The Vaucluse

Vaucluse
Vaucluse

The Rhone to the west and the Durance to the south delimit the Vaucluse. It is divided into 5 tourist areas:

The Haut Vaucluse :
Located between the Alps and the Rhone Valley, one discovers the city of Orange and its Roman vestiges of which several are classified in the world patrimony by the UNESCO, the mountainous relief such as and an extremely fertile area that is home to much of the French early-growing and wine-growing culture.

The Grand Avignon :
Avignon is an important city located at the crossroads of Provence and Languedoc near the Mediterranean. The historical richness of Avignon like the Pont d’Avignon, its ramparts and its palace of the Popes make it a city of history and a city of culture, symbolized by the Festival of Avignon.

The Lubéron :
It is characterized by the mountains stretching from the Alps of Hautes Provence to the plain of Vaucluse, the Lubéron marks a natural border to the south of the department. This territory is home to a diverse ecosystem. It has been classified as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is home to the Lubéron Regional Nature Park

The Mont Ventoux :
Mont Ventoux, the Giant of Provence “which culminates in 1.912 m, Dominates the Vaucluse landscape. Its natural assets have enabled it to benefit from a classification in the biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

The Sorgue :
This territory is mainly based on water since the two main sites are l’Isle sur la Sorgue and Fontaine de Vaucluse . The natural site of Fontaines de Vaucluse and its source are the most visited of the department and the many canals of the Sorgue which criss-cross the village make it a site of charm.

Pernes les Fontaines (English)

Situated in the department of Vaucluse , crossed by the Nesque, Pernes-les-Fontaines is classified among The most beautiful detours of France , thanks to its rich architectural heritage, traditional and human.
It is very well named because it has 40 public fountains and more than a hundred private fountains. Pernes was the capital of the Comtat Venaissin in the old days and bears the surname of “ Pearl of the Comtat ” at the present time. The village has grown steadily and today has more than 10,000 inhabitants and many historical monuments.
It is a small fortified medieval town with 22 sites listed or classified as Historic Monuments , 40 public fountains, 13 chapels, mills and curiosities, and 7 public gardens.

Pernes les Fontaines
Pernes les Fontaines

Touristic places

  • Its ramparts include numerous doors such as the Notre Dame Gate dating from the 16th century or the Porte Neuve.
  • The Rectangular Tower of the Clock (IMH), dungeon of the 12th century of the old castle of the counts of Toulouse with a clock and which offers a Nice point of view. The Ferrande Tower dating from the 13th century.
  • The church N.D. of Nazareth of the eleventh century.
  • The course of the 40 Fontaines.
  • Quays of the Nesque.
Pernes les Fontaines
Pernes les Fontaines

Sporting activities

Carpentras-Pernes-les-Fontaines aerodrome. Moto-cross international. Fishing, hunting, horse riding, walking, horseback riding, mountain biking.

Site of Pernes les Fontaines

Touristic Office: City of Pernes les Fontaines

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Isle sur la Sorgue (English)

Situated in the department of Vaucluse (84), on the plains of “Comtat Venaissin”, this former city of Fishermen nicknamed “Venise comtadine”, born from the waters of the Sorgue has now become a tourist high place in Provence thanks to the charm of its canals and has acquired an international notoriety with its trade of antiquities.

Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

The paddle wheels that once functioned for craftsmanship still subsist and give its picturesque side to the city and its canals.

Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

The city also has a rich architectural heritage, such as the wheat loft which houses the Tourist Office (in the city center), the hospital with its vestibule, its chapel, its pharmacy and its garden decorated with a splendid fountain , And, among other private hotels, the hotel “Donadeï de Campredon” which houses the Maison René-Char.

