If ever a village deserved its ‘Aigues’ name, it is surely this one. The word ‘Aïgue’ or ‘Aygue’ is the French adaptation of terms from Provençal, themselves derived from the Latin aqua, meaning ‘water’. Indeed, the village is crossed by four rivers and lies on the edge of the Étang de la Bonde, the largest lake in the department. Nestled in a haven of greenery and surrounded by broom in June, La Motte d’Aigues is a charming, peaceful little village with picturesque lanes and beautiful manor houses. Take the time to explore it on foot, whether during a walk or simply by stopping when you pass through.
A village with Waldensian traditions
Nestled at the foothills of the Grand Luberon mountain, La Motte d’Aigues captivates with its natural setting and the quality of its heritage. Having been a Waldensian village in the 16th century, it experienced a turbulent history, but today it is sought after for its peace and tranquillity in the heart of the countryside.
The origins of the village
The village site has been inhabited since prehistoric times and Antiquity. A Gallo‑Roman necropolis was discovered containing six bodies, a carved stone block, fragments of glass, an intact ceramic vase, and pieces of tiles. This site has been dated to the first century. The village was founded in the Middle Ages, around the 11th century. It is referred to as Mota Aiguerii and as a dependency of the Abbaye Saint-André de Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.
Completely deserted during the latter half of the 15th century, this fief was granted by Roi René to Fouquet d’Agoult, who decided to create a water reservoir for the château of La Tour d’Aigues and had an aqueduct built. The lake known as ‘Étang de la Bonde’ allowed the entire Aigues valley to be irrigated. But as La Motte remained uninhabited, in 1505, Louise d’Agoult, guardian of her nephew François de Bolliers, lord of La Motte, lLa Tour-d’Aigues and Cabrières, signed an act of settlement to repopulate these lands. To this end, she called upon Piedmontese followers of Waldensianism. They were among the first Waldensians in the Luberon.
In 1545, the Edict of Mérindol condemned the village of La Motte d’Aigues, along with 23 other Waldensian villages in the Luberon. All of this, under the command of the first president of the parliament of Aix, the Baron d’Oppède. The villages were plundered, the men slaughtered or sent to the galleys. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in just five days. The land was confiscated and possessions looted and sold off cheaply to pay the soldiers.
The source of the Mirail
At the foot of the Luberon mountain, following a gentle stream, a short walk leads you to the source of the Mirail. Supplying drinking water and feeding the Étang de la Bonde, it became highly coveted as early as the Middle Ages and was the source of many disputes between the lords of the Aigues valley. The source of the Mirail gained significance in the 15th century, when Lord Fouquet d’Agoult began developing the Étang de la Bonde to supply the region with water. The source of the Mirail is a magnificent witness to the passage of time, for now preserved in its original state. The walk concludes with the discovery of the ruins of a former Bastide (country house), the Bastide du Bois, once a rural estate belonging to Jean-Baptiste Jérôme de Bruny, heir to La Tour-d’Aigues in 1772, a man brimming with ideas, who in 1774 attempted to acclimatise Angora goats there.
Étang de la Bonde
In 1470, Fouquet d’Agoult created a vast lake to supply the moat of the Château of La Tour d’Aigues via an aqueduct. It is the largest lake in the Vaucluse department, fed mainly by the Source du Mirail. The Château de La Bonde, a grand building adjoining the lake, was once the centre of a wine estate established in the 19th century, comprising 130 hectares of land, several farmhouses, a hill, and the lake (30 hectares).
The Temple
The temple in the village has had a more eventful history. An initial temple was built on the site of the current one (between 1633 and 1641), then demolished following measures taken by Louis XIV (in 1663). After the Revolution, a few families who had gone into exile following the massacre of the Waldensians returned. A new temple was then built in 1817, but due to numerous construction defects, it soon fell into ruin by the end of the 19th century. It was rebuilt during 1904 and was inaugurated on 30 July 1905.
Despite the law on the separation of Church and State, churches built before the 1905 law became the property of the State, which lent them to the churches free of charge. Since then, they have been maintained at its expense. Most Catholic churches, half of the Protestant temples, and a third of the synagogues now belong to the State.
Market days and local flavours
The night market in La Motte-d’Aigues takes place on Thursdays from early June to late August, starting at 6 p.m. No fewer than 15 stallholders sell fruit, vegetables, clothing, utensils, toys and other food products. Come and do your shopping at nightfall to the sound of music, for a moment of relaxation and conviviality. Just outside the village, Stéphane Despax raises snails in an open field, which he then prepares in his own kitchen. Pay him a visit, and he will show you around his farm, ‘Les Escargots des Valanques’, and introduce you to his products. If you are looking for a beautiful setting to enjoy a drink on the terrace or a delicious meal, you simply must take a seat at the Café du Lac, by the Étang de la Bonde. From there, you can take in the lake and the mountain, the view is simply breathtaking!
Love our villages?
Set off to discover the other villages of the South Luberon! Just 30 minutes from Aix-en-Provence, visit these charming, characterful, flower-filled villages.
Across the plains, unusual and authentic treasures await you in every village. Between vineyards, forest and lavender fields, the villages of the South Luberon never cease to surprise and enchant, bearing the marks of time through their impressive castles and ramparts — remnants of a bygone era, yet also of an art of living passed down from generation to generation.
Peypin d’Aigues is not limited to just the village. It stands out from the others thanks to the architectural wealth of its stone hamlets and the vastness of its forest massif, from which numerous streams flow down. Peypin d’Aigues takes its name from Podium Pini, of Roman origin, with the root Pey referring both to stone and to a rocky summit. The suffix Pini conjures up the image of a pine forest clinging to the slopes of this stony hill. There used to be pine trees everywhere here! Relax in the pleasant Place de la Fontaine, then enjoy the coolness of its botanical trail for a nature walk.
Love our villages ? Discover more villages in the South Luberon! Just 30 minutes from Aix-en-Provence, explore charming, flower-filled villages […]
Love our villages? Set off to discover the other villages of the South Luberon! Just 30 minutes from Aix-en-Provence, visit […]
The village of Saint-Martin-de-la-Brasque comes alive every Sunday from May to October with its farmers’ market. Lose yourself in the narrow streets, between the sundial, a secret passageway and some rather surprising façades. You’ll love the beautiful shady square, the enormous fountain, the original trompe-l’œil feature, the ancient alleyways, the tranquillity and the sense of serenity.