The castle of Gordes is located in the heart of the village of the same name, perched village of the Luberon, in the Vaucluse, 50 kilometers east of Avignon.
From the eleventh century, it is primarily a typical medieval fortress, quadrilateral shape with towers at the corners, whose keep is enlarged in the fourteenth to face the enemy incursions.
In 1525, renovation and beautification work began, commissioned by Bertrand Rambaud de Simiane, whose powerful family reigned over most villages in Luberon.
A part of the feudal castle then turns into a nice residence of Renaissance style. The contrast is always striking between the north facade, still characteristic of a castle, and the south facade, reworked and embellished as the Renaissance fashion from Italy.
Passed in the bosom of the princes of Condé, the building is preserved during the Revolution, then the castle serves over the centuries of granary, barracks or prison.
Truly integrated in the village, in the late nineteenth century, a school, a post office, a bar and the town hall are housed in the castle.
Classified in 1931, the castle then hosts from 1970 to 1996 a museum dedicated to Vasarely, contemporary artist, and until 2011 a museum dedicated to the Belgian painter Mara.
From now on, the perfectly preserved castle, in particular its way of round from which exceptional panoramic views are offered to the walkers, is the seat of the Office of Tourism. It also hosts renewed art exhibitions every year. Free visit of the exteriors.
Visit exhibitions and therefore some rooms of the castle from March to October. Some exhibitions are paying (7 euros). Guided tour on reservation. All information at +33 4 90 72 02 75.
