Where to stay in Rustrel: the best neighbourhoods (2026)
In the morning at the Colorado provençal, entry is by reservation only. From May through August, online ticketing is your only option before 1:00 PM, and you can buy tickets at the gate after that hour. Staying in Rustrel does not replace a ticket. What staying here does change is the distance, as the old quarry parking lot is 1,4 kilometres from the village.
Still, 652 residents do not make for a massive hotel inventory. The town features a 7-room 1-star hotel, a gîte d'étape, and a campground open from late March through late September. A double room runs 75 EUR, and a campsite pitch goes for 32 EUR outside of peak summer. This guide covers 3 areas, and the third is in Apt.
Heads up: unlike the Sentier des Ocres, you will need to book your visit in advance during certain times of the year. In my opinion, that is actually a good idea, especially since there are already a lot of people. You will probably have to park outside the village.
Compare hotel prices in Rustrel
In a hurry? Find the best accommodation deals in 3 clicks.
Compare live deals from Booking, Expedia, Agoda and other partners.
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that suits you to head straight to the recommended neighbourhood.
The neighbourhood map in Rustrel
Get your bearings on the neighbourhoods and must-see sights before choosing where to drop your bags. Click a name to jump to its description.
The village and the castle mound The town center, 1,4 kilometres from the quarry
The morning time slot, with shops within walking distance
Rustrel boils down to two streets at the foot of its castle, and you can walk the whole loop in 100 metres: a bakery, a grocery store, two dining spots. Heading out on foot toward the former quarry is only possible from here, via the Gignac road. The downside adds up fast: 7 hotel rooms, a gîte d'étape, and the village options stop right there.
They call Rustrel the Colorado of Provence. You have to park in the heart of the village and pay the entrance fee (which is inexpensive) to visit the famous ochre-colored geological formations. You really feel like you are in the USA. The trail is accessible to everyone. The village of Rustrel itself is quite charming, with everything you need to pick up a picnic, but it is not worth lingering there too long.
What to see & do in the area
Where to stay in this area
Auberge de Rustréou Mid-range
A 1-star hotel with 7 rooms, located on place de la Fête in an 18th-century coaching inn. Its vaulted dining room houses a well dug straight into the rock. None of its rooms are wheelchair accessible.
Gîte d'étape Le Château Budget
A gîte d'étape on rue des Remparts, 70 meters from the hotel. It is a hikers' lodge, often set up with shared rooms. Its website is no longer active, so you need to call to find out about rates and options.
Pros
- The bakery, grocery store, and two dining spots fit within 100 metres
- The shortest walking departure to the quarry in the village
- The gîte d'étape and the hotel are 70 metres apart
Cons
- The village hotel has 7 rooms, and nothing else steps in to pick up the slack
- The village hotel has no wheelchair accessible rooms
- You can walk through the entire village in an hour, evening included
The route de Notre-Dame-des-Anges The campground valley, 1.6 kilometers from the village center
A pool, and nights under 40 EUR
Situated 1.6 kilometers from the village, the road leads down to a wooded valley where a shaded property hosts the campground. It publishes rates by the season, and it rents accommodations other than standard rooms: wooden caravans, treehouses, pre-pitched tents, and mobile homes. A pool and a grocery store round out the property. The catch comes down to one number: 10 traditional campsites, and the season wraps up in early October.
Where to stay in this area
Camping Le Colorado Budget
A 3-star campground with 210 pitches in the Notre-Dame-des-Anges valley. It mainly rents pre-set accommodations, including wooden caravans and treehouses, while holding 10 pitches for tents and RVs. Swimming pool, grocery store, and breakfast available on site.
Pros
- Campsite rates are published season by season
- Pool, grocery store, and breakfast available on site
- Accommodations the hotel does not offer: wooden caravans, treehouses, pre-pitched tents
Cons
- Only 10 traditional campsites, best reserved during high season
- The property closes from October 1 to March 26
- It is still 2 kilometers to the quarry entrance
Apt and the Apt region 9 kilometers to the south, open year-round
Room choices, and the months when Rustrel closes
9 kilometers to the south, Apt is the main town in this corner of the Luberon with 8 rated hotels, restaurants open for dinner, and rooms available in November and February when Rustrel has closed its campground and quarry. You lose waking up right next to the ochre, but you gain options. The downside is the drive, plus the fact that the Colorado Provençal parking lot fills up early.
Where to stay in this area
Hôtel Sainte Anne Mid-range
A 3-star hotel with 7 air-conditioned rooms in downtown Apt. It has the exact same number of rooms as the Rustrel inn, with 2 extra stars.
Aptois Hôtel Mid-range
A 2-star hotel with 19 rooms, 3 of which are wheelchair accessible. It is the only property in this guide that advertises this on its website.
First Inn Apt Budget
A 2-star hotel with 60 rooms on the outskirts of Apt. This capacity makes it the go-to backup for evenings when the smaller local guesthouses are fully booked.
Pros
- 8 rated hotels, ranging from 2 stars to 3 stars
- Rooms and restaurants open year-round
- The only wheelchair-accessible rooms mentioned in this guide
Cons
- 9 kilometers of driving before reaching the quarry, best done early
- No view of the ochre from the room
Our tips for booking the right place
- The morning ticket: From May to August, morning visits before 1:00 PM require advance booking online, payment included, and nothing else grants access to this window. After 1:00 PM, the ticket office sells admissions without prior reservations. One of our members supports this rule, considering it a smart move given the heavy crowds. In July and August, the former quarry opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 7:00 PM, including Sundays and holidays.
- The trails and wildfire risk: Two marked trails leave from the parking lot, and visitors choose their own route. One of our members appreciates this freedom of choice. When wildfire risk becomes very high, part of the route closes for the day. On August 18, 2026, only the Sahara trail remained open. Check the opening status on the morning of your visit.
- The months when the town closes: The quarry closes from November 12 to February 5, and the campground from October 1 to March 26. A winter stay narrows down to the village and its hotel. For this season, Apt keeps its hotels and restaurants open.
- Arriving on a July morning without buying your ticket online. Between May and August, no ticket window sells admission before 1:00 PM, and you will have to come back in the afternoon.
- Expecting the village to occupy a whole evening. Rustrel has two restaurants and a grocery store. Everything else happens in Apt.
- Visiting between November 12 and February 5 to see the ochre formations. The quarry is closed during these dates, and the village alone does not fill a trip.
FAQ: where to stay in Rustrel
Is it really worth staying overnight in Rustrel?
Where to stay on a budget in Rustrel?
Where to stay with family in Rustrel?
Do you need a car in Rustrel?
How much does a night cost in Rustrel?
Rustrel or Roussillon?
About the author
Keep exploring
Discover everything in Rustrel
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!