There is a short window in Provence — between the end of spring and the beginning of peak summer — when everything feels particularly magical.

The countryside is still green, the lavender is beginning to bloom, village life spills back outdoors and the markets are overflowing with cherries, apricots and fresh herbs.

Here are 8 of our favourite things to do in the Luberon in early summer.

1. Visit a Guingette

In June, open-air restaurants and bars begin appearing across Provence beneath trees, beside rivers or in village squares. Known as guinguettes, they are one of the joys of early summer: relaxed food, string lights, music and long warm evenings outdoors.

Also great to visit during the day for a long, relaxed lunch - this is much harder to do in the heat of summer, when the sun is so much stronger. Better still, why not ride a bike along the Voie Verte cycling path, which stretches from Castellet to Cavaillon, passing Saignon, the Calavon river and the Roman Pont Julien.

Our favourite guinguette: La Gaudina Luberon, in Goult.

2. Visit a Market Early, Then Cook at Home

June markets are at their best. Fill a basket with cherries, apricots, goat cheese and fresh herbs, then return home for a long lunch on the terrace before the heat of the afternoon.

Even better, if you are staying at Villa Vauvert, treat yourself to a market to plate cooking course. Join Rebecca for a morning discovering seasonal produce and meeting favourite local producers at a nearby market, before transforming your finds into a simple, generous Provençal meal to share around the table.

Discover our cooking classes on Les Collections Vauvert.

3. Hunt for Treasure at a Vide-Grenier

Nearly every weekend from June to October, villages across Provence host vide-greniers (flea markets) — traditional French flea markets where locals empty attics, garages and old family homes.

June is one of the best times of year to go treasure hunting. Before the peak summer crowds arrive, you still have a real chance of finding old linens, pottery, silverware or beautiful forgotten objects. Amongst our favourites are Reillane, Lourmarin and Saignon (the last weekend in May).

4. Visit an amazing Garden and the First Lavender fields

June is lush in the Luberon - the sweet spot between spring and summer that so many people overlook. The roses are in bloom, entire villages smell of jasmine (visit Lourmarin in June!) and the lavender bursts into flower from approximately mid June to mid July.

Spend a morning wandering through some remarkable gardens or simply pull over beside a lavender field and take in the scent and colour before the full summer crowds arrive.

Our all time favourite is Le Jardin de l'Abbaye de Val Saintes in June. The roses are magnificent, the peonies stupendous and the vegetable patch that supplies their wonderful restaurant, perched over the gardens, is churning out strawberries, artichokes, spinach and other spring greens.

Also worth visiting: the Abbaye de Senanque or the Jardins de Salagon

5. See an Exhibition Before the Crowds

Early summer is one of the best moments to enjoy the region’s cultural life quietly.

Lourmarin and Gordes are wonderful villages to visit if galleries featuring local artists inspire you. One of my favourite villages to visit each year is La Coste, the little village painstakingly restored by Pierre Cardin. La Coste is the home to SCAD (Savannah School of Art and Design), who put on a brillant exhibition each year, featuring iconic designers such as Dior, Gaultier and Lacroix. In 2026 the exhibition is titled: André Tallard -style is eternal. It is beautiful, powerful and inspiring. And the best part about visiting early is not having a crowd of people between you and the displays.

6. Take Your Time in a Village Café

One of the simplest pleasures in Provence is also one of the best.

Order a coffee in a small village square, sit beneath the plane trees and watch daily life unfold around you. In June, there is still space to enjoy the slower rhythm of village life alongside the locals.

Our favourites are Chez Christine and Auberge du Presbytère in Saignon, Mazette in Apt or Chez Gaby in Lourmarin. See our village guides on Apt, Saignon and Lourmarin here.

7. Make Something with Your Hands

The Luberon has a long tradition of craftsmanship.

June is the perfect moment to join a pottery or ceramics workshop and create your own Provençal bowl or handmade souvenir to take home — something far more meaningful than a shop-bought keepsake, and frankly, good for the soul.

We recommend Terra Mea's discovery workshops at their studio in Auribeau every Wednesday morning. Auribeau is a tiny village, just 10 minutes down the road from Saignon.

8. Watch the Sun Set Over the Luberon, Cocktail in Hand

Treat yourself to an evening at one of the remarkable estates of the Luberon and enjoy a beautifully made cocktail on a terrace as the sun goes down over the hills.

One of our favourite addresses is Le Platane at Domaine des Andéols — elegant, relaxed and perfect for a golden summer evening. A little touch of luxury in the middle of a slower, simpler Provençal week.

Looking for somewhere to experience the Luberon in early summer? Villa Vauvert is ideally located near Saignon, in the heart of the region’s markets, villages and countryside.