Château du Barroux


Built in the 12th century to protect Le Barroux from Saracen invaders, Château du Barroux is one of Provence's few castles. Its fortunes rose and fell, but its last indignity was in WWII, when retreating Germans set it ablaze – it burned for 10 days. Only ghosts remain, but it's great fun to explore, especially for kids unaccustomed to such architectural drama.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Abbaye Ste-Madeleine

2.54 MILES

Two kilometres north of Le Barroux along thread-narrow lanes, this abbey hears Gregorian chants sung by Benedictine monks at 9.30am daily (10am Sundays…

2. Synagogue de Carpentras

6.21 MILES

Carpentras’ remarkable synagogue dates from 1367 and is the oldest still in use in France. Although Jews were initially welcomed into papal territory, by…

3. Arc Romain

6.27 MILES

Hidden behind Cathédrale St-Siffrein, the Arc Romain was built under Augustus in the 1st century AD and is decorated with worn carvings of enslaved Gauls.

4. Cathédrale St-Siffrein

6.29 MILES

Carpentras’ cathedral was built between 1405 and 1519 in meridional Gothic style, but is crowned by a distinctive contemporary bell tower. Its Trésor d…

5. Cité Médiévale

7.08 MILES

Wandering around Vaison-la-Romaine's wonderful medieval quarter, you could be forgiven for thinking you've stepped into a forgotten set from Monty Python…

6. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth

7.36 MILES

The peaceful 12th-century Romanesque cloister at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth is a five-minute walk west of La Villasse – and a great spot to find…

7. Gallo-Roman Ruins

7.4 MILES

The ruined remains of Vasio Vocontiorum, the Roman city that flourished here between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC, fill two central Vaison sites. Two…

8. Baptistry

9.95 MILES

Tucked behind the Romanesque church, this baptistry was built in the 6th century on the site of a Roman temple.