Montpellier: A lively city known for its beautiful architecture and vibrant student life, Montpellier offers a mix of culture and relaxation. Stroll through the Place de la Comédie, the city's buzzing heart, and admire the 17th-century mansions in the Écusson district. Explore its historic center and enjoy delicious local dishes. Montpellier's beaches are just a short ride away, perfect for a post-race escape.
Mont-Ventoux: As you cheer on the cyclists at the summit of Mont Ventoux, known as the 'Giant of Provence,' prepare to be mesmerized by breathtaking views that reward your climb. This legendary climb, featured in Tour de France history, is a rite of passage for cycling fans. Join fellow cycling enthusiasts in celebrating the challenging ascent and enjoy a scenic picnic in the moon-like landscape near the summit.
Occitanie Region
Departments: Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Gard, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Hérault, Lot, Lozère, Hautes-Pyrénées, Pyrénées-Orientales, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne.
Population: 5.9 million
Prefecture: Toulouse
Surface area: 72,724 km2
Specialities: foie gras, cassoulet, aligot, tielle in Sète, cod brandade, Tarbes beans, garbure (soup), sweet onions, Céret cherries, wines (Pic Saint-Loup, Corbières, Cahors, Costières de Nîmes, blanquette de Limoux, Minervois, Tavel, Madiran). Perrier spring water.
Sports clubs: Stade Toulousain, Castres Olympique, Montpellier HR, USAP Perpignan (rugby), Montpellier HSC, Nîmes Olympique, Toulouse FC (football), Dragons Catalans (rugby à XIII), Montpellier Handball, Fenix Toulouse, USAM Nîmes-Gard (handball)
Competitions: Tour de France, Open Sud de France (tennis), Route d'Occitanie (cycling).
Economy: aeronautics and space (Airbus, Ariane, Toulouse), defence, IT, nuclear, agri-food, agriculture (wine, cereals), tourism, pharmaceutical industry. Universities (Montpellier, Toulouse).
Festivals: ferias in Nîmes and Béziers, Rio Loco (Toulouse), l Radio France Festival Montpellier (classical music), Comédie du Livre (Montpellier), Electro Beach (Port Barcarès), Jazz in Marciac, Cinémed (Montpellier), Circa Auch, Frontignan Noir Novel Festival.
Tourist attractions: Cité de Carcassonne, Lourdes basilica, Toulouse (Capitole, Saint-Sernin, ville rose), Montpellier (Place de la Comédie, Écusson), beaches, Pont du Gard, Nîmes arenas, Cathar castles, Canal du Midi, cathedrals of Albi, Castres and Rodez. Millau Viaduct, Niaux and Maz d'Azil caves. Valentré Bridge in Cahors. Character villages. Beaches in Aude, Gard and Hérault. Ski resorts in the Pyrenees and Ariège.
Website: www.laregionoccitanie.fr
HÉRAULT (34)
Population: 1.165 million
Prefecture: Montpellier
Sub-prefectures: Béziers, Lodève
Surface area: 6101 km²
Specialities : AOP Languedoc and IGP Pays d'Hérault wines, Pélardon (goat's cheese), Lucque (olive), Tielle of Sète (small pie filled with octopus), Ecusson de Montpellier (chocolate), Grisette de Montpellier, Berlingot de Pézenas (sweets), Montpellier butter, Muscats and sweet wines (Mireval, Frontignan, Lunel, St Jean du Minervois), Cebe de Lézignan (sweet onion), Navet de Pardailhan, Petit Pâté de Pézenas, Zezette de Sète (shortbread), Bouzigues oysters.
Sports clubs : Montpellier Hérault Sport Club (football), Montpellier Hérault Rugby, Basket Lattes Montpellier, AS Béziers Hérault (rugby), Montpellier Métropole HB, Montpellier Volley UC, Arago de Sète, Béziers VB (volleyball), Montpellier WP (water polo), Entente Sétoise de Natation, Montpellier Athlétisme Méditerranée, Montpellier Gymnastique Rythmique, Entente Sétoise de Natation, Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Taekwondo. Tambourine (Hérault sport).
Competitions: European Club Cups in Basket Fem, HB, FB Fem, Rugby, Volley, French Elite Championships in GRS, Ultra Trail 6666 in Roquebrun, L'Héraultaise (Roger Pingeon Gran Fondo),
Festivals: Printemps des Comédiens, Saperlipopette, Folies d'O, Nuits d'O, Sortie Ouest, Chapiteau du livre, Lire à la mer, Tournée d'été Hérault port, Radio France Montpellier-Pyrenees Festival, Internationales de la Guitare...
