10 time a stage site, 18 visits in total
Summit of Vaucluse : 1,912 metres
Population : 562,000 in the Vaucluse département
Specialities : Ventoux pork, Sault lamb, truffles, small spelt, Carpentras strawberries, cherries, candied fruit from Apt, Carpentras berlingots, wines (Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes-Du-Rhône, Côtes du Ventoux)
Personalities : Tom Simpson, Éric Caritoux (cyclists), Petrarch
Economy : tourism, wine, ski resort
Sport : skiing (Mont-Serein resort), cycling, hiking, paragliding, etc.
Events : Les Cinglés du Mont Ventoux (cycle touring, climb three times in one day via the three roads of Bédoin, Malaucène and Sault), Gran Fondo, Half Marathon, Trail du Ventoux, Grand Raid du Ventoux, Supercar Experience
Festivals : Ventoux Biosphère Festival (April-June) / Silences du Ventoux (wildlife photography) / Ventoux Saveurs
Nicknames : The Giant of Provence, Bald Mountain
Provençal motto : "N'est pas fou qui monte au Ventoux, est fou qui y retourne" ("A fool who climbs the Ventoux is a fool who returns")
Labels : UNESCO Biosphere Reserve / Regional Nature Park / Natura 2000 site
Websites / FB / Twitter : www.leventoux.net / www.vaucluse.fr / www.provenceguide.com / www.provence-a-velo.fr / facebook.com/vaucluseattitude / facebook.com/VaucluseTourisme / twitter.com/ProvenceGuide / instagram.com/provenceguide / youtube.com/user/tourismeVaucluse / plus.google.com/100327610648510298171 / www.ventouxprovence.fr
MONT VENTOUX AND CYCLING
The Ventoux rarely disappoints, and the last two times the Tour de France paid a visit to the Giant of Provence added some memorable episodes to its legend. No-one has forgotten the surreal sight of Chris Froome racing madly after a bike that had disappeared in the middle of a packed crowd in 2016. More recently, in 2021, it was Wout van Aert who established his reputation by leading the way on one of cycling’s most prestigious summits before going on to win solo in Malaucène.
Of course, the death of Tom Simpson on its slopes in 1967 is still fresh in everyone's memory, but the Ventoux has also revealed emerging talent. In 1972, it was Bernard Thévenet who made his mark. Winner in La Mongie in 1970 and in Grenoble the following year, he was one of the most promising French riders in the peloton. But this time, he won at the top of cycling's most feared summit ahead of Eddy Merckx (2nd), Luis Ocana (3rd) and Raymond Poulidor (4th), with Lucien Van Impe, Felice Gimondi and Joop Zoetemelk taking places 7 to 9. In short, by taking advantage of the marking of the favourites to attack with 4km to go, "Nanard" had the luxury of dominating five past or future Tour winners! The media rightly announced at the end of this edition: "Thevenet will win the Tour". Indeed, he did, in 1975 and 1977.
It's worth noting that Montpellier has already been used four times as a launch pad to the Bald Mountain: it was the case on its first ascent on the Tour in 1951 (Lucien Lazarides leading at the summit, Louison Bobet winning in Avignon), but also in 1965 (Poulidor), 1994 (Eros Poli) and 2016 (Thomas de Gendt).
SIGHTS
Ski resorts of Mont Serein (north) and Chalet Reynard (south)
Activities : In winter: downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoe trekking, kindergarten, 90-metre treadmill (children), tobogganing and snowboarding. In summer: bike park, dévalkart, horse riding, inflatable play park, tree-climbing course, discovery trail, hiking, mountain bike circuits, fitness trail, paragliding, hang-gliding
Bédoin
Location : Built on the foothills of the Ventoux
Features : Includes the summit of Mont Ventoux. Largest communal forest in France (6,300 ha). Jesuit-style church
Sault
Altitude : 776 m
Description : Health resort perched on a plateau with lavender fields. One of the stops on the Lavender Route
Malaucène
Features : Medieval village with shaded courtyard, Groseau spring, Saint Michel church (18th-century organ), Le Barroux castle, Beaumont du Ventoux and its nine hamlets. Hosted a Tour stage won by Wout Van Aert in 2021
Château du Barroux
Built : 12th century
Style : medieval
History : Former seigniorial seat, rebuilt in the 16th century, damaged during the Revolution and WWII, restored since the 1960s
Special feature : whisky brand in development
Current use : private property
Listed as : historical monument in 1963
Toulourenc Gorges
Location : Between Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux and Vaison-la-Romaine
Description : Small canyon, natural beauty ideal for walking and admiring the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux
Tom Simpson stele
Purpose : Memorial to British cyclist Tom Simpson, who died on 13 July 1967 during the ascent of the Ventoux
Achievements : Knighted in 1964, world road champion 1965, winner of Milan-San Remo 1964, Tour of Flanders 1961
TO DRINK
Ventoux wines
Formerly Côtes-du-Ventoux, renamed in 2009. Vineyards arranged in an arc around Mont Ventoux, among the oldest in France. 7,450 hectares producing red, rosé, white and vin primeur. Red and rosé varieties: grenache noir, shiraz, cinsault, mourvèdre, carignan (with picpoul noir and counoise). White: clairette, bourboulenc, grenache blanc (up to 20% ugni blanc, roussanne, picpoul, pascal blanc).
Notable figure : Éric Caritoux, 1984 Vuelta winner, grows table grapes used by Terra Ventoux cooperative for a special cuvée.
