Auvergne-Rhône Alpes region
Departments: Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Cantal, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Lyon Metropolis, Savoie, Haute-Savoie.
Population: 8 million
Prefecture: Lyon
Area: 69,711 km²
Specialities: Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône and Savoie wines, Lyon specialities (quenelles, cervelles de canut, saucisson, etc.), Auvergne potée, Savoy specialities (raclette, fondue, tartiflettes, diots, crozets), cheeses (Beaufort, Reblochon, Cantal, Bleu d'Auvergne, Salers, Saint-Nectaire, etc.), green lentils from Le Puy, waters (Evian, Thonon, Volvic), verbena, Chartreuse.
Sports clubs: Olympique Lyonnais, AS Saint-Etienne, Clermont Foot 63, Grenoble Foot 38 (football). ASM Clermont, Lyon OU, FC Grenoble, Stade Aurillacois, US Oyonnax (rugby), ASVEL Villeurbanne (basketball), Chambéry (handball), Brûleurs de loup Grenoble, Pionniers de Chamonix (ice hockey)
Competitions: Women's Football World Cup, skiing competitions (Critérium de la Première Neige in Val d'Isère), Tour de France mountain passes, Critérium du Dauphiné.
Economy: (8th European region) cutting-edge industries, automotive (Berliet), metallurgy, rubber, plastics, chemicals, electronics, agri-food, textiles, digital, banking, universities, government, viticulture. Tyres (Michelin). Design. New technologies (Inovallée). Winter and summer tourism.
Festivals: Festival of Lights in Lyon / Nuits de Fourvière in Lyon / Quais du polar in Lyon / Design Biennial in Saint-Etienne / Classical Music Festival in La Chaise-Dieu
Tourist attractions: Old Lyon and Croix-Rousse, Puy-en-Velay Cathedral, Lake Annecy, Chambéry Castle, winter sports in Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie, Cantal, spa resorts, Auvergne volcanoes. Pont d'Arc Cave. Grignan Castle. Grenoble Bastille. Vulcania. Parc des Oiseaux.
Websites and social media: www.auvergnerhonealpes.fr
Drôme (26)
Population: 508,000
Prefecture: Valence
Sub-prefectures: Die and Nyons
Area: 6,530 km²
Specialities: stone fruits, aromatic and medicinal plants, lavender and lavandin, garlic. 19 AOC/AOP labels, including 10 wines, 3 cheeses and 6 other products: Grenoble walnuts, Nyons black olives, Nyons olive oil, Provence olive oil, essential oils from Haute-Provence lavender, Ardèche chestnuts. Drôme products also benefit from 9 red labels and 13 PGIs.
Sports clubs: Drôme HandBall Bourg-de-Péage, Valence HandBall, Team Drôme BMX, Saint Vallier Basket Drôme. Competitions: Critérium du Dauphiné, Drôme Classic (UCI Europe Tour), Corima Drôme Provençale (cycling race), Drômoise (cycling race), Raid VTT les chemins du soleil (international cross-country marathon)
Festivals: Grignan night festivals, Crest Jazz Vocal, Saoû sings Mozart
Economy: 44,300 establishments and 13,000 businesses. Leather and luxury goods, agri-food, transport and logistics, etc.
Main tourist attractions: Crocodile Farm (Pierrelatte), Grignan Castle, Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval (Hauterives)
Websites and social media: www.ladrome.fr / www.ladrometourisme.com /www.facebook.com/ladromeledepartement
Km 0 – Loriol-sur-Drôme (Pop. 6,610)
In 2025, Loriol-sur-Drôme was the starting point for the European Road Cycling Championships time trial, won by Marlen Reusser in the women's event and Remco Evenepoel in the men's.
In October 1939, an internment camp opened in Loriol. Foreigners deemed "undesirable" were imprisoned there. These were 120 to 200 Germans and Austrians who had fled the Nazi regime but were considered potentially dangerous by France because they were enemy subjects. Later, other foreigners were forced to perform hard labour there, such as the painter Max Ernst. A memorial stone commemorates this tragic period.
Among Loriol's famous residents are an Empire general, Amable Guy Blancard, brothers Guillaume and Bertrand Gille, former international handball players, and fencer Jacques Ladègaillerie, silver medallist in épée at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The latter was also mayor of the town between 1995 and 2014.