Economy: Agronomic and medical research, thermal spas, tourism, agriculture and high environmental value, viticulture / wine tourism...
Notable sites: Montpellier (Place de la Comédie, Ecusson, Musée Fabre), Palavas beaches, Carnon, Cathar city of Minerve, one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France, the Hérault gorge, Navacelles cirque, towns of art and history: Lodève and Pézenas, Saint-Guilhem le Désert, Olargues (Most Beautiful Villages in France), thermal baths (Balaruc, Lamalou-les-Bains, etc.).
Websites / FB / Twitter: www.herault.fr / www.herault-tourisme.com / facebook.com/departementdelherault / facebook.com/plaisirsdherault
Km 6.8
Saint-Mathieu-de-Tréviers (Pop: 4,850)
Nestling at the foot of Château Montferrand, sheltered by the Hortus and protected by the tutelary Pic Saint-Loup, the commune is made up of a mosaic of landscapes: garrigue, oak and pine forests, limestone plateaux, massifs, agricultural plains... It is also a wine-growing town with the Coteaux du Languedoc and Pic Saint-Loup appellations.
Château de Montferrand
Construction: 12th century.
Style: medieval.
History: the site was once a Roman stronghold. It is first mentioned in the early 12th century. In the early 13th century, the castle was confiscated from Count Raymond VI of Toulouse during the Albigensian Crusade and entrusted by the Pope to the Bishop of Maguelone. The Protestants seized the castle in 1574. Antoine de Cambous took it over in 1584 and restored it in the Renaissance style. In 1623, after conquering Montpellier on behalf of the Catholics, Jacques Valat was appointed lord for life of Montferrand castle by Bishop Pierre de Fenouillet. In the 17th century, Louis XIV authorised Colbert de Croissy to have the buildings demolished. The château was dismantled in 1709. In 2017, the Grand Pic Saint-Loup community of communes announced a programme to save the site from ruin.
Current use: for security reasons, the site is no longer accessible to the public and has been fenced off since 2018. The Grand Pic Saint-Loup community of communes is working to restore the site.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 2022.
Km 11.2
Valflaunès (Pop: 790)
Since 1987, the village has awarded an annual short story prize, the Albertine Sarrazin Prize, in honour of the writer who settled in the Pic Saint-Loup region shortly before her death at the age of 29. The commune is home to the Hortus mountain. Its impressive white limestone cliff, over a hundred metres high and over a kilometre wide, can be seen from all around Montpellier. It is home to several pairs of birds of prey. Along with its neighbour, Pic Saint-Loup, Hortus is one of the main destinations for Montpellier residents. At the western end of the mountain was the Château de la Roquette, now known as the Château de Viviourès, a medieval fortress in ruins (listed as a World Heritage site in 1940).
Hortus Cave
The Hortus cave served as a refuge for Neanderthals between 60,000 and 30,000 years ago. The excavation of its porch by a multi-disciplinary team has yielded information about the climate, fauna and flora of the Neanderthals, who left behind a wealth of Mousterian industry (points, blades, scrapers, etc.) as well as the bones of their fellows (around a hundred pieces, including numerous maxillae and mandibles). After this initial occupation, the stratigraphy did not reveal any Upper Palaeolithic material. However, there is evidence of regular occupation from the Neolithic period (Chassaean and Ferrieres) through to the Chalcolithic and Final Bronze Age.
GARD (30)
Population: 756,543
Prefecture: Nîmes
Sub-prefectures: Alès, Le Vigan
Surface area: 5,853 km2
Specialities: four outstanding taste sites, 9 AOC-AOP and 5 IGP : Costières, Uzège, Cévennes and Côtes du Rhône wines (Laudun, Lirac, Chusclan, Tavel, Listel...), pélardon, Nîmes olives and olive oil, Cévennes sweet onions, Nîmes strawberries, Cévennes chicken and capon, Camargue rice and bull, Uzès black truffles and soon Cévennes chestnuts and honey. Crafts: Anduze pottery, basketry, stone quarries, gardianne boots.
Sports clubs: Nîmes Olympique (football), USAM (handball), ASPTT (table tennis), RCN (rugby).
Events: Etoile de Bessèges (cycling), Critérium des Cévennes (rally), Marathon des Côtes-du-Rhône.
