The 35-metre-high Rocher de Bellevue towers over Saignon and offers panoramic views across the Calavon Valley, Mont Ventoux and Montagne de Lure. There is also a rock formation you can reach on foot, historic sites in the village, and excursions with named starting points. Saignon is part of the Parc Naturel RĂ©gional du Luberon.
The rock and its panorama
The Rocher de Bellevue de Saignon is also known as the Rocher de Saignon. This inselberg was isolated from the Claparèdes Plateau by erosion. Along with the views, this helps put its geological relationship to the plateau into context. From the village of Saignon, you can reach the rock on foot in ten minutes. A car park is located below the village on the D48 from the direction of Apt. Check local access conditions before your visit.
Village walk and history
On a walking tour of Saignon, you can visit the Church of Notre-Dame-de-Pitié. The ramparts and a fortified gate bear witness to the village’s former role as a refuge for its residents. The walk takes in both a church open to visitors and architectural traces of this former protective function.
The former Abbey of Saint-Eusèbe in Saignon is documented from 1004. It includes a Romanesque church dating from the last third of the 12th century. These dates refer to different historical points: 1004 concerns the documented history of the former abbey, while the later period dates the Romanesque church.
Excursions with different starting points
The “Saignon – Le plateau de Caseneuve” mountain bike circuit is 25.9 km long, difficult, and takes 3 hours and 15 minutes. It starts at the car park du Fangas, 4 km northeast of the village. The “Saignon – Crêtes du Grand Luberon” route, by contrast, starts at the car park du Pasquier above the village. Check trail conditions, access and the terms at the respective car parks before setting out.
Markets and activities in your weekly plans
The Marché nature de Saignon takes place seasonally from 1 April to 31 October, every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Place du petit Pasquier. This makes Thursday morning the main fixed point in your weekly plans. Check the date before you travel.
Les Ă‚nes des Collines rents out donkeys for half-day or full-day hikes in Saignon. A discovery tour of local wildlife and plants is also offered for children. Check availability in advance.
The activities have clearly different time commitments: the mountain bike circuit takes just over three hours, donkey hikes are offered as half-day or full-day activities, and the market is limited to Thursday mornings. This makes it easy to fit the different experiences into your stay.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Saturnin-Lès-Avignon, Brantes, Sainte-Cécile-Les-Vignes, Piolenc, Faucon, Caderousse, Puyméras, Fontaine-De-Vaucluse
For the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.