Km 4.2
Km 4.2 – Cliousclat (Pop. 660)
A very pretty medieval village with narrow streets and vaulted passageways, Cliousclat is also home to several good restaurants. Actor Fabrice Lucchini owns a house here.
Km 6.9
Km 6.9 – Mirmande (Pop. 610)
Mirmande is one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. In the 20th century, agriculture in Mirmande declined due to phylloxera and silkworm disease. The village was revived thanks to the many artists who settled there. André Lhote (1885-1962), a Cubist painter and writer, contributed most to the revival of Mirmande. He discovered the village in 1926 when his car ran out of petrol nearby. During the occupation, many painters, including Guy Marandet, Marcelle Rivier, Alexandre Garbell, Pierre Palué, Gustav Bolin, André Lauran, Charles Rollier and Fédor Löwenstein, found refuge with André Lhote in his house (now a restaurant), and Mirmande became a lively centre of artistic creation. The village is renowned for its resistance activities during the Second World War; a memorial was erected in 1995. Famous volcanologist Haroun Tazieff was mayor of Mirmande between 1979 and 1989.
Sainte-Foy Church in MirmandeConstruction: 13th century.
History: Dedicated to Saint Foy since the 12th century, it was the Romanesque chapel of an Augustinian priory. The church has been remodelled and enlarged several times over the centuries. The ribbed vaulted choir dates from the 13th century. The chapel, located in the southern part, was added in the 15th or 16th century. The bell tower was probably rebuilt in the 15th century. It became a parish church in the 16th century. In the 19th century, it was abandoned in favour of the new church (Saint-Pierre), which was easier to access. André Lhote and Haroun Tazieff worked hard to restore it.
Current use: deconsecrated, it now hosts exhibitions and cultural events.
Listed as: historic monument in 1948
Col de la Grande Limite
This 6.6 km pass with an average gradient of 5% is the main climb of the Drôme Classic, won in 2026 by Romain Grégoire.
Km 17.1
Km 17.1 – Marsanne (population 1,820)
This is the birthplace of Émile Loubet (1838-1929), President of the Republic from 1899 to 1906. A lawyer by profession, he was elected deputy for the Drôme in 1876. After serving as Minister of Public Works, he was President of the Council from February to December 1892. At the same time, he was Minister of the Interior, a position he retained in the first Ribot government. In 1896, he became President of the Senate. In 1899, as the only candidate in the running, he was elected President of the Republic after the sudden death of Félix Faure. His term of office was marked in particular by the end of the Dreyfus affair, the fiches affair, and the passing of the law separating Church and State on the initiative of Aristide Briand. At the end of his seven-year term, he retired from political life in Drôme.
Marsanne is the destination for pilgrims visiting the Notre-Dame de Fresneau sanctuary, where a 17th-century chapel was built by the father of a young woman who regained her sight after an apparition of the Virgin Mary, and a 19th-century sanctuary built to welcome pilgrims.
The ruined bell tower of the 12th-century Saint-Félix Church has been listed as a historic monument since 1926.
Km 21.3
Km 21.3 – La Laupie (Pop. 790)
This pretty hilltop village appeared at the end of the 10th century on a hill overlooking the Roubion, possibly on the remains of a Gallo-Roman oppidum. The church was built around the year 1000. A castle and ramparts were added later. Lords ruled here for centuries. The old village was restored by the inhabitants, with respect for the site, from the mid-1960s to the end of the 1990s. The complex is private but open to the public without restriction. Today, you can admire the remains of the restored castle and, on a promontory, the Saint-Michel chapel (12th century), listed as a historic monument in 1987.
Km 28.3
Km 28.3 – La Bâtie-Rolland (Pop. 1,100)
An ancient stronghold built in the 12th century by Lambert Rolland, who gave his name to the site. At the end of the 19th century, as in other hilltop villages in Drôme, the inhabitants destroyed their houses on the heights to rebuild them on the plain. All that remains are the ruins of the medieval village. Two kilometres from the village, in the cemetery, is the Saint-Andéol Chapel (12th century), listed as a historic monument in 1967.
Km 30
Km 30 – Puygiron (Pop. 430)
The first medieval village was located in Saint-Bonnet, near the Carolingian priory, on the site of a Gallo-Roman villa (Romanesque chapel listed as a historic monument in 1928). This first village was abandoned in the 13th century and the inhabitants took refuge on "le puy" (hill) under the protection of the castle.
Puygiron CastleConstruction: 13th to 16th centuries.