Festivals: Gard boasts a number of festivals, including Transes Cévenoles (contemporary music), Jazz in Junas, Itinérances (cinema), Cratère Surfaces (street arts) and Uzès Dance.
Economy: tourism (Romanesque architecture, Europe's leading marina at Port-Camargue, seaside resorts, spa treatments), wine tourism, agriculture, timber industry, Areva competitiveness cluster, Textile Well, Perrier, CEA Marcoule.
Heritage: three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Pont du Gard, Abbey Church of Saint-Gilles and the agropastoral landscape of the Causses and Cévennes. Four Grands Sites de France: Pont du Gard (also a UNESCO biosphere reserve), Cirque de Navacelles, Camargue and the Gorges of the Gardon. Four of France's most beautiful villages. Three towns of art and history: Beaucaire, Nîmes and Uzès. Plus the ramparts of Aigues-Mortes, the Duchy of Uzès, the Abbey of Saint Roman, the Charterhouse and the Saint-André Fort in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.
Websites and social networks: www.gard.fr / www.tourismegard.com / www.climattitude.gard.fr / https://fr-fr.facebook.com/legard30/ / https://fr-fr.facebook.com/GardTourisme/
Km 23.1
Brouzet-lès-Quissac (Pop: 300)
The neo-classical Château du Patron, owned by the Boileau de Castelnau family, dates from the early 19th century and has had French MH listing since 1998.
Km 47.7
Boucoiran-et-Nozières (Pop: 1,000)
This commune has two listed buildings, its 19th-century railway station (1839-1841) and the Grand Ranc oppidum, listed in 1990. The small station at Ners was built by Gard engineer Paulin Talabot, one of the pioneers of the railway in the south of France and founder of the PLM (Paris-Lyon-Marseille) line. Made of brick, it is in the neo-Tudor style and inspired by English stations. Paulin Talabot wanted to pay tribute to his British friend Robert Stephenson, another railway pioneer in the UK.
Km 48.7
Brignon (Pop: 710)
Ramparts of Brignon
Built: 12th century.
Style: medieval ramparts.
History: the fortified castle of Brignon with its ramparts, towers and chapel was built at the end of the 11th century by the lords Raimond de Brignon. However, the toponymy of Brignon is older and corresponds to the hillock inhabited since Neolithic times and later occupied by an oppidum and then by a Roman castrum.
Characteristics: the appearance of the ramparts can still be seen to the south, between the square tower-porch and the south-west tower, then between the latter and the west tower, where the curtain wall has been preserved despite the openings. The ramparts encompass the village to the south of the castle and the former Romanesque church. The castle and church were used to form the northern part of the fortifications. The Romanesque apse was raised and converted into a tower. This safety measure must have been carried out during a period of unrest that required rapid implementation and could date from the second half of the 14th century or the beginning of the 15th century. The defensive elements were dismantled in the 18th century. The curtain walls were pierced in the 19th century. The roofs of the adjoining houses have removed the parapet walk.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 2008.
Km 54.4
Saint-Chaptes (Pop: 2,030)
Saint-Chaptes is the birthplace of an exceptional sports pioneer: Hippolyte Triat. Orphaned, he was kidnapped by a troupe of acrobats who took him on a tour of Europe. He was then adopted by a wealthy Spanish aristocrat and received a good education. He developed a passion for bodybuilding and weightlifting and became a showman before setting up the Triat Gymnasium on Avenue Montaigne in Paris in the 1850s, where all the high society of the day, men and women alike, got together. He lobbied the authorities for the creation of a sports ministry and for the development of physical culture. Today, he is regarded as one of the pioneers of gymnastics and physical education in France. Saint-Chaptes has three châteaux: the town's medieval château, listed as a historical monument in 1988, which welcomed Louis XIII and Richelieu in 1629 after the Peace of Alès, and the two châteaux of Domaine de la Tour, listed as a whole in 2011.
Domaine de la Tour
Construction: 13th to 19th centuries.
Characteristics: the estate as a whole is divided into three parts corresponding to three major architectural interventions: the medieval castle, part of a hospital commandery, with its 13th-century keep and the new castle built in 1796 by the architect Meunier. Then, around 1865, the owner called on Revoil to complete Meunier's building and enlarge it by adding two galleries. He also installed the chapel in the keep and re-capped it. Finally, the garden stands out for its large axis of hundred-year-old plane trees and the grove at the entrance to the park.
Current use: wine estate.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 2011.
