3 days around Mont Ventoux

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur - Corsica - Monaco/2022

This itinerary, ideal for epicureans, features two very different and complementary assets: on the one hand, the vineyards of the Southern Rhône Valley, with their Rasteau, Cairanne, Beaumes-de-Venise, Gigondas and Vacqueyras appellations; on the other, the wild and magnificent landscapes around Mont Ventoux. Vaison-la-Romaine, the ancient city and pearl of the Vaucluse, is the high point of the tour.

While ancient sites testify to the city's flourishing wealth in Roman times, excavations have established that the site was occupied ten thousand years ago! In the Middle Ages, the city moved to occupy both banks of the Ouvèze. For five centuries, until the French Revolution, Vaison-la-Romaine was a major city of the Comtat Venaissin. Don't miss the upper town, with its ramparts and medieval remains, and the Roman bridge, a symbolic landmark that withstood everything from the bombings of the Second World War to the terrible floods of 1992. A small town whose central square is constantly bustling with activity, and which boasts a number of excellent food shops. Malaucène and the Ventoux route Just a few kilometers away, the town of Malaucène lies at the foot of the Ventoux. Cyclists make their final adjustments, before visiting the Notre-Dame-du-Groseau chapel with its consecrated spring, or the Romanesque church. Passing through Caromb and Modène, you'll enjoy beautiful landscapes and picturesque villages with Provencal houses and Roman tile roofs, before climbing to Mont Ventoux. From Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols onwards, the famous "Mont Chauve" rises impressively and proudly. For superb scenery, take the D217 to Flassan, which joins the route de Sault and passes the Col Notre-Dame-des-Abeilles. From the Belvedere de la Gabelle, a picture-postcard view of lavender fields, Sault and the mountain in the background. Bédoin and Mont Ventoux Bédoin, the village par excellence before the great ascent, has become a lively, bustling tourist center. Don't miss the Monday market, the biggest in the region. For cyclists, it's the promise of a great effort, with a 6 to 10% gradient, a 1,600 m vertical drop and a 21.6 km ascent. Calves of steel are put through their paces at almost 800 a day in summer. At 1,912 m, the "Géant", which can be seen from all over the département, is the highest point in the Vaucluse and represents a grail, an Annapurna for cyclists, but also a joy for hikers on the GR4 or GR9. Deer, chamois and mouflons roam freely here, and a weather observatory stands on its summit. It can be reached from Bédoin, Malaucène or Sault. Sault and the gorges de la Nesque Nowadays, Sault is particularly famous for its small spelt, at the heart of the IGP petit épeautre de Haute-Provence appellation. Sault is a charming commune set on the Albion plateau, at an altitude of 765 m, a magnificent base for excursions to the surrounding mountains and lavender fields. The market is held here on Wednesdays. Leaving Sault, after passing through Monieux, you'll take the most beautiful road on this tour, the Gorges de la Nesque, with its grandiose canyon landscapes. Each bend in the road offers breathtaking panoramic views over the twenty kilometers to Villes-sur-Auzon. Don't miss Mazan, a typical old village on the banks of the Auzon, with its castle and vineyards, since you're in the heart of the Ventoux appellation. For those interested, actress Keira Knightley was married here in 2013. Carpentras and Sérignan-du-Comtat Marked by its dual Roman and Jewish influence, Carpentras is a Provençal city with many secret corners and beautiful testimonies to all eras, such as the Roman triumphal arch, the Saint-Siffrein cathedral (15th-16th century) and the synagogue (14th century). Numerous museums and private mansions, and Chez Serge, a must-try restaurant. Between Carpentras and Orange, there are two villages to visit: Aubignan, a beautiful medieval town with the remains of its ramparts, including the clock tower and campanile, and Sérignan-du-Comtat, where naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre built his Harmas, now a museum devoted to insects, with nearly 600 of the scientist's watercolors and numerous documents. You can also visit the magnificent gardens, with their 500 plant species. The wine villages Cellar visits are one of the pleasures of this escapade. The AOC is awarded to Rasteau, famous for its vin doux naturel, but which also produces excellent red and white wines; to Cairanne, a pleasant Provencal village near Orange; to Beaumes-de-Venise, renowned for its muscat AOC; to Vacqueyras and Gigondas, the two villages closest to Avignon. Special mention should be made of Gigondas, perched on a spur, with its old houses and view over the plain.