Touristic places :

  • The Collegiate Church of Our Lady of the Angels, one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Provence.
  • The division of waters: Places or the Sorgue divides into two and forms a large body of water.
  • The chapel Saint-Andéol of Velorgues, XIe / XIIe century, entirely Romanesque.
  • Museum of the doll and the old toy, Museum of the school of old and House René Char.
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Animations :

  • Festival of Sorgue in July
  • Nautical corso at the end of July
  • Market on the Sorgue the first Sunday of August
  • Horse races in August
  • Flea markets (Easter and August)

Site of l’Isle sur la Sorgue:

Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

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Carpentras (English)

The city is located in the department of Vaucluse of which it is the Sub-Prefecture . At an altitude of 102 m and extending over an area of 3 791 hectares, Carpentras has no less than 28 000 inhabitants. Capitale du Comtat Venaissin, located at the foot of the Mont Ventoux and Dentelles de Montmirail, Carpentras has always been a city Art and Culture, both modern and still imbued with its history.

Capentras
Carpentras

The city has many monuments with remarkable architecture and we can discover all its terroir on its traditional markets.

The monuments

  • The country of Carpentras and Comtat Venaissin is classified Country of Art and History.
  • The Cathedral of Saint-Siffrein.
  • La Charité.
  • La Porte d’Orange.
  • The fair of the Saint Siffrein (27 November).
  • L’Hôtel-Dieu.
  • The summer of Carpentras.
  • Classified municipal library
Carpentras
Carpentras

The markets

  • Friday Market
  • Organic Market
  • The big commercial sale
  • Le Troc de Printemps
  • Apér’Estivales, Night market of the art of wine
  • Sunday afternoon antiques
  • The St-Siffrein Fair

Site of Carpentras:

Carpentras
Carpentras

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Fontaine de Vaucluse (English)

Fontaine de Vaucluse is located 17 kilometers of Pernes les fontaines. You can go there by bike (VTT or VTC) along the canal of Carpentras. If you are sporty if not from Pernes, follow the itinerary L’isle sur la Sorgue Then Fontaines de Vaucluse by the D25.

This picturesque site lies in a deep valley with a landscape dotted with caves and valleys.

The main visit in the village is at the bottom of a deep natural gorge, at the foot of an enormous cliff. You can discover the source of Fontaine de Vaucluse.

The spring is located at 80 meters above sea level, it springs at the foot of a steep cliff of 230 meters in the hollow of a valley clause “Vallis clausa” in Latin which gave its name to the department of Vaucluse. The source is the emergence of an immense underground network. It is the first in France with an annual flow rate of 630 million cubic meters per year. It’s  particularly spectacular in spring and autumn in periods of flood with a flow of 90 m3 per second. Secondary springs feed the river and form a very beautiful body of water shaded by immense plane trees. One reaches the abyss (one of the deepest of the world) by a tourist route which goes up along the river.

Visits possible in the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse

Avignon (English)

Palais des papes
Palais des papes

Largest city Vaucluse at the confluence of the Rhône And the Durance. It is thus bordering the departments of Gard and the Bouches-du-Rhône. Avignon is already an important city in the 12th century, thanks in particular to the Pont d’Avignon which allows the crossing of the Rhone. With the arrival of the Popes in the 14th century, the city became a second Rome.

Palais des papes
Palais des papes

The Rhône has always played an important role in the life of the city. Although it is an invaluable treasure for the economy of the city due to the importance of freight and pleasure traffic, it also plays an important part in the leisure activities of avignon. The arts are undergoing considerable development. Avignon remained a pontifical land until the Revolution. Then the city will grow out of its ramparts.

Rocher des dons
Rocher des dons

Avignon is listed as a City of Art and History. The city is surrounded by ramparts and its old houses have a lot of charm. The bridge of Avignon is another emblem of the city. The Palais des Papes of the 14th century and the Saint-Bénezet bridge (the famous bridge of Avignon) of the seventh century, Humanity by UNESCO.

The museums of Avignon :

Lambert Collection, Jean Vilar House, Angladon Museum, Calvet Museum, Musée de l’Oeuvre, Musee du Mont-de-Piété, Musée du Petit Palais, Musée lapidaire, Musée Louis-Vouland, Musee Requien, Palais du Roure.

Festival of Avignon and other events :

Pont d'Avignon
Pont d’Avignon

Avignon hosts throughout the year various events such as the Provençal Festival, theater and music in the Provençal language, Avignon-Jazz Festival, Artisans’ Market but the best known is its theater festival.