Km 62.6
Arpaillargues-et-Aureillac (Pop: 1,000)
Château d'Arpaillargues
On the edge of the village, Château d'Arpaillargues is a fine 18th-century residence, now called Hôtel d'Agoult. Protected by thick walls, the Château d'Arpaillargues hides the charm and charm of a seigneurial dwelling in Provence (17th and 18th centuries). A historic château, Arpaillargues has always been associated with literature. It was the home of Marie de Flavigny, Countess of Agoult, lover of Franz Liszt, whose child Cosima would later become Richard Wagner's second wife. Today, restored and rejuvenated, Château d'Arpaillargues is not only a place of remembrance, but also an elegant and discreet residence in the heart of the Uzège countryside.
Km 67.1
Uzès (Pop: 8,400)
Situated in a triangle between Alès, Nîmes and Avignon, Uzès is the capital of the Uzège region, where garrigue, vineyards and fields alternate. The starting point of the Roman aqueduct from Nîmes, Uzès was the seat of a bishopric until the French Revolution. The very powerful Dukes of Uzès were the first Dukes of France. A town marked by the Wars of Religion, it has seen little or none of the industrial revolution. It has preserved a prestigious heritage that earned it the label of Town of Art and History in 2008.
The Duchy
Construction: 12th and 19th centuries.
History: "First Duchy of France", the castle has been the fief of the same house for nine centuries. The Viscounty building is so named because it was built by Robert, an eighth-generation direct descendant of the first Uzès to whom the family lineage can be traced. In 1328, as a reward for his bravery at the Battle of Cassel, Philip VI established the viguerie of Uzès as a Viscounty. The 16th-century wing was built by Antoine de Crussol, the first Duke of Uzès, whose loyalty to the royal cause during the Wars of Religion earned him a favour from Charles IX. The castle's square tower is named the Bermonde Tower in memory of a former lord of Uzès.
Characteristics: the ducal castle occupies a vast fortified quadrilateral dominated by three towers. The entrance to the estate comes from a temple dedicated to Augustus. It is framed by two granite columns from a Roman monument and surmounted by the arms of the Duke of Uzès and the motto: Ferro non auro. The château comprises two buildings from different periods. The one adjoining the keep to the east is known as the Vicomté building.
Current use: the salons and rooms with antique furniture can be visited daily. The Duchy is a private historic monument, still inhabited by the ducal family.
Listed as: historical monument in 1889.
Saint-Théodorit Cathedral and Fenestrelle Tower
Construction: 12th to 19th centuries.
History: the Fenestrelle Tower, attached to the cathedral of Saint-Théodorit of Uzès, is a round tower with windows. A 42-metre-high Lombard-style bell tower, it is remarkable for the harmony of its proportions and the finesse of its decoration. The cathedral itself was rebuilt in the 17th century after several destructions, and a neo-Romanesque façade was added in 1873.
Characteristics: the building comprises a wide central nave, flanked by side chapels set between buttresses and surmounted by galleries, the latter being interrupted at the second bay from the sanctuary to form a transept. The sanctuary, the semicircular part of which is set into the rectangular plan of the building, has a bay that corresponds to a side chapel on either side. To the west, the 17th-century section is linked to pre-existing buildings, in particular the Fenestrelle tower flanking the south-west corner. To the west, the old back wall was incorporated into the construction of the new north bell tower (1649 campaign).
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1862 (Fenestrelle Tower). Listed as a Historical Monument in 1963 (cathedral).
Km 72.1
Saint-Siffret (Pop: 1,120)
Saint-Siffret could have been called Saint Siffret the two castles. The first, which you first see coming from Uzès, is a fortified residence with a Renaissance façade. The second, a proud and solid quadrilateral village stronghold dating back to the early Middle Ages, dominates the first. Some say it was built by the powerful Templar Order, of which it would have been a commandery linked to that of Beaucaire. It now houses guest rooms. A third 19th-century château, the Château du Moulin Neuf, has had French MH listing since 2007.
Km 80.2
La Capelle-et-Masmolène (Pop: 420)
La Capelle, with its 11th-century feudal castle, was the summer residence of the Bishops of Uzès until the French Revolution. Masmolène and its keep, the last vestige of Lord Adelard, boasts an 11th-century Romanesque chapel that was once part of the ramparts. It has been restored thanks to a voluntary association. The windmill to the north of La Capelle has been restored since 2011, and its wings have recently been reinstalled. The surrounding area has been converted into a picnic area. It could eventually become a landscape observatory.
