Vaucluse - the heart of Provence

Vaucluse lies along the Rhône River to the west and is bordered to the south by the Durance and to the east by the foothills of the Alps. Part of the area is flat and is called Comtat Venaissin. To the south is the impressive Lubéron mountain range with the large, protected and relatively untouched regional park, Parc Régional du Lubéron, and to the north are the exciting Denteller peaks. However, most of the area is covered by another large mountain range, the Plateau de Vaucluse, bounded to the north by the highest mountain in Provence, the legendary Mont Ventoux (1912 metres) with its ever-white peak.

Vaucluse offers a wide range of sporting activities including hiking, climbing, horse riding, canoeing and sailing, cycling, paragliding and golf. You can explore the beautiful countryside, visit idyllic medieval villages such as Gordes, the epitome of a Provençal village and probably the most interesting. It is also in Vaucluse that you can visit some of France's finest wine cellars in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, or savour the area's fine cuisine with its abundance of herbs, fruits and vegetables.

In the Vaucluse, you'll experience Mont Ventoux, the blossoming cherry trees of Malaucène, the vast lavender fields of Sault and the copper-coloured cliffs of Roussillon. It's also home to one of France's greatest natural wonders, the powerful source of the Sorgue River at Fontaine de Vaucluse. The pearl of Vaucluse is the old, fortified papal city of Avignon with its imposing papal palace. The Roman legacy is clearly visible in the ancient Roman city of Orange with two of Europe's finest Roman monuments: a 1st century Roman theatre, the best preserved ancient theatre in the world, and an impressive triumphal arch from the same period or in the great excavation sites of Vaison-la-Romaine. Carpentras is another Roman city that deserves attention, also because France's oldest synagogue is located here.

Vaucluse has a mild temperate coastal climate. The summer period is warm with an average temperature of 30 degrees, while winter is relatively cold with an average temperature of 5 degrees. The rainy season is usually during autumn and spring, and this is also the time of year when you can experience the strong wind, the Mistral.