This is the story of a special land and a special soil in the heart of the Luberon.
Those unique colours, a mix of clay and iron were created by the forces of nature over 1 million years ago below a prehistoric sea. However, the landscapes were shaped by the hand of men who began extracting natural colours and exporting them all around the world. Ochre is also a testimony to the many changes that this part of the Luberon has experienced for several hundred years.
The Massif des ocres is the largest ochre deposit in the world. It extends from east to west for about 30 km, through Roussillon, Rustrel and Apt.
Easy itineraries have been developed to visit them, in the middle of the hills carved by mining : old quarries, galleries, circuses, cliffs, promontories, chimneys with warm hues.
Through hikes and walks, museums and exhibitions, you will also learn that industry can be a tradition.
Luberon
image gallery
Top things to do
in Luberon
Ochre Factory
Learn about the ochres differently!
Children and parents share the adventure of colours, create your paintings, follow all the steps of ochre treatment through guided tours.
Mines de Bruoux
Visit and walk through 650 m of underground galleries in a network of over 40 km. Amire the work of the miners who extracted ochres from the moutain.
Colorado of Rustrel
Explore the Colorado in Rustrel, a grandiose site with stunning contrasts, from deep red to luminous yellow.
Ochre history in the Museum d'Apt
A museum to discover the history of a land through its industrial adventure : ochres, candies fruits and pottery.
Museum of geology
All the geological richness of a territory, landscapes, rocks and fossils
Video
of Luberon
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