Km 84.1
Pouzilhac (Pop: 750)
Château de Pouzilhac
Construction: 12th and 19th centuries.
History: a picturesque and original building that was remodelled in the 19th century but has retained many medieval features (including a ground-floor kitchen that could be medieval). Inside the château, there is a beautiful 17th-century ceiling in the drawing room and fireplaces. Small 18th-century seigniorial chapel. The outbuildings wing, overlooking the main courtyard, dates from the conversion of the village houses at the end of the 19th century.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1998.
Km 93.1
Saint-Victor-la-Coste (Pop: 2,222)
Situated off the main roads, the village of Saint-Victor-la-Coste boasts a rich and varied heritage, making it one of the most authentic in the region. The ruins of the castle (Castellas) overlook the fully restored medieval village. The town hall square is home to the region's only obelisk dedicated to science. This obelisk-shaped fountain was erected in honour of the metric system. The village church was built on the old castle ramparts. In the plain, the remains of the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Martin and its washhouse. The twin 18th-century washhouses bear witness to the importance of the village.
Km 104.3
Roquemaure (Pop: 5,530)
Lying at the foot of the ruins of its 13th-century "royal castle", Roquemaure is a stronghold of winegrowing and the place where the expression Côtes du Rhône was coined. Thanks to the wine industry and the support of the Popes of Avignon, the town was the main port for exporting wine on the Rhône, and its barrels were stamped with the initials CdR (Côte du Rhône) to certify their quality. Roquemaure was also the starting point for the phylloxera crisis in 1866, which decimated the vines of southern Europe. In 1868, a wealthy local landowner, Maximilien Richard, brought relics of Saint-Valentin back to the town in an attempt to protect the vines from the plague. These relics can still be seen in the collegiate church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where the song "Minuit, Chrétiens", written the poet Placide Clappeau, was premiered. As for wine production, it is back with a vengeance under the Lirac appellation.
Château de Roquemaure
Built: 13th century.
Style: medieval
History and characteristics: once the castle of the Counts of Toulouse. In the 13th century, it passed into the hands of the bishops and provosts of Avignon and then fell into the royal domain. Pope Clement V died in one of the castle's chambers on 20 April 1314. The building had a chapel built by St. Louis on the model of the Holy Chapel. This tower was part of the building, flanking the surrounding wall, of which only the beginning remains. Inside, there is only a semi-circular room and a small spiral staircase giving access to the terrace that covers it. The room is vaulted with a heavy ribbed vault and decorated with a rose-shaped keystone.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1989.
Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur
region Departments : Alpes de Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Vaucluse.
Population: 5.2 million
Prefecture: Marseille
Surface area: 31,400 km2
Specialities: Mediterranean cuisine, pizza, pissaladière, panisses (chickpea fried), chichis (doughnuts), bouillabaisse, petits farcis (stuffed vegetable), alouette sans tête (beef rools), pieds et paquets marseillais (mutton feet and tripes), salade niçoise, pan bagnat, gardiane de taureau (bull’s stew), sea urchins, fish (sea bream, sea bass, red mullet, denti, marbled, pageots, pagres, sars), wines (rosés de Provence, côtes de Provence, côtes du Rhône, Palette, Bandol...)
Sports clubs: Olympique Marseille, OGC Nice (football), Rugby Club Toulon. Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille (swimming).
Competitions: 2024 Olympic Games, football world cups, Euro 2016 football, rugby world cup, rugby test matches, Tour de France cycling, Paris-Nice, GP La Marseillaise, Haribo Classic, Tour du Haut-Var, Tour de la Provence, beach volleyball, beach football, rugby à Toulon. Petanque World Cup in Marseille.
Tourist attractions: beaches and seaside resorts (Saint-Tropez, Nice, Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus, Cassis, Bandol etc..), Palais des Papes in Avignon, Arles (arena, Roman remains), Marseille (Vieux Port, Panier, calanques, château d'If, Mucem), Nice (Promenade des Anglais, old Nice, old port), Mont Ventoux, Cannes, ski resorts in the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes maritimes (Serre-Chevalier, Le Sauze, Orcières-Merlette, Isola 2000), Briançon (citadel), Aix-en-Provence.
