If you're searching for that classic postcard shot of a medieval abbey surrounded by a sea of purple lavender, look no further. This sublime 12th-century Cistercian abbey (senanque.fr; adult/child €8/4) provides one of the most iconic shots of the Luberon, and it's equally popular these days for selfies. The best displays are usually in July and August. You can wander around the grounds on your own or join a guided tour in French, offered several times daily; either way, reserve ahead online.
Founded in 1148, the abbey is still home to a small monastic community, members of which conduct guided tours (in French) throughout the year. You can also take an unguided tour by borrowing a HistoPad, a tablet that provides historical and cultural background in 10 different languages. Reservations are essential, as are conservative dress and reverential silence. If you're enchanted by the stone halls, the peaceful atmosphere and the spiritual connection, perhaps book a silent retreat for €40 per day and immerse yourself in the contemplative lifestyle of a monk.
The monks here support themselves by selling honey, lavender and essential oils to visitors. Unlike other abbeys in the region, they also open up their monastic home to visitors at certain times. The abbey is accessible by car but is also walking distance from Gordes. The most iconic hill village of the Luberon, Gordes seems to teeter improbably on the edge of the sheer rock faces of the Vaucluse plateau from which it rises. It's impossibly photogenic, but also impossibly crowded in peak season.
