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Les Gorges du Regalon

Merindol, Lourmarin,Cucuron

Bonnieux, Lacoste

Menerbes, Oppede, Robion

Cavaillon, starting point of another grand tour

Luberon-Cavaillon and starting of another tour

Cabrières d'Avignon, Mur de la  Peste, Bories

Gordes and abbaye de Senanques

Gorges de Veroncle, Murs, grottoes de la Barigoule

Roussillon, ochre but a not so idyllic destiny

Apt, Saignon and Sivergues

Buoux, Pertuis, Ansouis, Cadenet,  abbey of Sylvacane

The second route through the Luberon starts again from Cavaillon. It will lead us through the magnificent southern slopes of the Plateau du Vaucluse, where we will visit typical villages like Cabrières-d’Avignon and Murs and even will go to the Cistercian abbey de Senanques. But behind all these sunny facades we must know that (if we are open minded to such unpleasant history) once the region was drenched with blood during the Protestants massacres and their ordeal. Starting from Cavaillon, we will pass through Cabrieres, the “bories” village near Gordes, Senanque, les Gorges de Veroncle, Murs, Roussillon, Apt, Saignon, Sivergues and end with a visit to the lavender rich plateau des Claparèdes and end in apotheosis on the mighty Fort de Buoux.
But let’s visit our base city, before we forget to do it: CAVAILLON.
CAVAILLON doesn’t make a big impression on first sight. Like so many cities where we pass at the speed of 100 miles/h, Cavaillon looks at bit sleepy, but the miracle happens every time if we make the effort to step out of the car and loiter without to many cultural ambitions through the “centre historique”.
Cavaillon is a peaceful city, located in the middle of an immense orchard where it grows a lot of fruit and vegetables sold all over the world.
The ideal parking place is the Place du Mos from where you have different options.  Climb the rocky slope of Montagne Saint-Jacques to the  chapelle Saint-Jacques (12th century). Or loiter around in 
the adjoining Cours Bournissac which has plenty of agreeable cafes with large terraces and the old-style Cafe Fin de Siècle, where it is so good to sit in the warm morning sun, sipping coffee and reading the morning newspaper. 
It would be unwise to attribute touristy qualities to Cavaillon, even if I would advise to loiter in the streets around the roman style cathedral NOTRE-DAME-DE-SAINT-VERAN and try to visit the inside, despite the opening hours policy are so bizarre that you will have almost no chance to be lucky;-). It has also a charming small cloister, full of charm and freshness.. The cathedral was probably built in the 12th century,  burned by a protestant leader, the Baron des Adrets in 1562. An even much greater catastrophe happened to the cathedral when it was “restored” the hard way in the 19th century. 
Not to miss is the SYNAGOGUE, closed on Saturday of course, located in the rue Hebraique, first "compulsory" Jewish ghetto from 1453, symbol of exclusion and tolerance all together, typical of the Papal States. This one was built in the 18th century, and is considered as one of the jewels of French Judaic art. The interior of the synagogue is, thanks to its incredible rococo interior, a unicum in the area. It kept all its original decoration of gracious Louis XV wainscoting with superb bronze chandeliers,  the sacred arch where the torahs are kept. One of the most spectacular is the tribune of the rabbi, where he read the holy scriptures. A double staircase faces the tabernacle containing the sacred Torahs. On display very precious and beautiful cult objects like mezuzahs, menorahs,  centuries old torahs, prayer books (siddours) and  shabbat used objects in silver.  Another  unicum is the small, well conserved Jewish bakery with its matzoth furnace to bake the unleavened bread on Pessah. The story of the presence of the Jews in Cavaillon is worth an explanation. Jews, having received permission from the pope to settle down in the area under his supervision had to wear yellow hats, lived separately in the ghetto described above, closed every night with a chain. In this area there were three other ghettos like this: in Avignon, Isle-sur-Sorgue and Carpentras. Why did so many Jews come to this area around Avignon? Simply because a lot of foreigners, princes and dignitaries lived and frequented the pope court (in Avignon), and since all money business handling was strictly forbidden for the Christians, the Jews, whose only source of income it very often was, came as saviours in need! The first settlement in Cavaillon was about 200 but it expanded in the 18th century unto 2,000. 
The Jewish community was seen in the 18th century as an an independent republic , having its own laws, judges, but strictly forbidden to make business with the gentiles (papal ordinance!). 
A very important economic fact that happened to Cavaillon was the building of a canal maze that irrigated the soil and thanks to a warm and sunny climate made Cavaillon to one of the most famous vegetable regions of France, without mentioning the world famous yellow melons “les melons de Cavaillon” ! Originally from India, the melon found its way to  Cavaillon in the 15th century. 
Ah! The melon! Gives you right the taste, feeling and smell of sun and vacation!
But enough now, we know Cavaillon by now and want to go on…that’s for next article, driving to the Plateau du Vaucluse.

Bibliography

"La Provence et le Comtat Venaisin, Arts et Traditions Populaires", by B.Fernand (Aubanel, Avignon 1992), "Guide de la Provence mysterieuse" by Jean-Paul Clebert (Ed.Sand, 1986), "Guide du Routard Provence 1998 (Ed.Hachette), "Provence", by Jacques-Louis Delpal (ed.Natahn Paris 1987), "A guide to Provence", by Michael Jacobs (ed;Viking, London 1988), "Luberon, carnets d'un voyageur attentif", by Ollivier-Elliot Patrick,(ed. Edisud Aix-en-Provence 1991), "Dictionnaire de la Provence medievale", by Jean Favier (Fayard, Paris 1993)