The Village
A few words from the Maire of St Saturnin, M. Jacques Boni
J'ai la chance d'être le Maire de l'un de ces beaux villages qui jalonnent le pays d'Apt, côté Luberon et côté Monts du Vaucluse. Ce village qui n'est pas encore trop abîmé par le tourisme, a su préserver son caractère de gros bourg rural, dont la population était déjà d'environ 3000 habitants à la fin du 19ème siècle, avec tous les commerces de proximité et aussi de nombreuses associations qui animent la vie locale tout au long de l'année. C'est ce village authentique que je vous invite à découvrir lors de votre prochaine venue à Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt."
Le Village de St Saturnin les Apt
Language In Provence is located in a pretty, traditional house five minutes walk from the mediaeval heart of the historic village of St Saturnin-lès-Apt, one of the most beautiful and unspoilt villages in the Luberon Regional Park in the Vaucluse department of France. From the moment you arrive in the village you have a sense of being in the ancient kingdom of Provence. Wild landscapes perfumed with thyme and rosemary surround you and a valley of vineyards, cherry orchards, olive groves and lavender fields stretches southwards to the limit of the Luberon Mountains on the far side of the valley.
The village is idyllically situated on the south-facing slope of the Plateau de Vaucluse. It enjoys year-round sunshine and is protected by the mountains behind it from the cold northerly winds which sometimes blow in winter. The panoramic views from the village are spectacular and a short climb to the magnificent ruins of the ancient château with its 'chapelle', originally consecrated in the middle of the 11th century and now preserved as an ancient monument, reveals the Luberon Valley in its breathtaking beauty.
Behind the cliffs which rise up behind the village there is a ravine which was dammed during the 19th century and forms a pretty lake behind the château. The rainwater that runs off the hillsides and into the lake used to provide the village water supply; now the local fishermen take advantage of this peaceful spot.
Our school, situated on the edge of this mediaeval village, has a panoramic view of the idyllic valley and overlooks vineyards and cherry orchards. The winding streets meander up to the château which offers a breathtaking view.
Remember too that the village is well provided for. There is a weekly market, quiet in winter but full of brightly-coloured stalls in spring and summer, and a post office, grocery, two bakeries, a butcher, a gift shop, two bars and two hotels, a good selection of shops and restaurants and an ATM machine. The huge municipal outdoor swimming pool is open during the hot summer months and there is a village tennis club which welcomes visitors. St Saturnin has also become a well-known base for walking with many miles of marked trails surrounding the village.
During the warmer months the village hosts many art and music festivals, concerts, craft markets, its own village festival or ‘fête votive’ during the last weekend of July and a huge 'brocante' fair on Bastille Day with a wonderfully festive atmosphere. With its natural beauty and welcoming atmosphere St Saturnin has become a magnet for artists, writers, musicians and visitors who want to enjoy all that this ‘village sympathique’ has to offer.
It is also ideally located only 8 km from the thriving market town of Apt which has a wonderful Saturday morning market, now considered to be one of the best in France. Other attractions within easy reach include the enchanting Luberon villages, the cosmopolitan cities of Marseille and Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, the city of the Popes.
What nicer place to visit for your language-learning experience. A very special place indeed.
