A Guide to the Best of Saint-Martin-de-Castillon

Last Updated on 14th October 2024 by Charlotte Nadeau

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A small town with an unrivalled view of the Grand Luberon, Saint-Martin-de-Castillon is located in the valley of the Cavalon and is characterised by its warm stone houses and abundance of greenery. Here’s a guide to the best things to do in St Martin de Castillon, as well as what to know before you go.

The town is known as Sant Martin de Castilhon in the local regional dialect of Occitan. Saint-Martin-le-Castillon is a ‘village perché,’ which means perched village and is typical of the French countryside.

As its name would suggest, the perched village is typically nested on the side of a hillside and were often fortified, constructed just below a chateau. The villages also usually feature a lavoir (public wash basin), small chapel or church, and numerous narrow streets.

St Martin de Castillon is located in the Vaucluse department in the region of Provence. Towns of note and sites of interest close by include Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, Grambois, and Apt.

The town itself is in the middle of a nature reserve and is surrounded by beautiful lavender fields which bloom towards the end of June through to the beginning of July. In the spring, there are blooming cherry and almond trees.

Please note that the way to get around the little town in Provence is on foot. You’ll have to park your car just outside the historic city centre before wandering into town.

There are lots of steps in Saint-Martin-de-Castillon due to its positioning perched on the side of a hill, and so you should be sure to wear comfortable footwear.

Best things to do in Saint-Martin-de-Castillon

Truth be told, there is little of note when it comes to Saint-Martin-de-Castillon and the true joy of the town is wandering through its little cobbled lanes and snapping views of charming vistas. I would not go out of your way to visit this village, but instead visit it en route to another destination in the area.

Church of the Assumption

The main church in town was actually rebuilt in 1820 (on the site of a former place of worship) in the Romanesque style and boasts features such as a 16th-century carved wooden figure of Christ and altar canons by Pertus.

Chapels of Saint-Martin-de-Castillon

There are actually several chapels in the village and its surrounds (at least 4). Some of these are open to the public, though opening times vary (with this being said, the chapels are open for longer and more frequently during the summer) and it’s pretty much luck of the draw as to whether or not the chapels will be open in the town during your visit.

The Chapel of the Pénitents Blancs is the old castle chapel and features a Romanesque door. The chapel of Saint-Placide lies partially in ruin, has a steeple arcade, and was built in 1720 following a plague.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Courennes is located to the North of the town and was restored in the 19th-century, and there is a final chapel from the 19th-century in the heart of the village.

Admire the views

Truth be told, one of the best things to do in Saint-Martin-de-Castillon is to admire the views of the surrounding Luberon landscape. The best time of the day to visit the village is in the morning or late afternoon so as to get the best lighting for your photos.

Ruins

Dotted around the town and its surrounds, there are several sets of ruins, all of which are in various states of deterioration. As well as vestiges of ramparts and turrets, there are the ruins of the castle (castillon) for which the Provençal settlement is named.

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