twelfth century (D; GPS: 43.824988, 5.246306), which can be visited (ticket price 2.50€).
See also: