town hall of La Bastidonne

The town hall of La Bastidonne, a small commune in the Vaucluse department at the heart of the Luberon, serves as the administrative center of a village home to only a few hundred residents. The building sits on Rue des Ferrages, right in the middle of the old village core, and while it isn't a grand monument, it captures something essential about rural Provençal municipalities — modest, functional, and folded into a landscape of stone houses and cypress trees.

Where does the name La Bastidonne come from?

The village's story begins in the 13th century. Around 1230–1231, a knight named Savaric had a fortified structure built known as "La Bastide de Savaric," from the Provençal word "bastida," meaning a fortified dwelling. A settlement gradually grew up around it. The name shifted over the centuries — first to "La Bastidette," then "La Bastidonne de Savaric," before settling into its current, shortened form, "La Bastidonne," in 1790. By the end of the 14th century, the lordship had passed to the Lords of La Tour-d'Aigues, who held it until 1792, when the French Revolution swept away the old feudal order.

When was the town hall built?

The town hall building itself is much younger than the village. In 1844, the municipal council purchased a house intended to serve a dual purpose — both as a schoolhouse and as the seat of local government. Combining educational and administrative functions in a single building was common practice for small French communes in the 19th century, when both institutions often shared the same modest budget. The building still houses the mayor's office and the municipal council today, even though the school function was later moved to a separate site.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Right next to the town hall stands the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonne-Aventure, a 13th-century building in a simple, unadorned Romanesque style typical of the region's rural churches. La Bastidonne sits at the southern edge of the Luberon, close to the town of Pertuis, making it a convenient gateway into the regional park — a land known for lavender fields, stone villages, and terraced olive groves. With fewer than a thousand residents, the commune sees little tourist traffic, which for travelers seeking an authentic, unhurried side of Provence is more of an asset than a drawback.

How do you get there and when should you visit?

Pertuis or Aix-en-Provence make the best starting points, with local departmental roads leading to La Bastidonne through classic Provençal scenery — vineyards, olive groves, and low rolling hills. Spring and early autumn are the most pleasant times to explore this part of the Luberon, avoiding both the summer heat and the crowds that gather in the region's better-known villages, such as Gordes or Roussillon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the town hall of La Bastidonne? It's the seat of local government for a small commune in Vaucluse, housed in a building the municipal council purchased in 1844, which originally also served as the village school.

Where does the name La Bastidonne come from? It derives from "La Bastide de Savaric," a fortified structure built around 1230–1231 by a knight named Savaric; the name was later shortened to its current form.

Is La Bastidonne worth visiting as a tourist? Yes, especially as part of a broader Luberon trip — the commune offers an authentic, quiet slice of Provençal village life, with a historic church standing right beside the town hall.

How far is La Bastidonne from major towns in the region? The village sits near Pertuis, at the southern edge of the Luberon, a short distance from Aix-en-Provence.