Above the village, the troglodytic complex of Beaumettes stretches for almost 130 metres as a protected hamlet. Other highlights include church architecture, a botanical trail and a confectionery with a long craft tradition. Discoveries range from settlement history and religious architecture to landscape and local production.
Historical layers in Beaumettes
The parish church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption in Beaumettes was consecrated in 1875. Its floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross; the northern transept chapel is dedicated to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. At Vieilles Beaumettes, ruins dating from the 16th century have been preserved, associated with a historic rural settlement.
The former Via Domitia is also part of the historical context: Beaumettes lies on the edge of its former route. As the first major Roman road, construction of which began in Gaul from 118 BC, it points to an earlier era than the surviving buildings in the area. Different periods thus come together: the ancient road landscape, the rural settlement of Vieilles Beaumettes and the parish church consecrated in 1875.
The troglodytic complex and Sainte-Foy
The complex above the village includes houses, agricultural outbuildings with a dovecote, and basins and cisterns surrounding a castle and the Romanesque Chapelle Sainte-Foy. Alongside the residential buildings, the farm buildings and water features also draw attention to the different elements of the settlement ensemble.
Today, Chapelle Sainte-Foy hosts exhibitions. Its oculus window contains a gemmail made from fragments of glass—a specific detail that draws attention to the chapel’s design. Historical fabric and contemporary exhibitions thus come together at this site.
Trail and dolmen in nearby Goult
The Sentier botanique des Beaumettes is a 2.7-kilometre circular trail through garrigue and pine forest. Geological formations dating from the Miocene lie along the route. The circular layout and length give a clear indication of the trail, while the landscapes and formations define its focus on nature and geology.
Nearby, in Goult, stands the Neolithic Dolmen de l’Ubac. It was dismantled stone by stone and faithfully rebuilt in 2014. Located near Lumières station, it can be reached via the véloroute or along the D218 between Lacoste and Ménerbes, near the Calavon. The two places are therefore clearly distinct: in Beaumettes, the botanical trail passes through garrigue and pine forest, while Goult is home to a Neolithic monument in a reconstructed form.
Confectionery tradition and finding accommodation
Confiserie Saint-Denis in the village of Beaumettes offers a guided tour of its workshop, with a look at the production process followed by a free tasting of homemade products. For more than 150 years, confectionery craftsmanship has been passed down there from generation to generation. The tour combines insights into production with a tasting; the long-standing craft tradition adds another cultural dimension to the trip.
When looking for a hotel in Beaumettes, you can match the character of the place to your interests: themes include historic buildings and settlement history, landscape and geology, and confectionery craftsmanship. If you include the Dolmen de l’Ubac, note that it is in Goult and therefore outside Beaumettes.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Saturnin-Lès-Avignon, Saint-Christol, Saint-Trinit, Caumont-Sur-Durance, Caromb, L'isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, Saint-Saturnin-Lès-Apt, Malaucene
See the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.