  • The Festival d’Avignon, founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, takes place every summer during the month of July in the city of Avignon. This is undoubtedly the most important manifestation of theatrical art and live performance in France by the number of creations and spectators, and one of the oldest decentralized artistic manifestations.
  • The Festival Off: Independently of the Festival In Festival, and at the initiative of the New Company founded by André Benedetto, hundreds of other shows are held – More than 539 troops registered in 2004 to give 667 shows without Count street shows, etc…

Site of the city :

Pont d'Avignon
Pont d’Avignon

The “Mont Ventoux”

Mont-Ventoux
Mont-Ventoux

The Mont Ventoux located in theVaucluse, Is a summit of the Massif des Baronnies culminating in 1912 meters unavoidable in the history of Provence. He is nicknamed the “ Géant de Provence ” And reigns over the country of SAULT, Comtat Venaissin and Provence. The Mistral blows on average 130 days per year and can reach 250 km/h at the summit.

Classified by UNESCO ” Biosphere Reserve ” In 1990, it presents a flora and a fauna of a rare diversity. Many protected species are found only on the Ventoux.

It is on its northern slope that is located the Mount Serein and its ski resort snow covered in winter and accessible by the road of Malaucène.

The “Dentelles de Montmirail”

Dentelles-de-Montmirail
Dentelles-de-Montmirail

The “Dentelles de Montmirail” are a mountain chain of the Massif des Baronnies, in Provence, in the department of Vaucluse. They are located south of Vaison-la-Romaine and west of Mont Ventoux.

This mountainous massif is distinguished by the very marked cutting of its rock. Their highest point is the crest of Saint-Amand, 730 meters high. The chain, which is about eight kilometers long, is renowned for climbing.

The Dentelles de Montmirail will seduce you with the many activities they offer :

  • Discover the nearby villages, vineyards, landscapes and extremely varied vegetation.
  • Its limestone ridges form steep cliffs that make it a place renowned for climbing enthusiasts.
  • Hiking and mountain biking on marked trails

Park of the Lubéron

Lubéron
Lubéron

The Lubéron regional natural park covers 165,000 hectares, from Cavaillon in Vaucluse (84) to Villeneuve in the Alpes de Haute Provence (04), on both sides of the Lubéron mountain (1,125 m Mourre Nègre). It is home to exceptional fauna and flora, as well as an architectural and landscape heritage of great value. The Lubéron Regional Nature Park is also a lively territory of about 150,000 inhabitants, residing in more than 70 municipalities.

The Lubéron has been officially admitted by UNESCO to the world network of biosphere reserves.

The main towns and cities present in the Lubéron park are Apt, Cavaillon, and Pertuis in the Vaucluse And Manosque in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

Tourism news

LES HIBISCUS – Provence

Lavande
Lavender

In the south of France, between the sea and the mountains, from the Rhone Valley to the Mediterranean, from the Southern Alps to the calanques of Marseille, within these beautiful natural borders is a land of light. Art of living, wealth of the heritage, beauty of the sites concur to make it one of the regions most visited in France.

At Pernes les Fontaines

Pernes les Fontaines
Pernes les Fontaines
The hiring is located on the Commune of Pernes les Fontaines, Village classified Détours de France. It offers many festivities during the summer, Folklorises, Legends Night and Arts in the street etc … and outdoor activities, tennis, horseback riding, fishing and hiking on marked trails as well as several hiking trails of VTT.

Every 4 years in September: Heritage Day.

Close to the Village of Pernes les Fontaines

Abbaye de Senanque
Abbaye de Senanque
Golf in the town of Saumane.
Canoeing and kayaking at Fontaine de Vaucluse.
Provence is also known for its quality wines and regional products that you will find on the many markets of the region.

The region dominated by Mont Ventoux very rich in heritage, offers you a multitude of Sites such as Fontaine de Vaucluse, the Grottes de Thouzon, the Dentelles de Montmirail, l’Abbaye de Sénanque, etc… and towns to visit, Carpentras, Avignon, Isle sur la Sorgue, Gordes, Orange et Vaison la Romaine.

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