Roussillon

Roussillon is a village in Vaucluse situated on a hilltop between the Monts du Vaucluse and Petit Luberon. Red and yellow buildings cascade down the slope, connected by narrow streets that wind through the residential areas.

From the late 1700s onward, thousands of workers extracted and processed earth pigments from local quarries. This industry made the area a major pigment production hub until 1930, when extraction gradually declined.

The name comes from the red and yellow earth pigments that have shaped building traditions here for centuries. Houses were traditionally painted with locally sourced ochre, and this practice continues to define the village's distinctive color palette today.

Walking is the best way to explore the village since the streets are narrow and steep. Sturdy shoes are recommended, and marked hiking trails lead through the former quarry areas nearby.

Around 17 different shades of ochre occur naturally in the area and were historically used for crafts and pigment production. This natural color palette attracted modernist artists and writers in the 1900s who found inspiration in the landscape.

Location: canton of Gordes

Location: Vaucluse

Location: arrondissement of Apt

Elevation above the sea: 241 m

Shares border with: Bonnieux, Gargas, Gordes, Goult, Joucas, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt

Phone: +33490056016

Email: accueil@roussillon-en-provence.fr

Website: http://roussillon-en-provence.fr

GPS coordinates: 43.90222,5.29278

Latest update: December 20, 2025 12:45