Mirabeau

At the crossroads of three departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône and Var, the village of Mirabeau quietly takes place in the heart of the Luberon Regional Natural Park. Municipality of Vaucluse, it is located between Pertuis and Manosque, not far from Apt.

In the Middle Ages, around the 12th century, the village of Mirabeau was deeply linked to the rhythm of the Durance river, which irrigated the cultivated plains. Medieval in appearance, the town reveals a certain charm and plunges its visitors into a glorious past. Monuments of interest are not lacking, and Mirabeau has been able to highlight its heritage to attract tourists eager to discover the architecture of Vaucluse.

Provencal village, Mirabeau benefits from an exceptional natural setting, offering various outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, swimming and climbing. Gastronomy is also in the spotlight in the town, with the production of four AOP Luberon wines, Provence AOC olive oil, or Sisteron lamb and honey.

Municipality	Mirabeau
Postcode	84120
Latitude	43.7043930 (N 43° 42’ 16”)
Longitude	5.6561009 (E 5° 39’ 22”)
Altitude	From 214m to 628m
Surface area	31.66 km²
Population	1431 inhabitants
Density	45 inhabitants/km²
Prefecture	Avignon (118 km, 1:26)
Insee code	84076
Intercommunality	CC Territoriale Sud-Luberon
Department	Vaucluse
Territory	Provence
Region	Provence-Alps-French Riviera

Saint-Paul-lès-Durance	6.5 km (8 min)
La Bastidonne	7.9 km (9 min)
Beaumont-de-Pertuis	8.4 km (10 min)
Grambois	10.1 km (15 min)
La Tour-d'Aigues	10.5 km (13 min)
Peyrolles-en-Provence	12.6 km (14 min)
Jouques	13.3 km (16 min)
Pertuis	13.6 km (15 min)
Corbières-en-Provence	14 km (14 min)
Peypin-d'Aigues	14.1 km (22 min)
Saint-Martin-de-la-Brasque	15.7 km (23 min)
La Motte-d'Aigues	16.6 km (24 min)
Vinon-sur-Verdon	16.7 km (18 min)
Vitrolles-en-Lubéron	17 km (27 min)

