Welcome to apt

The town of Apt was founded by the Romans in a region originally inhabited by the Vulgientes, a Gallic tribe.

Originally called “Apta”, the site of a military camp on the Domitian Way, “Julia” was added as a tribute to Julius Caesar, whose “pax romana” had already praised the frequent intermingling between Romans and indigenous populations. Apt became a Roman Colony and the capital of one of the 19 Colonies in “La Gaule Narbonnaise”. Tradition also has it that Julius Caesar stopped in Apt while returning from one of his campaigns in Spain, which seems very plausible since the Domitian Way was used for major expeditions

Because of the invasions which took place between the 6th century and the year 1000, the people may have returned to the mountains in order to defend themselves. During the 9th century, however, we know that the town was administered by the Counts of Apt and in the following century jurisdiction was shared between Counts and Bishops. It took on a new form with the development of the town as a commune (parliaments, then Consuls and Syndics).

The Apt of modern times is the heart and capital of its area, resolutely looking towards the future. In a constantly-changing society, its desire is to continue to set an example as a balanced town, a place of work and creation, but also of hospitality. The ancient Domitian Way has always been a route for cultural exchanges and trade between east and west: it must always remain the road of friendship.

The beauty of the "Provencal Colorado" lies in the combination of nature and artifice that created it.
In Rustrel, ochre mining began at the late 19th century. The ochre-quarriers extracted the magnificent pigments from the earth, carving a beautiful, multicoloured landscape.

The paths go through both private properties and public areas, through narrow coombes and cliffs.

With distances of 1 km - 5.5 km and heights ranging from 10 - 150 metres (32-492 feet), the area is perfect for hiking.

Evidence of ochre quarrying can still be found on the site, such as the sedimentation tanks, pumps, and furnaces (private property). You can also visit the Chapel of Notre Dame des Anges, and the coloured River Doa.

This enchanting, unique place is very fragile: please treat it with care and respect so that future generations may continue to enjoy its beauty.

A map of hiking trails is given at the carpark.

You remember here, that in the past, ochre was extracted from the ground, at the light of a gas lamp, a pickaxe at hand. From 1880 to 1950, over 50 km of mining tunnels were dug into the cliffs.

The remnants of the old Janselme mine « la carrière de Bruoux » is now open to the public.

A 650 meters long trail has been created in a spectacular site, combining both nature and history treasures.

Impressive tunnels, cone-shaped or arched from 5 to 12 meters high design a genuine underground cathedral ; an immersion into the aesthetic quality of ochre that pays tribute to the ochre diggers, both quarrymen and artists.

Outside, a large promenade, a park, walking paths, a reception centre fitting perfectly in the site, an open air theatre with ochre walls to exhibit events in a unique background.

This observatory enjoys an idyllic location beneath the most cloudless sky in Europe and amid the lavender fields.

Just a few miles from Apt on the former missile launching ground of the Plateau d’Albion, the observatory is the ideal place for stargazing, offering 360° views, state-of-the-art technology and top-quality instruments.

With experts on hand to offer help and advice, budding astronomers can spend enchanting evenings looking at the night sky.

The clayey grey marl where the mill is situated is from the Aptian geological stage. From the geological point of view, a stage is characterised by a particular fauna corresponding to a particular epoch. The Aptian stage, described by Alcide d’Orbigny in 1840, is one of the stages in the international scale of geological periods.

“From Apt to Aptian, the division of time”

This permanent exhibition is a tribute to Alcide d’Orbigny, the great palaeontologist of the 19th century. It introduces the visitor to the division of geological time by the science of stratigraphy. The development of ideas, the main episodes in the history of the Earth and modern techniques are explained in an exhibition of fossils found in the area.

Outside the exhibition the Luberon Park has created an almond grove, with 40 different varieties, for conservation purposes.

Guided visits

During the spring and summer holiday periods a geologist from the Luberon Regional Park offers free guided visits of the exhibition.

Situated in the east of the Pays d’Apt (18 km or 11 miles away), in the Alpes de Haute Provence, Oppedette is a village perched on a promontory and affords spectacular views of the gorges.

A magnificent 6-km (3.7-mile) marked route starting from the south of the village will take you on a tour above the gorges with dizzying views (150 metres or 492 feet up) of this dramatic scenery.

There are 5 hiking paths in Luberon, in addition to the miles and miles of footpaths.

• GR6 : via Oppédette, Saint Saturnin lès Apt, Gordes

This path crosses Luberon from east to west via the Monts de Vaucluse and the Gignac, Colorado Provençal, Gargas and Roussillon ochre quarries.

• GR9 : via Monieux, Villars, Apt, Vaugines

This path goes down from Mont Ventoux and the Calavon Valley before crossing the Massif du Luberon at Apt, via the sentier de la pierre and the Aiguebrun Valley.

• GR92 : via Saignon and Mourre-Nègre

A variant of the GR9, this path follows the Luberon ridge, reaching an altitude of 1125 metres (3690 feet).

• GR4 : via Oppédette, Sault, Malaucène

Goes through the Oppedette Gorges to Ventoux, from the hybrid lavender of Pays d'Apt to the common lavender of Pays de Sault.

• GR97 : Around Luberon

The GR97 will take you on a 8-10 day hike around. There are a number of rest areas on the way.

• GR653D : St-Jacques de Compostelle

From Montgenèvre to Arles, along the Via Domitia. For pilgrims and hikers