OPPEDE LE VIEUX: AN ABANDONED MEDIEVAL VILLAGE IN THE LUBERON
"Before sunset we walk up the hill to the ruins of the old castle, once inhabited by the evil Baron Maynier. There’s also a chap who lives up here in a cave. The locals just shrug. Pourquoi pas? It’s a free country" - so writes Christopher Hart in a recent Daily Mail article on Oppede Le Vieux.
It's a village we love because the cycle ride there - via Lourmarin, Bonnieux and Mènerbes - is so beautiful.
Oppède-le-Vieux, nestled in the Luberon mountains of Provence, boasts a rich and layered history.
The village dates back to the 12th century, when it was strategically built on a rocky hill to serve as a fortified settlement. Its mediaeval charm is evident today in its narrow streets, the ruins of a castle, and the restored church that dominates the skyline.
The harsh living conditions on this rocky outcrop and elevated location led many inhabitants to relocate to the valley below in the 19th century. By the early 20th century, Oppède-le-Vieux had become a near-abandoned ghost village.
During World War II, the village experienced a brief revival when architect Bernard Zehrfuss established an artists' commune there, attracting figures like sculptor François Stahly and writer Consuelo de Saint-Exupéry. This period inspired Saint-Exupéry's fictionalized account, Kingdom of the Rocks.