History: the castle, with its four corner towers and restored walls, is owned by the Pontcharra family, descendants of the Banne de Puygiron family. Jean Charles Frédéric du Port, 2nd Marquis de Pontcharra (1767-1854), married Paule-Lucrèce de Banne (1765-1841), sister of Charles-Sébastien de Banne, the last Marquis de Puygiron, on 29 December 1786.
Characteristics: built in the late 12th or early 13th century, it is a rectangular structure flanked by four towers, one of which forms a keep. Nearby is the guard room, with an enormous fireplace and vaults resting on a huge central pillar. An inner courtyard houses a hexagonal Renaissance tower with an ogival door and a spiral staircase.
Listed as: historic monument in 1957.
Km 33.6
Km 33.6 – Espeluche (Pop. 1,130)
The old centre of the village, laid out in a circle, is accessible through two gates. It houses a listed relic, the Lord's Bench, as well as a multitude of architectural curiosities (facades, doors, windows, etc.), traces of a rich history to be discovered as you stroll through its narrow streets. The "Lord's Bench", a stone bench sheltered under the porch of a 15th-century building, was a bench of justice where the local lord passed sentence. Outside the village, Château de Lalo has been partially listed as a historic monument since 1981. It houses a large collection of listed furniture (paintings, religious furniture).
Km 43.7
Km 43.7 – Montjoyer (Pop. 280)
The village's history dates back to the 12th century, with the construction of the Montjoyer Barn by Cistercian monks, founders of the Abbaye Notre-Dame d'Aiguebelle in 1137. This barn was the catalyst for the village's development, which gradually expanded during the 12th and 13th centuries. Montjoyer's medieval past is still visible in its narrow streets, with covered passageways called soustets, as well as in a section of ramparts featuring a gate that was once the entrance to the village.
Montjoyer is home to several monuments of interest, including the imposing church dedicated to Saint Paulin. Built in the 19th century, this church is notable for its remarkable frescoes. Further east, the ruins of the Monlucet keep, located at an altitude of 450 metres, bear witness to the village's ancient fortifications. Outside the village, Aiguebelle Abbey is still home to around thirty monks.
Aiguebelle AbbeyFounded: 1137
Construction: 12th to 19th centuries.
History: it was founded on 26 June 1137, when an abbot came from Morimond with twelve monks, following the Cistercian tradition, to found an abbey on this site. The monks developed the surrounding area, building barns; the nearest one gave rise to the village of Montjoyer. Abandoned during the Revolution, it was re-established by Swiss Trappist monks in 1815. They rebuilt the complex, which had more than 230 monks in 1850.
Characteristics: despite numerous restorations, the abbey has retained most of its medieval conventual buildings: church, cloister, sacristy, chapter house, monks' hall, refectory, kitchen and the entire lay brothers' building. It is the only Cistercian monastery in France, along with Fontfroide Abbey, to have retained the original lay brothers' alleyway.
Current use: the abbey is home to around thirty monks. It also has a bookshop, a shop selling regional and monastic products, and hosts exhibitions and screenings of the film ' ' throughout the year. The abbey is also the site of the Tibhirine Memorial and the Museum of Agricultural Memory.
Km 49.8
Km 49.8 – Grignan (Pop. 1,590)
The history of Grignan, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France since 2019, is inseparable from its castle and the families who have lived there. First mentioned in 1105, the castle town developed in the 13th and 14th centuries under the impetus of the Adhémar de Monteil family. In 1239, the Adhémar de Grignan branch settled permanently in the seigneury. Over the centuries, Grignan evolved: medieval fortifications protected the village until the end of the 15th century, and in the 16th century, suburbs, a grain market and the Saint-Sauveur collegiate church were built. The castle, transformed into a Renaissance palace, reached its peak in the 17th century with François de Castellane Adhémar and the famous correspondence between the Marquise de Sévigné and her daughter, wife of the Count of Grignan. The Saint-Sauveur collegiate church, built in the 16th century, and the Saint-Vincent chapel, embellished in 2013 by the luminous works of Ann Veronica Janssens, are among the town's other treasures.
Grignan CastleConstruction: 15th to 20th century.
Style: Renaissance.
