Château de Cabrières-d'Avignon

Château de Cabrières-d'Avignon rises on a hilltop above the village of Cabrières-d'Avignon, right in the heart of the Luberon, between Gordes and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. The castle dates from the 11th or 12th century, built under the Adhémar family, viscounts of Cavaillon and the first hereditary counts of Orange, and it has stood witness to some of the most turbulent chapters in the history of Vaucluse.

What is the history behind the castle?

The castle's story is woven into the fortunes of several notable Provençal families. In the 14th century it belonged to Henri de Chiabeau, whose daughter Laure is sometimes identified as the very Laura celebrated in Petrarch's love poetry. Historians treat the connection cautiously, but the legend has endured and is still fondly retold by locals.

In 1490 ownership passed to Giraud d'Ancézune, Baron de Caderousse, who brought Waldensian families over from Piedmont to farm the surrounding land. It was within these walls that, in 1545, the Waldensians sought refuge during the brutal persecution unleashed against the Protestant communities of the Luberon. The village was razed to the ground, and the castle itself was not rebuilt until the late 16th century. In that same period, in 1587, a new village church was consecrated to replace the earlier one that had stood beside the castle.

The estate changed hands again in 1807, when it was purchased by Jean-Baptiste Bonnet. In the early 20th century it passed through several more owners, and one of its rooms was even put to use processing silkworm cocoons — a trace of the era when sericulture was a mainstay of the local economy.

What can you see there today?

The castle is prized for its blend of medieval and Renaissance features, making it a rare example of a defensive stronghold reshaped into a residence over time. Its distinctive L-shaped floor plan and its almost intact defensive wall with corner towers are among its most striking traits. Since April 23, 1979, the facades, roofs, two vaulted rooms on the first and second floors of the west tower, and the surrounding wall with its towers have all been listed as a French historic monument.

The village of Cabrières-d'Avignon itself is worth a stroll, offering sweeping views over the Luberon hills, lavender fields, and classic Provençal scenery.

How do you get there?

Cabrières-d'Avignon sits about 40 km east of Avignon and just a few kilometres from Gordes, one of the Luberon's most visited villages. The easiest way to reach it is by car — around 45 minutes from Avignon, and even less from L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue or Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. It's worth setting aside extra time here to combine a visit to the castle with a tour of the equally picturesque villages nearby.

When is the best time to visit?

The castle remains private property and can only be visited inside during the September Heritage Days (Journées du Patrimoine), when it briefly opens its doors to the public. At other times of year you can still admire it from the outside while wandering through the village, which gives a good sense of its imposing silhouette on the hilltop. Late spring and summer are the best seasons to explore the wider area, when lavender fields bloom near Sault and Gordes.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go inside the castle? Yes, but only during the September Heritage Days — the rest of the year it stays closed as a private property.

Who built the Château de Cabrières-d'Avignon? It was built by the Adhémar family in the 11th or 12th century and later passed through several prominent Provençal families, including the Baron de Caderousse.

What is the castle's connection to Petrarch? Local tradition holds that Laure de Chiabeau, daughter of the 14th-century owner, may have been the same Laura to whom Francesco Petrarch dedicated his famous love poems.

What happened at the castle in 1545? The castle served as a refuge for Waldensians during the massacre that struck the Protestant population of the Luberon; the village was destroyed, and the castle itself wasn't rebuilt until decades later.