The remains of the rampart: Remains of the 14th century enclosure with the remains of a tower and a fire pit.
The old magnanerie: The word comes from the Occitan magnan which means mulberry. It is a place for sericulture: breeding of the silkworm, which feeds exclusively on mulberry leaves. It was undoubtedly large landowners, lords, more aware of developments in agronomy, who planted mulberry trees for the cultivation of silk. But what is remarkable is that, alongside the silkworms claiming premises, space and personnel, this agricultural practice affected the poorest family circles. The poverty of certain regions has pushed the inhabitants to seek additional income. Silkworm breeding requires only a minimum of soil and labor (40 days per year and in spring) and the value of the product is relatively high. In addition, the whole family can participate, men can pick the leaves, women and children feed the worms (3 times a day, only mulberry). The ancients recall that women held the eggs in their bodices, at a constant temperature to allow them to hatch. We better understand the attachment to this resource! Much better, the farm still conceals corners of attic, storage rooms, forgotten spaces that can house a breeding.
Place de la Fontaine: The fountain is a circular basin with spitting newts, a square pillar, a cylindrical column and a ball pinnacle. As the water is hard, the mosses formed from the newts slowly turn into tuff (soft stone) and descend like a lava flow. For film shooting needs, the tuff had been carefully removed and then put back on… Also discover the capstan of the port of Mirabeau. A capstan is a vertical axis winch around which a cable used for pulling is wound. It was used to help boats cross the Durance when the current was too strong.
The Saint-Pierre church: The Saint-Pierre church presents a mixture of styles. Outside there is a Romanesque door, a 17th century portal, 19th century windows, a row of four-row genoises, a fine wrought-iron bell tower and a very heterogeneous bell tower with a 12th century base, part middle of the XVIIth century and a summit of the XIXth century… The church was born with the village at the end of the XVIIth century as a rural annex of Beaumont. The nave was enlarged in 1613 as evidenced by the dated stone (south-west buttress). In 1812 an earthquake cracked the building, but given the cost of repairs only the nave was consolidated and the roof repaired. The bell tower was also raised. Major consolidation and modification of the frame took place from 1960 to 1963.
Rue du Four: It is in this street that the town's oven was located. At the corner of the square, a typical 17th century residence.
The old castle: The castle was built at the end of the 16th century by Jean Riqueti and embellished during the following two centuries, thus combining the allure of the fortifications and the charm of the 18th century residences. It housed Victor Riqueti de Mirabeau, marquess of Mirabeau, writer, philosopher and economist, his son, Gabriel Honoré, count of Mirabeau, tribune, pamphleteer and schemer. Her great-grand-niece Sibylle Gabrielle Riquetti de Mirabeau, countess of Martel, known in literature as Gyp bought in 1895 the castle of Mirabeau, where she had important works done which ruined it. She had to resell it in 1907 to Maurice Barrès. It is currently owned by an individual. It is not classified as a Historic Monument, it cannot be visited.
The large gardens: Laid out in 2010 by the municipality, it is an ideal place to picnic and let the children play.
The Relais du Grand Logis: Many periods in the history of the Grand Logis remain to be specified, but we know its important role as a post relay on the Aix - Sisteron axis from the 16th century. Travelers and stagecoaches stopped there for a well-deserved night's rest or to change the carriage before continuing on the Alpine road or crossing the Durance river using the ferry. The central part, with its facade in false switchgear and its main entrance to the right of the tower, served as an inn and the rooms were located on the upper floors, while the building on the east side saw the stagecoaches enter and leave on the edge of the old one. road. On the west side the large vaulted room was the stables which housed the horses, the hayloft was located just above. It was distributed through openings still visible today. Located on the lands of the Marquis de Mirabeau, which were sold after the revolution, the Grand Logis will become from 1880 a farm or an outbuilding of the vineyard of the Château de Clapier until 1998, creating memories still vivid to the elders of the surrounding villages. In 2005 the project to renovate the building into lodges and guest rooms was put in place, and 3 years of work later the Relais du Grand Logis was once again dedicated to welcoming travelers. Do not hesitate to come and push your doors there, during your visit you will find an authentic atmosphere because the soul of the house has remained intact. Copies of the lifting plans dating from 1885 are available on request.
The castle of Clapier: The castle of Clapier on the road to Manosque, was the former hunting lodge of the Riqueti. The name of "Clapier" corresponds to the locality, but one also finds its origin in the Provençal word "clapas" meaning heap of stone (the ground being so stony, the peasants used to make heaps of stones and to cultivate. the earth around). Today AOC Luberon wine estate, discover their wine and the 12 century-old monumental casks that can hold up to 240 hl of wine each…
The Sainte-Madeleine du Pont chapel: The Sainte-Madeleine du Pont chapel overlooks the Durance (end of the 12th century). It was built to protect those who wanted to change shores. Its architecture is very classic: nave with two bays, broken barrel vault and semicircular apse. The many holes that mark its facade were used to set up a canopy intended to shelter pilgrims. The ground of the church is the surface of the rock, the foundations are shallow. The parade of Mirabeau was the seat of river smugglers, the building was therefore called "La Chapelle des radeliers". Around 1260, it took the name of "Sainte Madeleine du Pont de Canteperdrix" in reference to a first bridge which was built over the Durance. The bridge has been destroyed many times, then replaced each time until our time. During floods, or on the contrary during the summer, when the water was too low, the price of transport varied considerably. It was left to the appreciation of the ferryman...
The Mirabeau bridge: The Mirabeau bridge, namesake of the one in Paris sung by Guillaume Apollinaire, had an eventful existence. The first attempt to build a bridge dates from the 15th century. The various "Bridge of Mirabeau" which were built were totally or partially destroyed four times by the unleashed Durance. Each time it was rebuilt, because its toll was lucrative. The piles of the ex-suspension bridge date from 1832, it has a span of 150 m long and 5.50 m wide. The suspensions are attached to two immense neo-Romanesque porticoes still standing today (listed in the supplementary inventory of historical monuments in 1988).
Hike: Departing from the Mirabeau Bridge, take a hike to go around Mount Sepulcher. 15 km - 4h - Difficult level. Attention dangerous descent.

The market is held every Saturday morning. Every Saturday in July, the village offers a Provencal night market with local artisans and entertainment.
The votive festival takes place at the beginning of August.
At the beginning of October, the harvest festival offers several activities around wine and vines.

Last name	Activity type	Rate	City
Treetop adventure course at the heart of Luberon	Sports sensations	9 € to 21 €	La Tour-d'Aigues (5 km)
Outdoor show: Letters from my Windmill	Entertainment	17 €	Le Tholonet (23 km)
Tour and wine-tasting at the Domaine Nais	Local flavours	9 €	Rognes (24 km)
Segway Tour of Aix-en-Provence – 2 hours	Entertainment	50 €	Aix-en-Provence (26 km)
Day trip to the Lavender Fields and the Verdon Gorges	Nature and the great outdoors	125 €	Aix-en-Provence (26 km)

Last name	Outing type	Difficulty	Duration	Departure municipality
Around Gréoux-les-Bains Electric Bike	Cycling itinerary	Easy	2:30	Gréoux-les-Bains (19.3 km)
Sainte-Victoire Mountain - Saint-Ser Chapel	Hike	Intermediate	1:30	Puyloubier (20 km)
Around Lincel with the family	Hike	Easy	3:20	Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire (21 km)
Water fountains of Aix-en-Provence	Hike	Easy	55 min	Aix-en-Provence (26 km)
To the choirs of Aix-en-Provence	Hike	Easy	1:05	Aix-en-Provence (26 km)

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Mirabeau

Mirabeau

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Vaucluse

Geographical information

Nearest cities & towns

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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

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