What you need to know about Rustrel

Nestled on a hillside, at the foot of the Plateau d’Albion, Rustrel is a small village overlooked by its 17th century castle, known for amazing ochre cliffs, giving rise to the Colorado Provençal—truly a magical and unique spot. Rustrel is the perfect place for hiking, running, biking along a unique landscape. Historically, the area was widely known for its iron mines and ochre deposits, but the landscape is now accented by marvelous lavender fields spreading along the famous Luberon valley and up to the plateau d’Albion toward the mountains of Mont Ventoux and the Alpes de Haute Provence. The village is very quiet and remains authentic and agricultural, despite being located just a stone’s throw away from all the popular and bustling hilltop villages of the Luberon : Roussillon, Gordes, Bonnieux, Lacoste Ménerbes…

Bakeries / Bread Shops

• Boulangerie au Pierrot d’Antan
  • Route de St Christol Rustrel, - Open from Monday to Sunday 7AM to 7PM Closed Thursdays

Weekly Market

Small market Wednesday morning in Rustrel

Large outdoor market on Saturday morning in Apt

Tuesday morning in St Saturnin les Apt

Thursday morning in Villars

Restaurants

Please note that most restaurants in Provence do not open until 7:30 in the evening. Reservations are needed in the high season, especially for groups.

• Pizzeria du Colorado
  Quartier notre dame des Anges, Rustrel
  33 (0)4 90 04 94 36
  In the middle of the ochre cliffs. Large terrace, grill, open for lunch and dinner
• Le bistrot de Lagarde
  Restaurant gastronomique, 1 Michelin Star
  84 400 Lagarde d’Apt
• La Table de Pablo 
  Restaurant semi gastronomique
  Les Petits Cléments 84400 Villars
  33 (0) 4 90 75 45 18
• Le Sanglier Paresseux
  Caseneuve, village
  33 (0) 4 90 75 17 70
• La Boulangerie de Rustrel
  So typical !
  Opens every day for lunch except on Thursdays
• Le Petit Jardin 
  So charming !
  Viens, village
  33 (0)4 90 05 20 05

Olive Oil

There is an olive oil mill in Rustrel (Bouvène) and one near Saint Saturnin.

Goat Cheese

All kinds of goat cheese are available at outdoor morning markets, but you can also stop by a farm to buy your cheese. Several can be found on the road to Simiane la Rotonde and Banon.

Supermarkets

Note that many grocery stores are closed Sundays and Monday, or have limited hours on Sunday mornings.

Leclerc (15 min de Rustrel) Google map  
Chemin des Abattoirs in Apt
Open 8:30am to 7:30 pm weekdays (until 8:00pm Friday/Saturdays)
Closed on Sundays

Rustrel Grocery Shop : Marilyne Reynaud
Route de Saint-Christol, 84400 Rustrel
Open every day, but closed from 1 to 3 or 4PM (siesta)

Wineries

Most wineries are closed on Sundays and during lunch hours.

The most notable local wineries are:

• Domaine de la Verrière
• Domaine de la Citadelle
• Aureto
• Cave du Sylla

Areas of Interest

Colorado Provencal in Rustrel: Over 65 acres of hills to hike. Its trails allow to discover eroded cliffs with more than 20 shades of ocher. The hiking trail GR6 crosses this area.

Lavender fields : Located in the Luberon valley, around Rustrel, and a lot on the Plateau d’Albion, and to Forcalquier and the Alpes de Haute Provence.

Golf course in Villars, 5 minutes from Rustrel: 9 holes.

Historical Chateaux in Rustrel, Gordes, Lacoste, Lourmarin.

Historical cities of Avignon, Aix en Provence are 1 hour drive.

Famous hilltop villages of the Luberon valley are in a 25 minutes radius : Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Ménerbes, Lacoste.

More beautiful villages, more quiet, less tourists : Villars, Saint Saturnin, Viens, Caseneve, Cereste.

Gorges du Verdon: Beautiful landscapes, lakes of Esparron, and Sainte Croix.

  

Ochre mines in Gargas : Mines de Bruoux

Lustrerie Mathieu near Gargas : Mathieu Lustrerie 

   

Mont Ventoux mountain, 2000m high : the Giant of Provence. Beautiful views.

Horse riding (Villars…), hiking, cycling.