Luberon (Montagne du Luberon) Attractions

A dark chapter of history was the massacre in 1545 which the Baron of Oppède perpetrated in 24 villages (including Cadenet, Lourmarin, Ménerbes and Mérindol). Because his beloved, the Baroness of Tour d'Aigues, would not marry him he had over 2,000 inhabitants of her village killed in every conceivable manner; he sold 800 men to be galley slaves and plundered and burned the houses. These people had the misfortune to be Waldenses (Christian followers of Peter Waldo), who had been threatened since the Parliament of Aix. The persecution had lasted from 1524 until the Baron obtained approval from King Francis I for his act of revenge.