Saignon

Before enjoying the charm of the perched village, some heritage sites are worth a special visit.

This is the case of the Abbey of St. Eusebius, established on the ruins of an old seigniorial palace during the first millennium (sixth century) and rebuilt in the eleventh after the barbarian invasions. Attached to the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Gilles in Languedoc, it develops and has priories on the dioceses of the region (Cavaillon, Carpentras, Aix, Nice) in the thirteenth century. Then the monks desert it and the abbey is sold to the Revolution. Now remains the abbey church reconverted art gallery. Classified, it is a private property.

The Notre-Dame-de-Pitié church, erected outside the walls, that is to say outside the ramparts, dates from the 11th and 12th centuries for its oldest parts and is in the Romanesque style.. The church was a place of pilgrimage for all of Provence but also a stopover for all those who went to Rome via Via Domitia and for Italian pilgrims heading for Santiago de Compostela. The porch and its three-door portal are from the 16th century. On the facade, a gothic arch encircles elaborate arcades. It should be noted that the pyramidal tower overlooks the triple nave and that the roof is partly covered with slate. Listed as a Historic Monument, the church has a marble font that has also been ranked.

See also, the chapel of Saint-Michel de Transi, erected in the eleventh century and remodeled, the castle of Valcroissant, fortified in the tenth century, but whose current buildings date from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

In the village itself, on its spur, steep streets, old fountains and wash houses have retained all their picturesque character. The habitat is composed of tall old houses sometimes of medieval base. They surround a rock overlooking them and in which were dug troglodyte rooms, including an old oil mill. We can now climb on the rock and enjoy a panoramic view of Apt and the Luberon.

The Place de la Fontaine and the Saint-Donat Chapel (11th century) can still be seen in the historic center surrounded by some remains of the old city walls.

At the mercy of the hamlets, down from the hilltop village, many bories mark the roads and trails. The oldest of these shepherds' huts, the borie de Garuse, dates from the 17th century.

The main heritage sites of Saignon and its hamlets are the subject of hiking or mountain biking tours. Documentation and information on +33 4 90 74 03 18.

In addition, the Luberon Regional Nature Park (UNESCO labeled territory) regularly offers thematic hikes or guided tours focusing on the historical, cultural and natural heritage (many protected areas for their ecosystem, especially in the municipality of Saignon). Information on +33 4 90 04 42 00.

From mid-July to mid-August, the festival François Morenas program at the theater of greenery or the church Notre-Dame-de-Pitié theater shows, concerts of classical music and screenings of "old" films.

The second weekend of August, the votive festival offers fun, musical and gourmet entertainment.

The third weekend of September, the festival of sound stones organized in the Luberon program concerts of world music, and stage at Saignon.

On Thursday morning, the market of local and artisanal, in the village, will delight the greedy visitors amateurs of Provençal products.

The GR92 follows the ridges of the Luberon and peaked at 1125 m. Part of this GR can reach Apt Saignon walk. Small one-hour walk from the fields and pretty houses Luberon : always with the view Saignon and rock.

The Claparèdes where we observe throughout the walk lavender fields and Bories so typical of the region.