History: perched on a rocky promontory, it is a testament to Renaissance architecture and embodies the region's turbulent history. Mentioned as early as the 11th century as a fortified castle, it was transformed during the Renaissance by the Adhémar family into a sumptuous pleasure palace. In the 17th century, the Marquise de Sévigné stayed there on several occasions when visiting her daughter Françoise-Marguerite. After being partially dismantled during the Revolution, the château was rebuilt at the beginning of the 20th century by its owner, Marie Fontaine, a wealthy heiress from northern France, who devoted her fortune to its restoration.
Current use: since 1979, it has belonged to the Department of Drôme, which is carrying out an ambitious programme of restoration and acquisitions. Listed as a historic monument in 1993 and awarded the Musée de France label, the Château de Grignan is now a true testament to the art of living through the ages and serves as the setting for a rich cultural programme throughout the year.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1993.
Madame de Sévigné
Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, known as the Marquise or Madame de Sévigné, born in 1626 in Paris and died in 1696 at the Château de Grignan, was a French letter writer. The letters she wrote to her daughter, Madame de Grignan, have become an essential part of French literature. They are also a remarkable source for analysing intergenerational relationships and their history. Madame de Sévigné visited Grignan three times, where she admired the views of Mont Ventoux from the castle esplanade. She died there during her third visit, where she had come to care for her daughter Françoise, who was in poor health. She was buried in the Grignan family vault in the Saint-Sauveur collegiate church. Her tomb was desecrated in 1793. Since then, legend has it that her skull was cut in half during an examination to ensure that she was indeed buried there. In 2005, during renovation work, the vault was opened and a skull cut in half was indeed found.
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region
Departments: Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Vaucluse.
Population: 5.2 million inhabitants.
Prefecture: Marseille
Area: 31,400 km²
Specialities: Mediterranean cuisine, pizza, pissaladière, panisses, chichis, bouillabaisse, petits farcis (stuffed vegetable), alouette sans tête (beef rolls), pieds et paquets marseillais (mutton feet and stuffings), salade niçoise, pan bagnat (tuna sandwich), gardiane de taureau (bull’s stew), sea urchins, fish (sea bream, sea bass, red mullet, dentex, marbled seabream, pageots, pagres, sars), wines (rosés from Provence, Côtes de Provence, Côtes du Rhône, Palette, Bandol, etc.)
Sports clubs: Olympique Marseille, OGC Nice (football), Rugby Club Toulon. Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille (swimming).
Competitions: 2024 Olympic Games, football World Cups, Euro 2016 football, Rugby World Cup, rugby test matches, Tour de France cycling race, Paris-Nice, GP La Marseillaise, Classique Haribo, Tour du Haut-Var, Tour de la Provence, beach volleyball, beach football, rugby in Toulon. World pétanque championship in Marseille.
Tourist attractions: beaches and seaside resorts (Saint-Tropez, Nice, Saint-Raphaël, Fréjus, Cassis, Bandol, etc.), Palais des Papes in Avignon, Arles (arenas, Roman ruins), Marseille (Old Port, Panier, calanques, Château d'If, Mucem), Nice (Promenade des Anglais, Old Nice, Old Port), Mont Ventoux, Cannes, ski resorts in the Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-Maritimes (Serre-Chevalier, Le Sauze, Orcières-Merlette, Isola 2000), Briançon (citadel), Aix-en-Provence.
Economy: 7 pc of French GDP, 3rd largest region in France,16th largest in Europe. Agriculture (wine and market gardening), services (80 pc), universities (Aix-Marseille, France's leading university, Nice, Toulon), ports (Marseille, La Ciotat, Nice), petrochemicals (Fos), logistics, Nice and Marseille airports, tourism.
Festivals: Cannes Film Festival, Avignon Festival (theatre), Chorégies d'Orange, Aix-en-Provence Festival (opera), Jazz à Nice, Festival de Marseille (dance). Midem (Cannes), Marsatac (Marseille), Fiesta des Suds (Marseille), Plages électroniques (Cannes), Rencontres d'Arles (photography).
Websites and social media: www.maregionsud.fr
Vaucluse (84)
Population: 562,254
Prefecture: Avignon
Sub-prefectures: Carpentras, Apt
Area: 3,567 km²
Specialities: natural sweet wines (Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Rasteau, Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Ventoux, Côtes du Luberon), olive oil, goat's cheese (Banon, Picodon), Sault lavender, Ventoux pork, Cavaillon melon, Sault lamb, Monts de Venasque cherries, Comtat cherries, candied cherries, honey, einkorn wheat
Sports clubs: 81 cycling clubs (road cycling, cycle touring, mountain biking, BMX)
Competitions: Tour de France, Critérium du Dauphiné, Tour cycliste féminin international de l'Ardèche
Festivals: the Avignon In and Off Festivals (since 1947), Chorégies d’Orange (the oldest French festival, created in 1869), Vaison Danses, Choralies in Vaison, Festival des nuits de l'Enclave in Grillon, Richerenches, Valréas and Visan (theatre, painting, sculpture), Les soirées d’été Festival in Gordes, Tremplin jazz in Avignon, Festival de Lacoste (theatre and opera), Musicales du Luberon (classical music).
