Bonnieux and its history

Bonnieux is the main village of the canton. The commune extends from the peaks of the Luberon to the plateau of the Claparèdes and the banks of the river Calavon. Bonnieux itself is one of the most beautiful “perched” villages, set high up on the north side of the Luberon range. From the site one enjoys a wonderful panorama over the agricultural plain, the valley of the Calavon, the Vaucluse mountains and Mont Ventoux.

The village, which is 425m above sea level, is dominated by its church, which is partly Romanesque and partly Gothic. The village itself dominates the Coomb of Lourmarin, which is the only way over the Luberon mountains.

Between the Neolithic and the Bronze age, Bonnieux was a Celtic Ligurian ‘oppidum’ or fortified town. In Gallo- Roman times the village was situated below the current site and possessed wealthy estates. In the first century CE, the Roman road from Cadiz to Milan crossed the vast territory of Bonnieux and there was a place to rest in Lumières. This was one of the principal routes across Europe and busy with traffic. Bitona, the present Pont Julien, stood at the junction of the north south road across the Coomb of Lourmarin. In the Middle Ages, for reasons of security, the town was built above the area where the ‘oppidum’ had been. By 972 CE it already had a fortress and walls.

In the 12 century, the Templars built the Chapel of St. Sauveur, which forms the Romanesque part of the church. Between 12 and 14 CE, faced with armed bands of marauders who came from the plain, the inhabitants of Bonnieux sought refuge in the castle and the church, in an area called the Castellars which belonged to the powerful Agoult family. The burgh of that era was surrounded by ramparts, with four gateways and towers, some of the remains of which still stand.

Bonnieux was a ‘command’ of the Templars until 1312. Around that date, the commune became a territory of the Pope and continued to belong to the Catholic Church until 1791. This Papal territory was an enclave within the land of the Count of Provence and gives it a special place in the history of the region.

The town was a residence of ecclesiastical dignitaries, who were sometimes forced to live there, and numbered 3,500 inhabitants. It benefited from special privileges which had been accorded in 1247 by Raymond, the Count of Toulouse. The coat of arms of the commune reflects this prosperous period.

Bonnieux only became French in 1793 when the Comptat of Venaissin was annexed by the Convention, during the French Revolution.

Discovering Bonnieux

· Old church - to climb up there from the village there are 86 steps, which are shaded by century old cedars.
· Table of orientation of the Belvedere
· ‘New’ church (1870) - four paintings, taken from the old church, represent the Passion of Christ
· Remains of the 13C towers and ramparts
· 18C Hotel de Rouville (old town hall)
· The Philip tower is a late 19C reconstruction of the original and can not be visited
· Bakery museum
· Julian Bridge (3 BCE) 5km away in the plain.
· Cedar Forest of the Petit Luberon 6km away.

Renseignements : Office de tourisme intercommunal du Canton de Bonnieux - 7, Place Carnot - 84480 Bonnieux - Tél. 04 90 75 91 90 - otibonnieux@wanadoo.fr

Mairie de Bonnieux : 04 90 75 80 06


	Bonnieux and its history Bonnieux is the main village of the canton. The commune extends from the peaks of the Luberon to the plateau of the Claparèdes and the banks of the river Calavon. Bonnieux itself is one of the most beautiful “perched” villages, set high up on the north side of the Luberon range. From the site one enjoys a wonderful panorama over the agricultural plain, the valley of the Calavon, the Vaucluse mountains and Mont Ventoux. The village, which is 425m above sea level, is dominated by its church, which is partly Romanesque and partly Gothic. The village itself dominates the Coomb of Lourmarin, which is the only way over the Luberon mountains. Between the Neolithic and the Bronze age, Bonnieux was a Celtic Ligurian ‘oppidum’ or fortified town. In Gallo- Roman times the village was situated below the current site and possessed wealthy estates. In the first century CE, the Roman road from Cadiz to Milan crossed the vast territory of Bonnieux and there was a place to rest in Lumières. This was one of the principal routes across Europe and busy with traffic. Bitona, the present Pont Julien, stood at the junction of the north south road across the Coomb of Lourmarin. In the Middle Ages, for reasons of security, the town was built above the area where the ‘oppidum’ had been. By 972 CE it already had a fortress and walls. In the 12 century, the Templars built the Chapel of St. Sauveur, which forms the Romanesque part of the church. Between 12 and 14 CE, faced with armed bands of marauders who came from the plain, the inhabitants of Bonnieux sought refuge in the castle and the church, in an area called the Castellars which belonged to the powerful Agoult family. The burgh of that era was surrounded by ramparts, with four gateways and towers, some of the remains of which still stand. Bonnieux was a ‘command’ of the Templars until 1312. Around that date, the commune became a territory of the Pope and continued to belong to the Catholic Church until 1791. This Papal territory was an enclave within the land of the Count of Provence and gives it a special place in the history of the region. The town was a residence of ecclesiastical dignitaries, who were sometimes forced to live there, and numbered 3,500 inhabitants. It benefited from special privileges which had been accorded in 1247 by Raymond, the Count of Toulouse. The coat of arms of the commune reflects this prosperous period. Bonnieux only became French in 1793 when the Comptat of Venaissin was annexed by the Convention, during the French Revolution. Discovering Bonnieux · Old church - to climb up there from the village there are 86 steps, which are shaded by century old cedars. · Table of orientation of the Belvedere · ‘New’ church (1870) - four paintings, taken from the old church, represent the Passion of Christ · Remains of the 13C towers and ramparts · 18C Hotel de Rouville (old town hall) · The Philip tower is a late 19C reconstruction of the original and can not be visited · Bakery museum · Julian Bridge (3 BCE) 5km away in the plain. · Cedar Forest of the Petit Luberon 6km away. Renseignements : Office de tourisme intercommunal du Canton de Bonnieux - 7, Place Carnot - 84480 Bonnieux - Tél. 04 90 75 91 90 - otibonnieux@wanadoo.fr Mairie de Bonnieux : 04 90 75 80 06
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