Ménerbes, ranked among the Plus Beaux Villages de France
Ménerbes is a fortified hilltop village, offering breathtaking views of the vineyards and scrub-land at the foot of the Vaucluse Mountains, in the Luberon Regional Natural Park.
Ménerbes was also a crucial stop on the Via Domitia, the ancient Roman road linking the Iberian Peninsula (Spain) to Rome through Provence. The village owes its name to Minerva, the Roman goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts and magic.
The village’s long history and charm have rightfully earned it a place among the Most Beautiful Villages in France. However, the 12th-century citadel has had a sometimes tumultuous history, particularly from 1573 to 1578, during the Wars of Religion, when Protestant forces occupied it, causing significant damage.
The citadel has since been completely restored to its medieval and Renaissance splendour. Its winding streets are lined with picturesque houses and elegant private courtyards that lead to the Château du Castellet and the town hall, topped by a 17th-century belfry.
This magnificent hilltop village has attracted famous artists, including Picasso, who acquired a residence there in 1945 for his muse and model, Dora Maar. Many artists and personalities followed them in Ménerbes, turning the old citadel into a leading destination in the region.
Today, Dora Maar’s 18th-century home houses the Brown Foundation’s scholarship program, allowing selected artists to cultivate their art in the heart of a stunning setting.
Peter Mayle in Ménerbes
However, it was the English writer Peter Mayle who truly made Ménerbes famous!
Settled in the village, he wrote the novel “A Good Year”, which was a huge success and was later adapted into a film by Ridley Scott, with Russell Crowe in the lead role. Although the film was mainly shot in the nearby town of Bonnieux, Mayle’s connection with Ménerbes helped to make it a leading tourist destination thanks to its charming restaurants and eclectic shops.
If you like unusual attractions, the Musée du Tire-Bouchon (Corkscrew Museum), which displays a collection of more than 1,200 corkscrews, is a pleasant surprise. It’s hardly surprising to learn that a Frenchman invented the corkscrew in the 12th century!
Department of Vaucluse
Coordinates: Lat 43.832978 – Long 5.206745
Coordinates Corkscrew Museum: Lat 43.844244 – Long 5.197735
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Header by Bonachera jf CC BY-SA 4.0 – Château du Castellet by Toutaitanous CC BY-SA 3.0 – Village by Pmk58 CC BY-SA 4.0 – Village houses by Pline CC BY-SA 3.0