Economy: agri-food industry "Vaucluse, the garden of France", tourism, construction and public works, crafts, trade
Websites and social media: www.vaucluse.fr / www.provenceguide.com / www.provence-a-velo.fr
Km 53.9
Km 53.9 – Grillon (Pop. 1,690)
The Vialle district, the birthplace of the village of Grillon, is a prime example of feudal urban planning. Founded in the 12th century, the castle that stands there was a bastion of security, protected by imposing ramparts. Over time, the village developed around this fortification. The evolution of the village was marked by key events, such as the construction of the new church in 1869, the construction of the railway station in 1896, and the transfer of the town hall and school in 1900, which led to the decline of the Vialle.
Vialle de GrillonConstruction: 14th to 20th centuries.
History: Vialle de Grillon is the original and historic district of the village, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is located at the top of a hill overlooking the Lez valley. The campaign to protect the site, then in ruins, was launched in 1971 by architect Georges-Henri Pingusson, who was on holiday in the region. It was not listed as a historic monument until 1978, shortly before the death of its initiator. During this period, Georges-Henri Pingusson renovated the houses and created 18 social housing units.
Characteristics: this complex consists of four houses, including Maison des Trois Arcs, Maison du Boulanger and Maison Milon, which has been converted into a municipal library, and a belfry (14th to 19th centuries).
Listed as: historic monument in 1978. 20th-century heritage.
Km 58.3
Km 58.3 – Richerenches (Pop. 490)
In the heart of the Enclave des Papes and seat of a former Templar commandery, Richerenches is also known for its wines, labelled as Côtes-du-Rhône. But the village is above all considered the European capital of quality truffles: its truffle market is the largest in Europe in terms of quantity sold. Opened in 2008 with a ritual truffle ban ceremony in mid-November, it once again attracts international media attention during the truffle mass celebration in mid-January. Open to catering professionals, brokers, merchants, canners and individuals, Richerenches has been awarded the label "Capital of Quality Truffles" by the National Council of Culinary Arts.
Commanderie de RicherenchesConstruction: 12th century.
History: the commandery was founded in 1136 by Templar brother Arnaud de Bedos, who was tasked with exploring Provence in search of land and recruits. The locality of Ricarensis was given to him by the local lord Hugues de Bourbouton. The Order of the Temple had a fortified farm and a chapel built there, which was completed in 1147. In 1138, Richerenches became a commandery governing many other houses in Provence. Richerenches was then renowned for the quality of its war horses, almost all of which were sent to the Holy Land. When the Knights Templar were dissolved, the land was given to the Hospitallers of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and then to the Pope in 1320.
Special feature: adjacent to the commandery, the house known as Maison des Notaires (Barristers House - 18th century) has been listed as a historic monument since 1984 and is undergoing restoration financed by the Fondation de France.
Current use: the Templar farm has been converted into a Gîte de France holiday cottage.
Listed as: historic monument in 1984.
Km 64.3
Km 64.3 – Visan (Pop. 1,860)
Visan is one of four Vaucluse communes in the canton of Valréas enclosed within the Drôme department (the papal enclave). It is one of 16 communes entitled to use the Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages AOC designation. The village is surrounded by hills covered with vineyards, which play an important role in the local economy.
The village has preserved a rich civil and religious heritage (church, chapels, farms, Hôtel-Dieu, mansions). Former academician Max Gallo (1932-2017) had a house in Visan.
Chapel of Notre-Dame des VignesConstruction: 18th century.
History: the first Romanesque church is mentioned in the 12th century. In 1731, the Dominicans settled in Notre-Dame-des-Vignes. They remained there and the preaching friars built the convent that still stands on the ruins of the Romanesque chapel. Since 1975, a community of Dominican nuns has lived in the convent next to the chapel.
