Rustrel, Rural commune in Vaucluse, France
Rustrel is a rural commune nestled between the Luberon and Vaucluse mountain ranges in Provence. The landscape encompasses valleys, hills, and Mediterranean vegetation spread across around 2,800 hectares.
The area traces its origins to Roman times, with a 12th-century church built upon ancient foundations. A 16th-century castle, now serving as the town hall, was constructed under the Dukes of Lévis Ventadour and features a sundial from 1626.
The Saint Julian church traces back to medieval times and sits in a valley with historic fountains that once served the community's daily needs. These water sources remain visible reminders of how people organized their settlement around available resources.
The commune offers marked hiking trails that lead through former ochre quarries, which were heavily mined between 1880 and 1950. These routes allow visitors to explore the area on foot and observe the traces of historical mining activity.
The former ochre quarries created striking geological formations that earned the area its nickname of French Colorado, with red and yellow cliffs contrasting against green landscape. These color contrasts resulted from both natural erosion and human mining activity, shaping the place's appearance to this day.
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