This calm medieval town in Provence's Luberon Valley has a 12th-century cathedral, weekly produce markets, and is encircled by lavender fields and olive groves.
Apt, a town in southeastern France's Luberon region, sits between the Vaucluse mountains and Luberon massif. Walk through its medieval streets to discover the 11th-century Cathedral Sainte-Anne with its ancient crypts, or join locals at the 900-year-old Saturday market where more than 300 vendors sell fresh produce, cheeses, and the town's specialty - candied fruits. The surrounding countryside invites you to explore Roman bridges, ochre quarries, and cycling paths through lavender fields.
Getting Around Apt's Old Town
Walk through a network of narrow cobblestone streets winding between buildings from the 14th to 18th centuries. Look for the 16th-century bell tower with its round campanile on Rue des Marchands - it marks the center of town. Several 14th-century vaulted passages remain from when Apt had 27 defensive towers and six fortified gates. Today, you can still see the Porte de Saignon, the last surviving gate of the medieval fortifications.
The Saturday Market Experience
Every Saturday from 8:00 AM, more than 300 vendors fill the old town's streets and squares with their stalls. Local farmers sell seasonal vegetables and fruits from the surrounding valleys, while craftspeople display traditional Provençal textiles, wicker baskets, and locally-made pottery. On Tuesday mornings, a smaller farmers' market takes place on Cours Lauze de Perret, focusing on agricultural products from nearby farms.
Cathedral Sainte-Anne
The Cathedral Sainte-Anne contains architectural elements from multiple periods, starting with its 1056 construction. In the lower crypt, you can see parts of the original 1st-century Roman building. The upper crypt contains Saint Anne's veil and other religious objects. The 12th-century Romanesque nave connects to the 17th-century central nave, showing how the building evolved across nearly 1000 years.
Candied Fruit Production
Local confectioners have made candied fruits in Apt since the 14th century, when they supplied these sweets to the Popes in Avignon. Visit the Maison du Fruit Confit Monday through Saturday to watch demonstrations of the crystallization process and taste different varieties. The 300-square-meter shop sells candied fruits and explains their production methods through educational displays.
Roman Sites and Local Industry
Walk or cycle to the Pont Julien, a Roman bridge from 2 BC that crosses the Coulon River. The bridge was part of the Via Domitia, the first Roman road in France that connected Italy to Spain. At the Industrial Museum, you can examine Roman artifacts and learn about the local pottery industry that developed using clay from nearby deposits.
Exploring the Luberon
The Luberon Nature Park surrounds Apt with hiking and cycling trails. Stop by the park's visitor center in town to get maps and learn about local plants and rock formations. The area includes medieval villages, lavender fields (which bloom from June to July), and ochre quarries that once supplied red and yellow pigments to potters throughout the region.
