A walk through Grambois can take in historic lanes, a fountain complex with a cinematic past, and paths through the countryside. When choosing a route, consider how much time you have: the short circuit through the village is quite different from the longer walks. The old village itself also has distinctive architectural features and stories that help shape a visit.
Old Village: Lanes, Walls and Architectural Features
The streets of the old village include restored calades, as well as occasional steps reminiscent of mule tracks. Grooves in the steps were used to drain water and wastewater. On the east side of the village, the 1377 rampart forms the front of the second line of fortifications. The vaulted passageway of the Templiers can be reached by mule-track steps and has a twin-light window dating from the 14th century. The name alone does not indicate a Templar presence: the passageway’s architectural form is what makes it worth seeing.
The Perron cavalier is also noteworthy as an unusually rare staircase; it is probably one of the last surviving structures of its kind in Provence. The Château de Grambois was a 16th-century seigneurie and now houses the town hall. Notre-Dame de Beauvoir was probably founded as a Benedictine priory in the second half of the 11th century and was dependent on the Abbey of Saint-André de Villeneuve-lez-Avignon. In January 2001, the church was added to the supplementary list of historic monuments. These different traces of time can be read side by side in the village landscape, without reducing the individual buildings to the same period.
Walks for Different Time Budgets
The very easy circular route “Le petit tour du village” is 1.9 kilometres long and takes about an hour. It starts at the Pont du Moulin du Pas car park, ends in Grambois and passes through the Porte de Fontvérane. The route explores the village’s heritage and biodiversity. At around an hour, it is the shorter of the routes described here.
The Chemin de Valbonette starts in the village, is three kilometres long and takes about two hours. So, despite being a similar distance in kilometres, it takes longer than the petit tour. The shady Chemin de Gaou is also three kilometres long. This walk highlights the landscape’s biodiversity and views of Grambois; the metal Passerelle André Bonnet bridge is also along the route. The descriptions distinguish the three options by distance, duration and character, without assigning the same walking time to all of them.
Orchards, Springs and Countryside
At the foot of Grambois, a heritage orchard preserves 91 traditional fruit varieties from the Luberon and Provence. The village orchard also includes a restored former dovecote. These offer different insights into local gardening and building traditions: the preserved fruit varieties on the one hand, and a former part of village life on the other.
Water also shapes some places. The Fontsausse spring feeds a fountain whose basin is designed as a wash place; an overflow basin then carries the water into a vegetable garden. A small path, created in 2012, leads down to the Fontvérane spring. As maintenance conditions can change, check the condition of the path before your visit. In the countryside, restanques are another traditional feature: these dry-stone walls are built without mortar, hold back mud and make terraced cultivation possible.
Fountains, Film and Local Offerings
The fountain complex in the village square was inaugurated in 1879. In 1989, Yves Robert filmed important scenes there for “La Gloire de mon Père”; the complex is also nicknamed the “Fontaine des Bartavelles”. The Grambois Nativity scene is displayed every year at Christmas. Its santons depict local residents in traditional costumes typical of their respective professions.
If you are also interested in wine, Les CĂ´teaux de Grambois offers tours and wine tastings. As visitor arrangements can change, check in advance what is available during your stay. This makes it possible to plan a visit to Grambois around specific interests: architecture and village history, a walk of varying length, or an additional look at fruit growing and wine.
Discover more destinations: Lapalud, Viens, Monteux, Beaumont-De-Pertuis, Cabrières-D'avignon, Visan, La Roque-Alric, Ansouis.
For the broader travel guide: Vaucluse.
