Saumane-de-Vaucluse

Saumane-de-Vaucluse is a small medieval village situated on top of a cliff in very scenic surroundings, 4 kilometres from Fontaines-de-Vaucluse and 7 kilometres from L'Isle sur la Sorgue. Saumane de Vaucluse is a quiet and peaceful village that is not overrun with tourists. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the coast and explore the beautiful Provencal hinterland, Saumane-de-Vaucluse is a great holiday destination. A holiday in Saumane-de-Vaucluse offers great opportunities for numerous outdoor activities including hiking, climbing, cycling, rafting, fishing, golf, skiing and much much more. Saumane-de-Vaucluse is not far from the legendary Mont Ventoux, the breathtaking Gorges de la Nesque and the two great mountain massifs Plateau de Vaucluse and Montagne de Lubéron.

Saumane-de-Vaucluse is a typical Provençal medieval village with narrow, winding streets, beautiful stone houses, fountains and remains of ancient fortifications. At the top of the town dominates an impressive fortified castle, the Château de Saumane, which was once entrusted to the uncle of the famous French writer Marquis de Sades. The castle dates back to the 12th century and was restored in the 19th century. It is privately owned and unfortunately closed to the public.

At the top of the town there are great views of the surrounding green landscape. On the other side of the castle, a marked hiking trail leads up into the valley and some other nice trails that lead into the forest. Along the route there is a borie house and in the various valleys you can see several poking out between the trees on the hillsides. The ancient dwellings, called bories, are domed stone buildings made of limestone flakes with very thick walls. They date back to the time of the Ligurians and Celts. Not far from Saumane de Vaucluse, just outside the town of Gordes, there is an entire borie village.

There are no shops in Saumane-de-Vaucluse other than a small café at the entrance to the town and no tourist stalls.

Inspiration for your holiday:

Attractions:

12th century Château de Saumane.

Eglise romane from the 12th century.

The remains of the old fortifications.

Castrum Salmana, 12th century castle tower.

Activities in Saumane-de-Vaucluse

There are good 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 tours to other towns in the area, a wealth of less demanding mountain routes and the tough Mont Ventoux.

Golf - There are 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/.

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