One of Provence’s quintessential “perched villages,” Gourdon may be small in size, but not in stature; it stands atop a soaring rocky outcropping, which makes it one of the Provence backcountry’s most picturesque and popular sightseeing stops. Visitors shouldn’t miss the Château de Gourdon, which has over 1,000 years of history. Its planned gardens—which offer a pretty green escape—were designed by André Le Nôtre, who created the gardens at Versailles. Other stops include the Église Saint-Vincent (a church with medieval origins), and the much-photographed public fountain at the village’s entrance.
Gourdon can be visited on numerous full-day tours of the Provence backcountry; leave the driving and logistics to someone else, and look forward to visiting multiple scenic villages on one day. Many itineraries include stops at nearby Grasse, the spiritual home of France’s perfume industry; Saint-Paul-de-Vence, once frequented by Picasso and Chagall; and Tourrettes-sur-Loup, another hilltop highlight.