Economy: 7 pc of French GDP, 3rd region in France, 16th in Europe. Agriculture (wine-growing and market gardening), services (80 pc), universities (Aix-Marseille is France's leading university, Nice, Toulon), ports (Marseille, La Ciotat, Nice), petrochemicals (Fos), logistics, Nice and Marseille airports, tourism.
Festivals: Cannes Festival (cinema), Avignon Festival (theatre), Chorégies d'Orange, Aix en Provence Festival (opera), Nice Jazz Festival, Marseille Festival (dance). Midem (Cannes), Marsatac (Marseille), Fiesta des Suds (Marseille), Plages électroniques (Cannes), Rencontres d'Arles (photography).
Website: www.maregionsud.fr
VAUCLUSE (84)
Population: 564,566
Prefecture: Avignon
Sub-prefectures: Carpentras, Apt
Surface area: 3567 km2
Specialities : Ventoux cherries, Caromb black fig, Carpentras strawberry, Cavaillon mzlon (IGP), black truffle (leading producer), muscat of Ventoux, berlingots of Carpentras, candied fruit from Apt, papalines of Avignon, Rhône Valley wines (Côtes-du-Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Plan de Dieu), Côtes du Ventoux, Côtes du Luberon, daube avignonnaise (stew made with lamb and white wine), pork from Ventoux, small spelt.
Crafts: santons, Lustrerie Mathieu, Filaventure Brun de Vian-Tiran, terre mêlée and earthenware in Apt Country.
Sports clubs: 81 cycling clubs (cycling, cycle touring, mountain biking, BMX).
Competitions: Tour de France, Criterium du Dauphiné, Tour cycliste féminin international de l'Ardèche
Festivals: Avignon Theatre Festival, Ora,ge Choregies, Vaison Dances, Lavender Museum, Blachère Foundation. Some sites are listed for their typical or specific features. There are twenty-one of these in the Vaucluse, including Palais des Papes, Rue des Teinturiers in Avignon, Saint-Eutrope hill in Orange, Vacqueyras menhir in Gigondas, Sénanque abbey, Groseau spring in Malaucène, Saignon rock in Saignon and the ochre fields of the Apt region.
Economy: Agriculture (viticulture, arboriculture and market gardening), agri-food (1st industrial sector in the department), cosmetics, creative economy, construction and materials, logistics, environment & energy efficiency... Breakdown of companies by business sector: 48pc services; trade, transport, accommodation and catering: 30 pc; construction: 16pc industry: 6pc. The Vaucluse accounts for 9.34 pc of sales in the southern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
Websites: www.vaucluse.fr / www.provenceguide.com / www.maregionsud.fr
In the heart of Provence, Vaucluse stretches from Bollène to Pertuis, via Avignon, Vaison-la-Romaine, Carpentras, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Apt. Just 2h30 from Paris, the department combines tradition and innovation. With its ideal climatic conditions, Vaucluse is a great playground for outdoor activities. It offers breathtaking landscapes: the Mont-Ventoux and Luberon regional nature parks and the Dentelles de Montmirail. Avignon, city of the Popes and capital of the Côtes du Rhône, is home to some exceptional vineyards, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Its unique topography, regularly explored by the Tour de France (18 climbs of Mont Ventoux), is complemented by picturesque hilltop villages, 7 of which have been awarded the "Most Beautiful Villages in France" label. Its prestigious and varied historical heritage includes iconic sites such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Ancient Theatre of Orange, as well as the Palais des Papes in Avignon, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. A veritable garden of France, Vaucluse is the leading producer of black truffles in France and stands out for the quality of its local PDO products, such as strawberries from Carpentras, cherries from Venasque, figs from Caromb, melon from Cavaillon... which inspire many Michelin-starred chefs. The department hosts internationally renowned cultural events such as the Avignon Festival, the Orange Choregies and Vaison Dances. This cultural dynamism goes hand in hand with a strong appeal for strategic economic sectors, making the Vaucluse a leading destination for cycle tourism.
Km 108.5
Orange (Pop: 29,200)
Its location in the heart of the Côtes du Rhône and on the Agrippa Roman road has made Orange an important stopping-off point since ancient times. In the Middle Ages, the town became the capital of the principality of Orange and remained so until its annexation by France, formalised in the Treaties of Utrecht in 1713. The ancient theatre owes its fame to the exceptional preservation of its stage wall. It was an essential part of the life of the city, where the Roman language and culture were disseminated. Today, it hosts Les Chorégies, a world-renowned opera festival and Roman shows. The triumphal arch is also an exceptional example of Roman art from Provence. To complement these two exceptional monuments, the town of Orange offers its visitors a museum of art and history, housed in a 17th-century town house and featuring a Gallo-Roman section and a section devoted to the history of Orange, from prehistory to the present day. Finally, thanks to its sunny climate, the town is surrounded by prestigious wines such as Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-pape. Orange has hosted a stage of the Tour de France, won by Joseph Spruyt in 1974, but has been visited more often by the Criterium du Dauphiné and Paris-Nice. It was also in Orange that René Vietto, who had moved to Bollène at the end of his life, died in 1988.
