The Bastidon Pradon

As evidenced by the inscription in one of the stone pillars, this covered market was built in 1772. Located at Place de la Croix and against the rampart, it hosted the meetings of the villagers including fairs. Simple, with an elongated lean-to roof, the care and precision brought to moulded capitals of the pillars is quite noticeable. It was restored in 1991 while missing three spans.

Here the atmosphere is special, and the ecological wealth is striking. A true social housing moss and fungi, older trees host a multitude of inhabitants; birds, insects, or bats ... In the cracks of branches, holes drilled by woodpeckers or under the ivy, they nest or flush out wood-eating insects (xylophagous). The flora of the understory is also original. These old forests are precious.

To the right, above the path, lies a small rock climbing schoolpopular with climbers from all around the country. Itcontains about forty routes with difficulty levels ranging from 3a to 7b, fitted on limestone slabs over 16m. Located at the limit of the biotope protection, it is the only site open to climbers on the Petit Luberon. All the other cliffs are closed to climbing practices in order to preserve the tranquillity of raptors.

Le vieux village d’Oppède est un équilibre parfait entre bâtisses, verdure et lumière, entre mystères et histoire. Un village hors du temps, dominé par le château et la collégiale, qui nous replonge en plein Moyen-Age. De cette impressionnante forteresse du XIIIe s., il ne reste que quelques ruines, murs, arcs, salles voûtées et fenêtres qui nous laissent imaginer la grandeur passée de ce site. Le château a appartenu à la famille Maynier d'Oppède, dont Jean, président du Parlement d'Aix fit appliquer l'arrêté royal et organisa le massacre de 3000 vaudois à Cabrières d'Avignon et à Mérindol en 1545.

The Spiked magician (Saga pedo) is the largest bush cricket in France and among the largest insects. It may indeed measure up to 11cm. Very discreet, it enjoys the dry grassland and scrubland of southern France that we see here. Rather a rare fact, there is no male of this species. The females reproduce with parthenogenesis (asexual reproduction) and the offsprings of each female are therefore clones.

The summit plateau of the Petit Luberon consists of limestone that formed in the seabed, about 130 million years ago. At that time, France and especially Provence were further south. The climate was therefore warmer than today and the seabed populated by corals, rudist (bivalve molluscs disappeared there 66 million years ago), sea urchins, snails ...

In this limestone habitat develops the Ephedra Major, a bush origin to the vegetation of the town’s Mediterranean hills. This twigged plant, completely covered by layers of long, thin leaves, is one of the oldest plants alive today. Favoring extreme conditions related to the mistral in particular, it is confined to the western end of the Massif du Luberon. You may notice bright red ripe fruit from August to September.

From the traditional practice of grazing and constraints combined with Mediterranean and Alpine climates, lawns are home to many of the Luberon heritage species of plants and insects. They are also hunting areas for large raptors. With sheep grazing in spring, combined with bush clearing, shrubs continue to grow. Scientific monitoring of rare and sensitive species are conducted on several sites.

The Ocellated lizard is the largest lizard in Europe, individuals may reach 90 cm including the tail. It is easily recognized by its large triangular head, his yellow-green hue and circles or "eyespots" bright blue on its sides. It appreciates the open areas and dry soils such as rocky scrubland. This lizard feeds on large insects, spiders and small rodents. It is now under threat because of the loss of open areas.

The Luberon is one of the safe havens for this rare and protected vulture. A true natural knacker, it is threatened by the decline of herds and the depletion of food resources. To ensure the survival of this species, the Luberon Park has placed the supply of several feeding stations and ensures close monitoring. Respecting the quiet of this area in the spring and summer will allow the Vulture to nest again in nearby cliffs.

Ici en lisière de bois, se dresse quelques beaux sujets de cèdre de l’Atlas (Cedrus atlantica). Il n’est pas une essence forestière spontanée sur le Luberon. Originaire des montagnes du Maghreb (Atlas marocain et algérien), où il pousse entre 1300 et 2800 m d’altitude, il a été introduit à partir de 1860 dans les reboisements du sud de la France, dont sur les crêtes du Petit Luberon à 700 m d'altitude. Depuis, les premières plantations, les cèdres se sont ressemés spontanément et l’espèce colonise les garrigues et les taillis de chêne de l'ubac du Petit Luberon.

En amont se dessine l'entrée du Vallon de Combrès. Les milieux rocheux de l'ensemble du vallon accueillent une faune et une flore particulière. De nombreux oiseaux dont plusieurs  grands rapaces, fonds leur nid dans les grandes parois comme le hibou Grand-duc d'Europe. Le monticole bleu est un hôte discret des éboulis et des corniches. Les chauve-souris gîtent dans les fissures et les cavités. Le Genévrier de Phénicie forme de belles populations au sommet des falaises. Toute cette mosaïque de biodiversité reste sensible : merci de veiller à la quiétude des lieux et à ne pas engendrer de nuisances sonores pouvant générer un dérangement significatif sur la faune et l’avifaune, car une bête effrayée peut abandonner son petit.

Take the time to visit to the north side of the village, the landscaped garden of Saint-Cécile's terraces.! These fifteen dry stone terraces gather more than forty species of trees and shrubs, typical of the country. Shaped like an amphitheatre, it is a real collection of the Luberon jewels over 1.6ha.

La Place de la Croix est aujourd’hui le cœur d’Oppède-le-Vieux. Elle a été aménagée à partir du XVIIe s. A cette époque commence le processus de “déperchement” du village d’Oppède, c’est à dire son déplacement de l’éperon rocheux vers la plaine pour profiter de conditions de vie moins rudes. Ce processus se poursuivra jusqu’au début du XXe s., avec le déplacement de la mairie au hameau des Poulivets en 1909. Sur la Place de la Croix se trouve l’ancien beffroi de la ville, appelé aussi campanile, construit au XVIIe s.