Vitrolles-en-Luberon

The highest village in South Luberon

The highest perched village in South Luberon, it reveals the splendour of its landscape and offers you a breath of pure, fresh air. Rise above and discover its hidden treasures: the parish church, ancient houses, the washhouse and the fountain. Prepare to be amazed!

The origins of the village

The name of the village Vitrolles-en-Luberon has its origins in the Latin word ‘vitrolea’ (glassworks). Although this site has yet to be identified, at the foot of the Castellas, the presence of numerous remains of flat Roman tiles suggests that a villa once stood here. Mont Piégros was thought to be dedicated to Minerva. A beautiful head of the goddess of wisdom was discovered and is now housed in the Borely museum in Marseille. Quite distinct from its namesake in the Bouches-du-Rhône, the village emerged in the 11th century on the Castellas hill, with the aim of levying a toll on the road linking Aix-en-Provence to Forcalquier.

The Romanesque church of Saint-Etienne

Just outside the town hall of Vitrolles-en-Luberon, there is a bell gable with two arches. The original building dates back to the 13th century, but was rebuilt in the 17th century. In the 15th century, the village lay deserted; the Protestants had plundered the church in 1570. Inside, you’ll find a magnificent blue and gold altarpiece, a curious painting depicting Saint Martha, as well as the reliquary bust of St Etienne and the little-known image of Saint Philomena. Saint Etienne Church consists of a nave with two bays and a rectangular apse with a barrel vault. From the church, take in the sweeping view to admire the old Château and its vast meadow.

Château du Grand Pré

Little remains of the building constructed in 1678. The château was sold in 1753 to the renowned physician and surgeon Jean-Gaspard d’Ailhaud. He made his fortune and became famous thanks to a miraculous purgative powder, which earned him widespread renown and enabled him to obtain a title of nobility at the royal court. He then became a counsellor and secretary to the king, and also had a private mansion built in Aix-en-Provence (Hôtel d’Ailhaud on what is now Rue Mignet). Today, the Château is undergoing renovation and can be visited in the summer.

Original houses

The village embraces the unexpected with its houses adorned in colourful Luberon ochre façades.

The former olive oil mill

LThe former olive oil mill, triangular in shape, is located in a house reminiscent of an eighteenth-century residence (with exposed beam ceilings and joists). The mill room is fully equipped with its animal-driven millstone and scourtin press.

The millstone, suspended from the ceiling by an axle, is set in motion by an animal connected to this axle by a horizontal harness. As the animal walks around the vat, it turns the millstone. The olives are then placed inside to be crushed. The paste is removed through an opening at the base of the tank. The scourtins are filled with the olive pomace (pits) paste. The Provençal word ‘scourtin’ refers to the round, flat bags woven from coconut fibre, which are still produced by the only remaining factory located in Nyons in the Drôme.

Once filled, the scourtins are stacked one on top of the other in the ‘chapelles’ (manual presses). A wooden manoeuvring bar is fitted so that the olive miller can tighten the screw and thus press the scourtins.

The oil from the first pressing flows into a tray below. Once thoroughly pressed, the scourtins are removed and the olive pomace is stored in a corner of the mill. It will be sold to factories to be processed into flour, which will be used for flouring the baker’s peel (flouring involves sprinkling olive pomace flour onto the baker’s peel to prevent the dough from sticking). The oil then flows into various settling tanks filled with water. As it is lighter, it remains on the surface. The oil is collected with a skimmer (a flat, thin tool with a handle), then stored in jars. In the final tank, the water, still oily but unfit for consumption, is sent to the Marseille soap factories.

The school, setting for the film ‘My Father’s Glory’

The school, with its four ‘indiscrets‘ (toilets), provided the setting for the films ‘My Father’s Glory’ and ‘My Mother’s Castle’ in 1990. Today, the site has become private.

What to do in Vitrolles-en-Luberon

Clearly, the village of Vitrolles-en-Luberon is perfectly suited to hiking. Nestled on the slopes of the Grand Luberon mountain, it invites you to lace up your hiking boots, grab your poles and set off along the village’s trails. From the village of Vitrolles-en-Luberon, you can join the ridge path, passing through the Vitrolles pass. From up there, the view is breathtaking! Cycling enthusiasts will not be disappointed, as this village in South Luberon is an essential stop for crossing to the other side of the mountain, on the northern slope. The road to Céreste is simply stunning! We also invite you to wander through the peaceful little streets of the village, and to take a seat on a bench to admire the panorama unfolding before you. Finally, depending on the progress of the restoration work, a visit to the Château du Grand Pré is a must for all lovers of heritage and ancestral traditional Provençal homes.