A magical stopover on your Provence walking holiday
Buoux is a tiny village hidden in the Aiguebrun valley. You have to either know of it or be extremely fortunate to stumble across it! Our self-guided walking holidays lead you straight there and some itineraries include an overnight stay in a truly unique Auberge. But more on the accommodation later. Buoux is a hidden gem. Its houses dating back to the middle and end of the XII century are home to around 150 or so people. The village defines the line between the Petit Lubéron and the Grand Lubéron and here you will find traditional Provençale farming and agriculture with fields of thyme & lavender, home-made honey, goats’ cheese and truffles.
A paradise for climbers and walkers
The Aiguebrun valley is a place where time has stood still. A quiet and peaceful ‘middle of nowhere’ feeling with the imposing cliffs towering around you. The Aiguebrun cliffs were inhabited during the prehistoric times and today are famous for rock climbing. Serious rock climbing! A rather hostile surface covered with small holes and steep, rugged rock, the cliffs became the place to climb during the late 1980’s. So famous in fact that the local farmers were outraged at what they saw as a lack of respect for their land. Tempers flared and the farmers ended up banning rock climbing. But then things calmed down and a mutual agreement reached and today the climbers are back with designated climbing spots along the cliff.
The ruins of the fort in Buoux are a must see on your Provence walking holiday and well worth a visit. A strategic look out point with wide-spread views across the valley below, the fort was also used as a refuge for the inhabitants of the village during the Middle Age invasions and religious war. The ruins include tombstones, a troglodyte house, a water reserve, a 3-storey tower, a XVI century church and a secret staircase carved into the rock. We recommend good walking shoes for this itinerary.
A unique place to lay your head on your Provence walking tour
The "Auberge des Seguins" is a renovated goat farm hidden at the end of a picturesque road at the foot of the valley and is a popular spot for bikers, hikers and rock-climbers. The Auberge is simply beautiful set against the dramatic cliffs. A large shaded terrace with colourful chairs is a beautiful place to sit and have a light lunch – good simple food and home-made deserts. There is a large swimming pool and breakfast is served every morning pool side. The accommodation is located to the right of the main building and is comprised of smaller dry-stone buildings with beautiful lavender coloured shutters. The rooms are very rustic and simple and in perfect keeping with the surroundings. No WIFI, no cell reception and no bells and whistles. This is as down to earth as it gets and it's pretty marvellous!
