La Bastide des Jourdans

A Templar legacy

Two knights were appointed by the Count of Forcalquier to establish a toll station in the village of La Bastide des Jourdans for merchants travelling between Forcalquier and Aix-en-Provence.

The Château

In 1236, the Count of Forcalquier donated the château to his vassals Pierre and Guillaume Jourdan. In 1388, the château served as a refuge for a third of the population who could not find space in the village of La Bastide des Jourdans. An inventory drawn up in 1555 presents the image of a rather modest building that has retained its medieval size and structure. The base of the round tower and the north and west walls date back to the original château (13th century), that of the Jourdan brothers.

The square tower and the main residential wing date from the late 14th and early 15th centuries. From 1530 to 1790, the Astouard and Coriolis families succeeded one another, enhancing and beautifying the building. The last Lord Joseph de Coriolis passed away in 1784. At the end of the 19th century, it was purchased by a painter and notary (an ancestor of the current owner), who restored it to its present state. Today, the château in the village of La Bastide des Jourdans is privately owned and is not open to visitors, except on rare occasions.

Sights and Heritage

Saint Pierre aux Liens Church

The location of this church, set apart from the old village, is easily explained. From the 11th century onwards, homes clustered together, perched on heights and became fortified. Every square metre was precious. Thus, churches were traditionally built outside the walls. Villages with clustered houses nestled close to the castles that watched over them. The medieval town was centred around churches and seigneurial or counts’ fortresses. There too, the population was crowded together because space was scarce.

The Saint Pierre aux Liens Church was built in the 13th century. In 1343, a north side chapel and a three-bay bell‑wall were added. Around 1500, the addition of a south side chapel completed the building, and between 1672 and 1674 a north aisle was constructed by the masons Jean Delestic and Michel Féraud. 

Fontaine de la Jeanne

The fountain was erected around 1793 and most likely comes from the gardens of the Château of La Bastide des Jourdans. The statue is stunning (the local Venus de Milo) and in the background stands a timber‑framed house (with a wooden framework); this technique, known since antiquity, was used in France from the Early Middle Ages right up until the nineteenth century. However, from the seventeenth century onwards and throughout the nineteenth century, the façades of houses with timber framing were plastered to give them a more luxurious and modern appearance.

The Belfry

The village belfry is built at the top of the Serret hillock. The tower was built between 1620 and 1632 to house the parish bells and the town clock, as the church’s low-lying position made them impossible to hear. The 19th-century campanile is perched atop the 18-metre tower. The belfry comprises a spiral staircase shaft on the ground floor, a first floor with four round-arched openings housing the three bells, and a second floor beneath the roof where the mechanism of the town clock is located.

What to do in La Bastide des Jourdans

During your stay in La Bastide, be sure to discover one of its institutions: the studio of Nicole de la Bastide! Winner of the Gold Medal at the International Arts and Letters Competition in Paris and first prize in Aix-en-Provence, her reputation is firmly established. It is beneath the vaulted ceiling of a former Templar coaching inn that Nicole de la Bastide works and exhibits her creations, inspired by 18th-century designs. For many years, she has also been creating her own shapes and designs. Come and meet this artist, both talented and endearing, in her studio.

La Bastide des Jourdans is, above all, the ideal starting point for exploring the whole of the Luberon. And what better way to explore the roads of the South than in the iconic ‘Deudeuche’? Adrienne and Damien offer you convertible Citroën 2 CV tours to experience Provence in a whole new way! Treasure hunts, themed tours, or even self-drive rentals for the freedom to cruise with the wind in your hair, with nothing to hold you back. An experience offering a true introduction to South Luberon withOh My Deuche!

Market day and local flavours

From April to October, from 8 am to 1 pm, don’t miss the weekly market. Discover beautiful local and seasonal produce on the stalls! The village market in La Bastide des Jourdans takes place on Saturday mornings.

It’s impossible to pass through the village without being struck by the façade of the Le Cheval Blanc restaurant. This chic and gourmet address also offers four bed and breakfast rooms. This charming hotel is set within a fully renovated old stone building, offering the perfect place for a weekend getaway, whether as a couple or with friends.