Guided Tour of the Bruoux Mines

Curious about ochre? We’d like to give you a few things to think about before you visit the Bruoux mines.

Over 200 million years ago, Provence was covered by the sea. It is thanks to this that Ochre appeared in Luberon. This mineral is composed of debris of animal origin, including shells and sea urchins, mixed with marine sand and clay rich in iron.

It was in ancient times that humans began to exploit ochre in Luberon. Roussillon is the historic village where ochre mining began to intensify. It even took on industrial proportions in the 18th century.

The Bruoux Mines

At the end of the 19th century, ochre mining activity in Gargas experienced a tremendous boom because the quality of the yellow ochres extracted in galleries was far superior to that of other sites. Today, the last active ochre quarry in Europe is still located in Gargas. It is operated by the Société des Ocres de France, which now extracts ochres from open-pit mining.

Today, the Bruoux Mines are open to the public with a guide. A chance to discover 40 kilometers of galleries 15 meters high. A breathtaking spectacle!
Discover the origins of ochre, the history of ochre mining, and many anecdotes about the site. The visit is a true immersion into the heart of the industrial adventure of the site and the history of the people who worked there.

Practical information:

🚗: 3 minutes by car from the campsite

🕛: Open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm

📞: Reservation required at +33 (0)4 90 06 22 59