Ancient theatre
Built: 1st century BC
History and characteristics: built during the reign of Augustus, the ancient theatre of Orange is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the western world. The north facade of its stage wall (37-m high and 107-m long), which the Sun King considered to be the finest wall in his kingdom, became a showcase for the greatest opera performances from the 19th century onwards. Designed to accommodate Gallo-Roman audiences, it was through this venue that Roman culture and language spread. Nearly 8,000 spectators could attend tragedies and comedies, as well as dance, acrobatics and juggling.
Current destination: Chorégies d'Orange (since 1902). Concerts and festivals.
Listed as: historical monument in 1862. UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
Triumphal Arch
Construction: 1st century.
History: the arch was probably erected between the years 20 and 25, to commemorate the victories of Germanicus, who died in 19, and was possibly "restored" to Tiberius in 26-27, depending on the interpretation given to the dedication added at that date to both sides of the monument. In the Middle Ages, the monument was fortified to serve as an advanced bastion at the entrance to the city.
Characteristics: the three-bay arch is made of large dry-fitted stone blocks, held together by iron and lead clamps. It has the unique feature of having a second attic formed from the pedestals of monumental statues (no longer in existence), secured and linked together to form a seamless masonry structure. The arch is 19.57-m long and 8.40-m wide. It reaches a height of 19.21 m.
Listed as: historical monument in 1840. UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.
Km 112.2
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Pop: 2,050)
Although vines certainly covered the area in Gallo-Roman times, it was really the installation of the popes in Avignon in the 14th century, and especially Pope John XXII, who contributed to Châteauneuf-du-Pape's renown by having a castle built there. Discovering Châteauneuf-du-Pape means tasting this famous nectar made from 13 grape varieties and meeting the winegrowers (more than 320) who have always worked to produce quality wines while respecting local customs. In 1936, Châteauneuf-du-Pape became the first wine-producing AOC in France. In 2006, it was recognised as a Site Remarquable du Goût (Remarkable Site of Taste), and in 2019, the process of making Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine was included in France's National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Castle of the Popes
Built: 1316 to 1333
Style: Rhone Gothic.
History: construction of the castle, ordered by John XXII, lasted from 1316 to 1333. In the past, the castle's size and strategic position on the hill bordering the Principality of Orange meant that it had a defensive function. But it was also a holiday resort for the popes living in Avignon at the time, hence the creation of a pleasure garden and park. Ill-treated during the Wars of Religion, sold at auction during the Revolution, it was transformed into a communications and anti-aircraft observation post during the Second World War, and dynamited on 20 August 1944 during the Allied retreat. Today, you can still admire the keep, the west facade and a vast vaulted lower hall where the town's most prestigious celebrations are held. Historic glazed terracotta tiles from the 14th century have been unearthed, providing precious evidence of the splendour of the pontifical court.
Characteristics: the three-storey castle comprised a large main building flanked by four towers. The ground floor comprised three large rooms, including a lower room or pontifical storeroom. The first floor, reserved for official use, also had a large room, the ceremonial hall, where all the festivities took place. The second floor housed the pope's private flats.
Listed as: historical monument in 1892.
Wines of Châteauneuf-du-pape
Châteauneuf-du-pape is an appellation contrôlée wine produced in the communes of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Orange, Bédarrides, Sorgues and Courthézon in the Vaucluse. It was here that the notion of an AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) first took shape, with the creation of a wine protection association in 1923, on the initiative of Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarié. The practice of making Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine is now recognised by the French Ministry of Culture and was included in France's inventory of intangible cultural heritage in 2019. It was thanks to Pope John XXII, a native of Cahors, that winegrowing in Châteauneuf-du-pape developed in the 14th century. The appellation gained worldwide renown from the 18th and 19th centuries onwards. Of the eighteen grape varieties authorised for reds and whites - grenache (grenache N, grenache G, grenache B), mourvèdre, syrah, cinsault, muscardin, counoise, clairette (clairette B, clairette Rs), bourboulenc, roussanne, piquepoul (piquepoul N, piquepoul G, piquepoul B), picardan, vaccarèse and terret noir - the first eight are the most widely used.
