Less well-known than Gordes, Bonnieux, Roussillon or Ménerbes, for many years the quiet hill-top village of Goult really was off the tourist track. Inevitably, it’s not as ‘hidden’ as it once was, but it is still less visited than its Luberon neighbours, probably because it is not as obviously a ‘perched’ hill-top village. And yet Goult is one of the most lovely villages of the Luberon, and for us a must-see.

Goult remains a living village with a grocery store, a butcher, a cheese shop, a bakery, a hairdresser and a post office. It also boasts four restaurants, a pizzeria and the unmissable Café de la Poste – one of the most popular cafés in the region. At Lumières, a short steep walk down the hill, there are two more restaurants, a bar, a chemist, the doctor’s surgery, another grocery store and the local co-operative winery.

Many visitors don’t go much further than the terrace of the Café de la Poste but you’ll be rewarded if you take a walk round the old village. The original village was clustered round the chateau (parts of which date from 12th century but which was extensively restored in the 17th and 19th centuries) and protected by walls with gates in them.

A tour of Goult

There are 19 information panels situated around the village, indicating the points of interest. They’re in French but you can download the English version here.

At the very least, walk up the Rue de la République and then the Rue Jeu de Paume to the windmill. Having admired the view, go through the gate in the old village walls opposite and back down past the chateau rising seamlessly out of the rock, eventually meandering back to the village square.

The 12th century Romanesque church of Saint Sebastian with its Baroque altarpiece, situated on the main square, is also worth a visit.

One other thing you shouldn’t miss is a surprising, hidden gem: the cemetery. The clipped yew trees are crazily reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. They are particularly splendid around All Saints’ Day (November 1st) when the topiary is immaculate and the tombs will be glowing with pots of chrysanthemums. Access is via a small passage near the bakery (beside La Terrasse restaurant).