Gordes et sa campagne, Luberon by ptitlouis

The name "Gordes" derives from the Celtic word "Vordense". Vordense was pronounced Gordenses, then Gordae/Gordone, and finally Gòrda then translated into French "Gordes".[1]

Occupation by the Roman empire.[2]
The view from north of the castle is showing the ancient and the Renaissance parts.

In 1031, a castle was built and the Latin word "castrum" was added to what thus became "Castrum Gordone". The castle was re-enforced in 1123.[3]

In 1148 the Sénanque Abbey was established under the patronage of Alfant, Bishop of Cavaillon, and Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona, Count of Provence, by Cistercian monks who came from Mazan Abbey in the Ardèche.

In the eighth century, a Benedictine abbey known as Saint-Chaffret was built on the site of an ancient cella (roman temple) destroyed during the Arab invasions [4].

After the death of King René of Provence, the territory of Provence was added in 1481 to the French kingdom as a "province royale française" (French royal province).

During World War II , Gordes was an active resistance village and was later awarded a medal, the Croix de guerre 1939-1945