Surroundings

The strengths of the Vaucluse

The Vaucluse is a beautiful department of Provence. The landscape is characterized by lavender fields, green forests, high mountains and beautiful rivers. You will also find many beautiful villages. You should definitely visit Gordes. This town, known as one of the most beautiful in France, is located in the middle of an unspoiled nature. You can enjoy the picturesque streets and beautiful squares. Roussillon is also highly recommended. The city has a special ochre mine and a historical center. For a city trip, you should be in Avignon. This beautiful city has a lot of fun and sights to offer. Hikers and bikers can enjoy the Luberon and Mont Ventoux, where you can enjoy views and green nature. In short, there is a lot to do in the Vaucluse!

DISCOVER THE SURROUNDINGS OF THE VAUCLUSE

Discover the 10 most beautiful places to visit in the Vaucluse

AVIGNON

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LUBERON

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MONT VENTOUX

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GORDES

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FONTAINE-DE-VAUCLUSE

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CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

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ABBEY OF SENAQUE

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ROUSSILLON

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ORANGE

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GORGES DE LA NESQUE

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Avignon

Avignon is a beautiful city on the edge of the Vaucluse, located on the banks of the Rhone. It is a popular city among tourists and there is much to do. One of the most famous attractions is the Pont Saint-Bénézet, or the Pont d’Avignon. A beautiful bridge that dates back to the Middle Ages and spans the Rhone River. The particularity of this bridge is that halfway across, the water suddenly stops. The rest of the bridge has slowly decomposed over time, which gives a special image. Another important place of interest is the Palace of the Popes. This palace was built by the different popes who lived in Avignon. The building is not only a palace, but also a fortress and is very impressive. Today you can find a museum and you can see different rooms of the palace. Besides these special attractions, you should also explore the city. You will find the most beautiful streets and squares and you can enjoy nice restaurants and cafes. Avignon is also surrounded by an impressive city wall, where you can walk around with a beautiful view.

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Luberon

The Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon is a beautiful nature reserve, located in the departments of Vaucluse and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. It is a varied region that includes the Luberon mountain range, the Calavon valley and the Monts de Vaucluse. You can go hiking and it is known for its biodiversity. In the lower parts, there are vineyards, forests and lavender fields. In the higher areas, you will find impressive rocks and endless views. The Luberon mountain range is one of the most popular destinations and you can enjoy beautiful hikes or bike rides. You will find high mountain peaks, of which the Mourre Nègre is the highest at 1125 meters. You can reach this peak by foot and after a nice climb you will be rewarded with a wide view of the Luberon. Besides a huge nature, you will also find a lot of culture in the Luberon. You should definitely visit the idyllic villages of Gordes and Roussillon, about which you will find more details later in this article.

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Mont Ventoux

Mont Ventoux is one of the most famous mountains in France and is even the highest mountain in Provence. With its 1909 meters, this mountain is also called “The giant of Provence”. The ascent of this mountain is therefore a great challenge, but you will be rewarded with a magnificent view. In good weather you have a view of Mont Blanc, Avignon and the Rhone valley. Several hiking and biking trails lead to the summit so there is something for everyone. The southern side of the mountain is characterized by lavender fields, forests, vineyards and a lunar landscape. The northern side of the mountain is much more rugged and is covered with snow in winter. A must-see is the viewpoint Sommet du Mont Ventoux. Here you can look far and wide over the beautiful regions of Provence.

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Gordes

Gordes is a beautiful town located in the Luberon. The town is built against and on a steep rock and lies on the edge of the Plateau de Vaucluse. It is known as one of the most beautiful villages in Provence and you should definitely visit Gordes. The center is characterized by beautiful streets with picturesque houses and beautiful squares. You can walk around and enjoy the green trees and the cozy restaurants. You will also find many stores and stalls where you can buy delicious local products and handmade items. One of the highlights of Gordes is its castle. The castle is located on top of the rock and is definitely worth a visit. From the outside it looks quite plain, but the inside is beautifully decorated. You can admire the different rooms and learn all about the history of the region. Gordes is becoming more and more popular with tourists and is therefore often crowded in summer. It is therefore best to visit the town at the beginning or end of the season.

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Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is a beautiful town, which is mainly known for the special spring of the same name. This resurgent spring is the point where the river Sorgue, after an underground journey, comes out of the ground again. It is a special sight to see and it attracts many tourists. The Source de Vaucluse is the largest spring in France and is even the fifth largest resurgent spring in the world. Along the banks of the river, you can walk to the spring. You will pass an interesting paper mill and a museum, where you can learn all about the Vaucluse Fountain. There are also two museums about the French resistance during World War II and about the poet Petrarch. In short, there is a lot to do in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.

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Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a wonderful French wine region, located around the village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wine region is located in the Rhone Valley, between the cities of Avignon and Orange. The region is world famous and renowned for its delicious red wines. The most common grape variety is Grenache and there are 320 different vineyards. It is a must for any wine lover. You can walk and bike and explore the area. It is also possible to visit the wineries and taste all the delicious wines. The town of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the perfect starting point and also has a beautiful castle that you must visit.

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Abbey of Sénanque

The Abbey of Sénanque is a beautiful monastery, in the middle of the lavender fields of Provence. The abbey is hidden in a gorge, in an area that is otherwise completely uninhabited. It is an oasis of tranquility where you can find yourself entirely on your own. It is easy to get there from Gordes and you can book in advance a guided tour with a French guide. Only a guided tour will allow you to see the different rooms of the monastery and to discover the life of a monk. You can also enter the church itself and attend a service, for example. In the vicinity of the monastery you can go for beautiful walks and admire the beautiful nature of Provence.

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Roussillon

Roussillon is a beautiful village in the Vaucluse and is even considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. The village is located in the natural park of Luberon and is surrounded by green mountains and beautiful forests. The town is situated on a green hill and you have a beautiful view of the surroundings. The center is characterized by pleasant streets and picturesque squares. You can walk around and enjoy pleasant restaurants and cafes. There is also a beautiful church, which is surrounded by picturesque French streets. One of the highlights of Roussillon is the ore mine. In the vicinity of the town, there is a lot of ochre in the ground. Ochre is a natural pigment, which is rarely found in nature, which makes the ochre mine of Roussillon so special. You can take a nice walk along the mine and quarry and you will be surrounded by piles of sand and stones colored in red, orange and yellow by the ochre.

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Orange

Orange is a beautiful city, rich in culture and history. You will find beautiful Roman monuments and for all those who love history, it is a must-see place. The main attraction is the Roman theater. This building, which dates back to the first century A.D., is one of the best preserved buildings of antiquity. You can see the special stage wall, which is 103 meters long and 26 meters high. In addition, fun events are organized, such as festivals and concerts. Another important attraction is the Arc de Triomphe. This beautiful building was built around 20 BC and is still well preserved. You can admire the reliefs that tell the story of the foundation of Orange. Besides the Roman buildings, the city itself is also worth a visit. You will find charming streets with nice stores and cafes.

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Gorges de la Nesque

The Gorges de la Nesque are a magnificent river gorge, located south of the town of Carpentras and at the foot of the Mont Ventoux. The gorge, whose depth sometimes reaches 400 meters, was dug by the river Nesque. The river has its source on the Mont Ventoux and crosses the whole gorge. Between the towns of Villes-sur-Auzon and Monieux, you will find an impressive highway, from where you will have a beautiful view of the river and the cliffs. It is therefore essential to discover the gorge by car. There are also many hiking and biking trails that lead you through and along the gorge. You can enjoy the unspoiled nature and the special flora and fauna.

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