Legendary castleVaucluse

Oppède-le-Vieux

Oppède

Dimensions

abandoned hilltop village on a rocky spur

Period

Medieval castle of the counts of Toulouse, later under papal authority; abandoned from the early 20th century

What stands there

1 perched ghost village, church of Notre-Dame-d'Alidon (10th–11th century), ruins of the castle

This abandoned hilltop village, built on a rocky spur with cliffs falling away on three sides, preserves the Romanesque church of Notre-Dame-d'Alidon (10th–11th century) and the ruins of a castle that belonged to the counts of Toulouse and then to the papal authority — it sheltered the antipope Benedict XIII during the Great Schism, and later served as the base for Baron Jean Maynier's campaigns against the Waldensians. Gradually abandoned from the early 20th century in favour of the village in the valley, it is today restored and inhabited by a community of artists.

Avignon et Provence — Oppède-le-Vieux ↗

Getting there : Free access to the village, castle closed to the public for safety reasons

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

See it on the map OpenStreetMap Directions

Ambient sound

Nearby

Sanctuaire Notre-Dame de LumièreChurch · Goult · 7.5 km
Le mur de la peste, la ligne de 1721 dans les monts de VaucluseSacred mountain · Cabrières-d'Avignon · 7.6 km
Cathédrale Notre-Dame-et-Saint-Véran de CavaillonCathedral · Cavaillon · 10 km
Gouffre et source de la Sorgue (Fontaine-de-Vaucluse)Sacred spring / fountain · Fontaine-de-Vaucluse · 10 km
Abbaye Notre-Dame de SénanqueCistercian abbey · Gordes · 11 km
Ermitage et chapelle Saint-GensChapel · Le Beaucet · 15 km

In the same department

All places — Vaucluse (19).