Forêt des cèdres du Luberon, Cedar forest in Vaucluse, France.
The Luberon Cedar Forest is a protected woodland covering roughly 250 hectares on a high plateau, where Atlas cedar trees stand as the dominant species across the landscape. The terrain includes several walking paths that wind through the forest and lead to viewpoints, particularly the Portalas overlook, which looks out toward the Durance Valley and distant mountain ridges.
Cedars were introduced to this Mediterranean region during the 1860s, fundamentally reshaping the landscape where local vegetation once dominated. This deliberate transformation created the forest that stands today and demonstrates how human planting efforts altered the ecological character of the plateau over time.
The forest holds deep roots in local nature tourism and regional identity, serving as a refuge where people from the valley come to escape the heat and noise of lower elevations. Many visitors feel a personal connection to this place, drawn by the cool shade and the quiet rhythm of the woodland environment.
Wear suitable footwear when exploring the trails, as the terrain varies and the higher elevation can feel much cooler than the valleys below. Plan your visit for earlier in the day to enjoy calmer conditions on the paths and find the best light for viewing from the overlook.
The limestone bedrock beneath the forest creates distinctive patterned surfaces known as lapiaz formations that are visible in various parts of the woodland. These same rock layers feed natural springs that flow year-round, making the geological foundation of the plateau apparent during your walk.
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