Carpentras

Carpentras is the capital of Comtat Venaissin. Carpentras is an exciting city beautifully situated in the centre of the Côtes-du-Ventoux wine region. Carpentras is a historic city with plenty of prehistoric remains. The town is especially known for its very fine strawberries, its striped caramel sweets, berlingots, and above all its black truffles, les perles noires. Carpentras is home to France's largest truffle market. Carpentras is an ideal holiday destination due to its prime location in the heart of the Provençal hinterland.

Surrounded by large boulevards, the old town offers narrow streets, well-restored houses, large squares, plenty of shops, restaurants and bars. Carpentras had a large Jewish community in the Middle Ages. As a reminder of this, Carpentras is home to France's oldest synagogue, dating back to the 15th century.

Also in the city is the Romanesque St Siffrein Cathedral, built between 1405 and 1519, with its 17th-century flamboyant portal known as the Porte Juive. Near the cathedral is a triumphal arch, the city's only Roman remains, built under Emperor Augustus in the 1st century. On the opposite side of the square are the remains of a 7th-century Roman cathedral, which was destroyed in 1399.

North of the city, just outside the city centre, there is a beautiful elongated park. The park follows the river and a shady path leads you along the river for a nice walk. The river is crossed in several places by small bridges.

Inspiration for your holiday:

Attractions:

Eglise Collégiale Notre Dame des Anges

L'Hôtel Dieu with its farmaci (collection of faiences and walls decorated by Duplessis, Louis XVI's painter).

Cathédrale St Siffrein (1405 and 1519) in Southern Gothic style.

Palais épiscopal from the 17th century, now used as a courthouse.

Roman triumphal arch from the 1st century, the city's only Roman remains.

Very beautiful synagogue from 1367, restored in 1954 with baths and swimming pools in accordance with Hebrew custom.

Chapelle Notre Dame de Santé. Tour de l'Horloge (clock tower).

Cultural centre, La Charité.

18th century aqueduct (630 metres long and 23 metres wide).

Musée Comtadin: local history museum.

Musée Duplessis: art museum

Musée Sobirats Arts Décoratifs: houses Louis XV and XVI style furniture, faience and artefacts.

Musée des Beaux Arts: Includes Bishop d'Inguimbert's large and valuable book collection, considered to be one of the most important book collections in Provence.

Ferme Expérimentale d'Élevage de Lamas: Llama farm located 1 km outside Le Barroux (12 km from Carpentras).

Things to do in Carpentras

Large Provencal market every Friday - known throughout the region.

Cultural events.

There are great opportunities for outdoor activities in the Vaucluse area, see for example the following websites: http://www.provenceguide.com/gbcdt/index.asp http://www.hautvaucluse.com/pdf/guidea.pdf (Guide to activities and attractions in the Haut Vaucluse area).

Cycling: challenges for everyone, from elite athletes to families with children. There are several great rides to other towns in the area, a wealth of less demanding mountain routes and the tough Mont Ventoux.

Golf - There is a wealth of golf courses in the area, 4 in the department of Vaucluse and several in the neighbouring southern department of Bouhes du Rhône. The French Golf Union has a website where most courses are presented. Unfortunately, the website is in French. Go to Guide de golfs and search here under the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur region: http://www.ffgolf.org/.

See all our holiday rentals
  • {{tab.name}}
There are no available houses that match your search criteria
see more results {{activeTab.linkText}}