Savoillan

Savoillan, located in the Toulourenc Valley (Vallée de Toulourenc) in the extreme north of the Haute Vaucluse, can be reached via an ancient stone bridge where the Toulourenc river flows underneath. The medieval charming village counting less than 100 inhabitants  isn’t build on top of a hill likethe other surrounding villages like Brantes and Reilhanette but appears at the bottom of the valley right at the foot of the erratic Toulourenc (Provencal for  'tout ou rien’ or ‘all or nothing’). Savoillan apparently doesn’t want to hide itself and acts gracefully on the front with behind the majestic Mont Ventoux that watches over the village.

The road to the village, an entrance with a long stone bridge that makes you think of entering a castle, permits entering Savoillan to be special already. Especially in the summer you will be attracted to the village when at the base of Savoillan a purple glow of lavender in full bloom appears which makes the village a colorful area and then creates a famous image of a genuine Provencal village.

Once you cross the bridge you enter Savoillan - reinforced by a stone wall that the village protects against the Toulourenc in case it would come out of its banks – where the late 19th century church dominates the village entrance. The church was built on the site of a small chapel and is dedicated to Saint Agricol, bishop of Avignon in the seventh century then ruler of Savoillan and also the protector of the harvest. The gate of the church is built in Romanesque style and its interior was restored in 1990.

Most stone houses Savoillan have been recently restored and it is therefore a real pleasure to stroll through the shady calades (typical Provencal stone rolled streets) along the ancient ‘maisons en pierres’ which balconies are decorated with flowers and grape plants growing over the walls forming graceful arches creating a passageway. The sunbeams that shine through the leaves give a beautiful light in the streets and create an intimate atmosphere in which you would want to continue walking for hours. Some medieval houses, built against the hillside have their living room on the highest floor  with windows and lavender colored shutters pretending to be a little door giving access to the higher leveled street. You feel so like a giant who walks with big steps through the narrow streets.

If you climb up through the calades, go a little further up through the hiking path that leads to the edge of the village: the view of the valley, even from this low height,  is magnificent.
Not only the Middle Ages characterize Savoillan, also the Gallo-Roman era has had its impact on the village: in a Gallo-Roman villa one has found money and pottery of this glorious time. The name of the village comes also from the owner of this villa, Sabuleuis.

Another remarkable building is the 'Ferme St Agricol', an old monastery of the Urssulines dating from the 18^th century, located just outside downtown Savoillan. In this imposing square building enclosing a large courtyard, you will find beautiful apartments on the inside and beautiful cellars with vaulted arches. Today it is a meeting place for cultural purposes.
In the middle of the small center, behind the church you can still find an authentic and intact wash house where the source directly comes from the Ventoux. A wonderful place to just cool off in summer when the sun shines brightly.