In the Calavon valley, Apt offers an urban stop in the heart of the Luberon. Its market, old lanes and industrial heritage reveal different aspects of the town.
A town in the Calavon valley
Apt is the main town in the Luberon, its small capital. Apt is located in the bottom of the valley of the Calavon, a capricious and sometimes daunting river, bordered on the north by the Vaucluse plateau and south by the Luberon mountain.
The site has been occupied since Neolithic times, and the Romans founded the town and gave it its name "Colonia Apta Julia" in honor of Julius Caesar. It was then a prosperous Roman city on the Via Domitia, a busy thoroughfare. Later, Apt continued to benefit from its privileged position and remained a flourishing centre of trade and industry, but its history was turbulent during troubled times in the Middle Ages, especially during the Wars of Religion.
The market and old town lanes
Apt’s main market takes place on Saturday mornings in the town centre. A farmers’ market also takes place on Tuesday mornings on Cours Lauze-de-Perret. Check tourist office information before a public-holiday visit or a special event.
The old centre preserves mansion façades from the 17th and 18th centuries. Sainte-Anne Cathedral and the collections of the Musée d’Apt complement the walk. Museum spaces and any visits to archaeological collections have their own opening arrangements.
Planning your visit
Treat the market, town walk and museum visits as separate stops. The Musée d’Apt explores local history; some collections are accessible only during organised visits or events. Allow for busier streets and parking on Saturday mornings.
Accommodation
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tourist office website : www.luberon-apt.fr
Coming to Apt
GPS coordinates 43°52'37'' N - 5°23'49'' E
Location : 180 meters above sea level, 12000 inhabitants, 2,5 miles from Saignon, 6 miles from Bonnieux, 6 miles from Caseneuve, 10 miles from Lacoste, 6 miles from Roussillon, 12 miles from Gordes, 14 miles from Simiane-la-Rotonde, 24 miles from Forcalquier, 32 miles from Avignon, 34 miles from Aix-en-Provence.
Getaway · Guest Houses in Provence PortalApt market day in the Luberon
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