Mont VentouxCycling and Nature's Masterpiece
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Provence's largest mountainThe legendary Mont Ventoux is 1,910 metres high and is the last major mountain in the Alps to the west. It is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region about 20 kilometres northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse. The mountain is better known as the ‘Bald Mountain’ due to the limestone desert that covers the last 6 kilometres to the summit. It is also nicknamed the ‘Giant of Provence’. Mont Ventoux is the highest mountain in Provence, standing as a solitary majesty in the landscape and therefore almost always visible within 75 kilometres. In winter, the peak is usually covered in snow, but even in summer it looks like it's wearing a white cap from a distance. This is due to the white limestone that glows in the sun. At the top is a radar station and an observatory, to which there is no access. There is also a small restaurant. At first you pass through wooded areas, but at the top it's desolate and harsh, especially when the wind blows, which it usually does at the top of Mont Ventoux. When the mistral blows in from the north, it can almost lift people out of their boots. In clear weather you can see the Rhône, the Alps and the Mediterranean. 
Mont Ventoux is known to most cycling enthusiasts and is often included as a gruelling stage in the Tour de France. With its 21 km, just under 1600 vertical metres and an average gradient of 7.4, Mont Ventoux is one of the toughest and most spectacular climbs in France, often described as a harsh test for cyclists. Mont Ventoux can be climbed via three routes. The most commonly used, but also the most difficult, is starting in Bédoin from the south side. The route from Sault in the east is the easiest. The start of this route offers plenty of lavender fields and wildlife. The route from Malaucène in the north is slightly easier than the Bédoin route as it is a little more sheltered from the wind. It's also not as spectacular, as you're only travelling in the ‘bald’ area for a short distance. 
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