Peypin d’Aigues

There are plenty of pine trees in Peypin

Peypin d’Aigues is a charming little village nestled on the foothills of the Grand Luberon mountain. This village is an ideal place to stay in the Luberon, nestled between mountains and garrigue.

In the Roux district, the only Bronze Age relic identified is an axe with hammered edges. The site in the ‘Notre-Dame’ district, on the other hand, has yielded numerous tombs, one of which was covered with an inscribed slab. Their presence is a likely indication of the existence of a Gallo-Roman villa.

In the 10th century, this area was covered with pine trees. The original Peypin was not located where the village stands today, but 1 km to the northwest, on the Castellas hill (the word castellas attests to the existence of a castle that once protected the village). A deed from 1400 also records the abandonment and ruin of ‘Peypin du Castelas’. The second Peypin was founded in 1505 by the barons of La Tour d’Aigues, who sought to revitalise their lands and offered plots to settlers for building. The lord of Peypin d’Aigues Antoine René de Bolliers signed an act of settlement with 15 Waldensian families to repopulate the area and restore the land to its former glory.

Then came the massacre by Meynier d’Oppede in 1545, when the mercenaries of the valiant captain Polin pillaged and set fire to the village. Francis I allows the troops of the parliament of Provence to massacre the Waldensians of the Luberon. Peypin d’Aigues is burned, some of the inhabitants are massacred, and several are sent to the galleys. The Waldensians convert to Protestantism. In 1582, the parish priest of Peypin d’Aigues recorded 90 Catholics and an equal number of Protestants. Even the Saint-Jérôme church, although owned by the cathedral chapter of Saint-Sauveur d’Aix, was destroyed. The canons rebuilt it in 1620. Peypin suffered a new exodus as a result of the banishment of the Huguenots. A century later, their property was confiscated and redistributed to Catholics.

19th-century temple and its commemorative plaque

A plot of land was purchased by the town thanks to a subscription raised by the Protestant community of Peypin d’Aigues. Construction only took place in 1867, with the support of government grants and a fundraising campaign open to a population well beyond the Protestant community of Peypin d’Aigues. Lyon and Orange took part.

Around 1975, after a long period of closure and in a state of disrepair, the village temple in South Luberon was restored with the help of the Luberon Regional Nature Park. In agreement with the presbyteral council, it was deconsecrated. It could then be used as a multi-purpose hall for local cultural events. Nevertheless, this building remains available to Protestants for all their events.

Symmetrical façade, bell tower of a rural chapel. Until 1866, the Protestant community of Peypin d’Aigues attended services in the temple at Motte d’Aigues. See the historic plaque of the Peypinois Protestants on the façade of the monument.

The Vallon des Hermitans Botanical Trail

Take the botanical trail in Peypin d’Aigues, a shaded path stretching for several hundred metres where you can discover Mediterranean vegetation: garrigue, downy oak woodland, and wetlands. Enjoy a cool and enriching stroll right in the heart of the village.

Fontjoyeuse

This hamlet was established in the 16th century and has remained largely unchanged since. The absence of relief made it possible to establish regular, rectangular plots. It was the meeting point for the magistrates of Peypin and Saint-Martin-de-la-Brasque, who held gatherings to discuss matters of common interest to both villages. The architecture is distinguished by its numerous vaulted passageways, houses with loggias and external staircases, as well as the high density of homes, all of which give the village a truly distinctive character.

What to do in Peypin d’Aigues

The best way to discover Peypin d’Aigues is to wander through its narrow streets at your own pace. You won’t get lost, as the village is very small. For hiking enthusiasts, the long-distance GR9 trail passes through the area, and if you prefer cycling, the small roads leading out of the village are also a real pleasure to explore. However, there are a few hills, so you might need an electric bike. On your return, if the weather is hot, stop by the fountain in the village square, or at the large washhouse, which offers shade and a welcome spot of coolness.

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