Vaucluse Holiday Guide
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Vaucluse - a magical destination
From Mont Ventoux to Avignon, the Vaucluse well deserves its popularity. The department is one made famous by writer Peter Mayle, and has never looked back. The natural beauty of the countryside, with its fields of swaying lavender, its olive groves, vineyards, woodlands and hills combines with the history and charm of the villages and towns to create a magical destination.
Top 5 things to see and do in the Vaucluse
1. Le Sentier des Ocres
For something really different, pay a visit to the Sentier des Ocres near the gorgeous village of Roussillon. It's a large, old ochre quarry, where you can explore the incredibly coloured rocks (children love climbing, running and playing here), follow trails through evocatively named areas like "The Giant's Causeway" and end with a visit to an ochre shop, selling pots of the brilliantly coloured powders for artists. Be warned though, this is a fantastic tourist attraction and one you will never forget, but the ochre dust turns everything red - and by that, I really do mean, red. Dress for the occasion, and have some protective covers for the car on the way home or take a change of shoes and clothes!
2. The River Sorgue's source at Fontaine de Vaucluse
There is nothing like a natural playground for having the very best sort of fun, and the Vaucluse is a wonderful place to find the highest quality of nature's bounty. The source of the River Sorgue at Fontaine de Vaucluse can be a tranquil watery pool or a churning, rapidly rising cauldron when the spring weather melts the mountain ice above. In any case, it is an amazing sight, and as the river settles and unfolds along its course it provides opportunities for adventure sports such as kayaking and rafting.
3. Cycle
One of the best ways to enjoy the Vaucluse department is to take a cycling tour of the area. You can either arrange specialized cycling holidays where a guide will make sure you get to enjoy all the favourite places and follow the best routes, or you can hire a bike (or take your own) and go it alone. Either way, the fun is there to be had. Try the ultimate challenge of the infamous Mont Ventoux, test your fitness in the Luberon Hills or head for the flatter parts of the Vaucluse and just enjoy the views.
4. Get creative
If ever there were a place that inspires artists, writers, thinkers and photographers then it has to be the Vaucluse. The colours of nature here are stunning, so much so that it is hard to find new adjectives to describe them! The intense blues and purples of the skies and the lavender fields, the rich spicy reds and coppers of the ochre quarries and many of the houses, the mysterious blue greens of the pine trees and woodlands, the delicate silver of the olive trees and the mouth-watering greens and blacks of their fruits are just the beginning of a magical palette. Whatever your medium, the Vaucluse will inspire you to express yourself.
5. Visit Roman remains
The department of the Vaucluse has plenty of history to uncover, and heritage holidays or just day trips to see historic towns and monuments are richly rewarded. See Roman remains, plus mediaeval towns and monuments, and discover the stories of the past in the museums. Avignon, Orange and Carpentras all offer a wealth of monuments and architecture, while up in the hills of the Luberon there are castles and abbeys.
Top 5 towns and cities in the Vaucluse
1. Avignon
There can hardly be anyone who didn't learn the song "Sur le pont, d'Avignon" at school, and it's always fascinating to see something as legendary as Avignon's bridge come to life before your eyes! Don't try to cross it though, as it only reaches halfway across the river these days and would lead you to a watery end! Avignon is the "city of the popes", and this fortified city will never disappoint anyone who goes looking for heritage and history.
2. Orange
Orange is another illustration of the wonderful towns of art and history that this department possesses. See the fabulous Triumphal Arch from Roman times, and marvel at the early Christian Antique Theatre, a listed monument. The old quarter is full of charm and atmosphere, and the town is also well supplied with shops, hotels, restaurants, cafés, museums and cultural venues.
3. Carpentras
Carpentras is a lovely market town with historic architecture, a notable gastronomy and a programme of excellent cultural events. The black truffle market is the beginning of the Saint Siffrein Fair, held every November, and is definitely one to catch if you are taking an autumn break in the town. Anyone staying in Carpentras can choose from numerous sporting and leisure activities too, as it has a swimming pool, tennis courts, bicycle hire, horse-riding stables, cinema, restaurants and shops.
4. Roussillon
The ochre village of Rousillon, perched high on a hill above the ochre quarries of times gone by, is classified as one of France's most beautiful villages. The incredible colours of the houses contrast with the blue sky and lovely countryside around, and make this village a favourite destination for tourists. A day trip to the village allows time to explore the old streets, eat in an atmospheric little restaurant, then spend the afternoon discovering the amazing ochre quarry of Le Sentier des Ocres.
5. Cavaillon
Cavaillon is the place to go if you like melons. The town is noted for producing the sweetest and the juiciest of these delicious fruits, and there are many of these for sale in the excellent town market. It's also culturally and historically rich, and makes a lovely base for any holiday in the area.
Food and drink in the Vaucluse
The department is deeply agricultural, and the fruits and vegetables it produces bring all the flavours and colours of Provence bursting to life on your plate. Melons, honey, olives and olive oil, wines, strawberries, nougat and precious black truffles are just some of the gastronomic delights awaiting you in this land.
How to get to the Vaucluse
You can fly to Nîmes, Avignon or Marseille airports, which offer a choice of airlines between them. The TGV will also take you to Avignon.