Km 119.1
Courthézon (Pop: 6,250)
This was one of the first farming villages in Europe. Archaeologists have discovered Neolithic sites in Courthézon dating back to 6000 BC. The ramparts and their 12th-century medieval gates, restored in keeping with the spirit and respect of their time by Bâtiments de France, surround the old village and are remnants of the era of the Princes of Orange, whose fiefdom Courthézon was. In the 19th century, Elie Dussaud, a harbour works contractor and Ferdinand de Lesseps' right-hand man, built Château Val-Seille. This little Provençal Versailles, which has been the town hall since 1956, is one of the region's finest town halls, with its parkland (listed as a historical monument in 1994). Singer Michèle Torr grew up in Courthézon, where her father was a postman.
Courthézon ramparts
Construction: 12th century.
History: dating back to the 12th century, the ramparts of Courthézon are thought to have been built using stones from the same quarries used by the Romans to build the ancient theatre in Orange. Initially 1,225-m long, they were demolished several times and then rebuilt, leaving only 600 m of walls and three of the four gates: the Aurouze gate to the north, the Belle Croix gate and the Prince's gate, a reference to William of Nassau, who was expelled from Orange in 1604 and welcomed in Courthézon. In 1673, Louis XIV ordered the demolition of the ramparts of the principality of Orange. Courthézon is one of the few villages to have kept them.
Listed as: Historical Monument in 1984.
Km 129
Sarrians (Pop: 5,830)
The town of Sarrians is very old and has been inhabited since Gallo-Roman times. The present-day site dates back to the end of the 10th century, when it was built around one of the oldest churches in the whole of Provence. Today, Sarrians still boasts an interesting architectural and historical heritage, including the remains of its ramparts and a tower (listed as a historical monument in 1977), the 18th-century Château de Tourreau (listed as a historical monument in 1963) and its parish church, listed in 1973. The town has become a BMX capital, home to the discipline's first Olympic champion, Anne-Caroline Chausson, who won gold in bicross in Beijing (2008), as well as 2023 world champion Romain Mahieu. It was on the track laid out in the town in 2018 that the four French medallists at the Paris Games in 2024 trained. Sarrians has also hosted rounds of the BMX World Cup and French Cup.
Km 149.2
Bédoin (Pop: 3,100)
Tourism is a fundamental part of the town's economy, thanks to the fame of Mont Ventoux. Bédoin's winegrowers cultivate around 818 hectares of AOC Côtes du Ventoux and Vin de Pays vines. The climatic and geological features of the commune give these wines their distinctive character. Bédoin has a cooperative winery (les Vignerons du Mont Ventoux) as well as various estates (Galinier, As des sœurs, Le Van, la Grange de Maximin). Fruit orchards are another important part of agriculture, the third largest source of income after vines. Red cherries are widely grown in the commune, as are apricots, plums and figs. Olive trees have been producing olive oil since the 18th century, but the frost of February 1956 greatly reduced production. Since March 2007, oil from Bédoin and Caromb has benefited from a regional AOC designation, Huile de Provence. Bédoin has been the start and finish of stages in Paris-Nice and the Critérium du Dauphiné on the Ventoux. Winner of the 1984 Tour of Spain, Eric Caritoux is a winegrower in Flassan, 6 km from Bédoin.
Chapelle de la Madeleine
Foundation: 11th century
Style: Romanesque
Characteristics: small basilica-type building, made of irregular rubble stone, rectangular in plan. Surmounted by a square 12th-century bell tower with a rather unusual layout.
Current use: private chapel open to visitors at weekends.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1947.
Km 165.3
Chalet Reynard
Rustic chalet on Mont Ventoux at 1,440 m, serving traditional cuisine and local specialities including truffles... It has been used on several occasions as the finishing point for climbs on the Ventoux: in 2016, due to the weather conditions at the summit, where the Mistral was blowing at over 100 km/h, the finish of the 12th stage of the Tour de France was placed there, won by Thomas de Gendt, while the Yellow Jersey hold, Chris Froome, improvised a forced jog that is still remembered today. In February 2020, climbing the slopes of Bédoin, the chalet was the finish line for the 3rd stage of the Tour de la Provence, won by Nairo Quintana.
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