Authentic Bonnieux

Radia Amar - 19 January 2023

Set on different levels of a cliff overlooking the valley, facing the village of Lacoste, Bonnieux is indisputably one of the Luberon’s loveliest villages.

Lying north of the Luberon Nature Park, 13 km south-west of Apt, Bonnieux is a village of authentic charm, home to some 1,350 residents. Recognizable for the 425-metre bell-tower of its Gothic and Romanesque church reached by 86 steps, Bonnieux is a sumptuous hill-top village overlooking superb surrounding scenery : the Monts du Vaucluse, the villages of Gordes and Roussillon, and vast plains playing host to vines, lavender, cereals and fruit trees. With their terra-cotta roofs, its typical houses extend over the hillsides in a delightful harmony of shapes and colours. A few majestic residences built in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries bear witness to the commune’s prosperous past, when the region of Le Comtat Venaissin belonged to the Popes.

Home to well-known crafts shops and a few commendable restaurants with charming terraces, Bonnieux is an esthetic address prized by gourmets. Sometimes called the “Mont Saint-Michel of Provence”, it lays claim to the special feature of encompassing part of the cedar forest. These trees from the Atlas mountains in Morocco were planted here in 1862. In the midst of these enchanting landscapes guaranteeing a very peaceful lifestyle, “mas”, “bastides”, large properties, village houses, bourgeois residences and picturesque villas built of stone have long inspired the dreams of fans of the Luberon’s Golden Triangle.

Founded by Gérard Bacon in 1975, the agency bearing his name is now run by Ludivine Le Monnier. Focusing on sales, it covers the area stretching from Gordes to Ce´reste.

“In the Bonnieux sector, traditional residences and village houses with outdoor areas comprise the core of demand for budgets ranging from 400,000 to 800,000 €.”

However, even though demand seems to be slightly lower, it still remains steady, with buyers confronted by limited offerings. These clients include a good number of north Europeans, drawn by the charm and authenticity of this village in the Luberon offering all the services and amenities necessary for a pleasant everyday life, all year round (shops of good quality, a pharmacy, doctors...).

Whether in the case of main or second residences, buyers are looking for a delightful home with a Provençal soul, and do not hesitate to invest in a property requiring renovation if it meets their requirements in terms of location and character.

“They often extend their home-hunts to the village of Goult, offering the same characteristics as Bonnieux,”

says Ludivine Le Monnier.