Overlooking the Calavon River, Apt is an atmospheric town in the Luberon Mountains, with much of the area now protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It was once an important settlement for the Vulgientes tribe before being destroyed by the Romans and rebuilt at the request of Julius Caesar.
Things to do in Apt
In the heart of Apt is the Church of Saint Anne, a former cathedral established in 1056 and completed in the late 17th century. Now designated as a Monument Historique, it is believed to have been built on the site where Saint Auspice (the custodian of Saint Anne’s relics) was buried. Admire its diverse architecture, ranging from Romanesque to Baroque, and see the crypt remaining from a 1st-century Roman building.
Also of Roman origin is the Pont Julien, a stone-built arch bridge that spans the Calavon River to the west of Apt. Believed to date from the 2nd century BC, it was located on the ancient Via Domitia, which connected Italy to Hispania via modern-day France. The Pont Julien is notable for the openings in its supporting columns that enable floodwaters to pass through.
Apt makes an excellent base for exploring Parque Natural Regional de Luberon, which encompasses 185,000 hectares of rugged limestone mountains and picturesque villages linked by hiking trails. Visit the photogenic hilltop village of Gordes and enjoy the small town charm of Ménerbes, which provided the setting for Peter Mayle’s novel “A Year in Provence”.
Getting around Apt
Apt is around an hour’s drive from Avignon and 1.5 hours from Marseille Provence Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Buses connect to Apt and the town is small enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of exploring the area.