Distinguishing feature: it remains a place of pilgrimage for the Confrérie Saint-Vincent de Visan (Brotherhood of Saint Vincent of Visan) which, during its summer chapter, has a vine blessed, known as a souco in Provençal, in the hope of a good harvest.
Listed as: historic monument in 1990.
Butscher House or Bulle HouseConstruction: 20th century.
History: this is an organic house known as a bubble house, built between 1978 and 1987, partly by its owner Claude Butscher himself, based on a design by architects Touche and Chambon. The house uses a double concrete shell sprayed onto a metal mesh frame assembled by Joël Unal, a specialist in this technique. The front door is the work of visual artist Roger Groslon.
Current use: the Bubble House association organises cultural and festive events throughout the year at the Maison Bulle. Visits are possible by appointment.
Listed as: historic monument in 2011.
Km 71.9
Km 71.9 – Buisson (Pop. 250)
The vineyard produces Côtes-du-Rhône wines. Buisson was the first wine-growing commune in the world to have all its plots computerised. This operation was carried out jointly by the BRGM in Orléans and the University of Wine in Suze-la-Rousse on the commune's 1,000 hectares and the vineyard's 350 hectares.
Km 77.2
Km 77.2 – Roaix (Pop. 630)
The village was the seat of a Templar commandery dependent on that of Riverenches (see above). Roaix is one of sixteen municipalities that have the right to add their name to the Côtes-du-Rhône Villages AOC.
Km 81.4
Km 81.4 – Séguret (Pop. 770)
The commune is a member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France association. The village, known for its Côtes-du-Rhône and Séguret wines, is built at the foot of a hill topped by its ruined feudal castle. It has preserved an interesting medieval heritage (feudal castle, ancient gates, sloping streets), the jewel in the crown of which is the Mascarons fountain, listed as a historic monument in 1984.
Km 83.3
Km 83.3 – Sablet (Pop. 1,440)
The terroir of the Sablet AOC was labelled as Côtes-du-Rhône villages in 1974. It consists of hills of saffre, yellow sand with irregular sandstone formation dating from the Helvian period. This is what gave Sablet its name. The village has become famous in the world of contemporary literature thanks to the Sablet Book Day, which has been held on the last weekend of July since 1988.
Dentelles de Montmirail
Dentelles de Montmirail is a mountain range that marks the western boundary of the Monts de Vaucluse. It is located north of Carpentras, south of Vaison-la-Romaine and west of Mont Ventoux. Its highest point is Crête de Saint-Amand at an altitude of 722 metres. The massif, which is about eight kilometres long, is world-renowned for its climbing walls. Located in the heart of the Côtes-du-Rhône appellation, it has built a reputation for the quality of its wines, which has led to the development of wine tourism. It is also renowned for its AOC-protected olive oil and the quality of its truffles.
Km 90
Km 90 – Vacqueyras (Pop. 1,180)
Vacqueyras is one of the most renowned appellations in the Côtes-du-Rhône. Thanks to its remarkable terroir, which descends from the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail to the high scrublands of rounded pebbles, this vineyard produces red, rosé and white wines. Their vinification is carried out by a group of producers and by independent wineries (35 in total).
The most notable figure in the village's history is Raimbaud de Vacqueyras, one of the greatest troubadours of the Middle Ages, who divided his career between Provence and Montferrat and died during a crusade in Thessaloniki.
Km 93.9
Km 93.9 – Beaumes-de-Venise (Pop. 2,440)
This fiefdom became the second barony of the Comtat Venaissin after Sérignan-du-Comtat: it was ruled by the Agoult family in the 13th century, then by the Bedos, the Astorg de Peyre and, finally, the Fortia families until the Revolution. It was elevated to a duchy at the end of the 18th century by Pope Pius VI. Thanks to the introduction of American vine varieties resistant to phylloxera, table grape and wine production boomed in the 20th century. Production of the famous Beaumes de Venise Muscat wine was revived thanks to the appellation obtained in 1943, followed by the Côtes-du-Rhône appellation in 1956 and the Beaumes-de-Venise red appellation in 2005.
The town has hosted the Critérium du Dauphiné several times and saw Miguel Indurain win in 1996 in an individual time trial and Djamolidine Abdoujaparov win the sprint the following year. In 2001, it was the starting point for a time trial won in Valréas by Jonathan Vaughters. In 1999, the Critérium International made a stop there and saw Stéphane Barthe raise his arms in victory.
Chapel of Notre-Dame d'AubuneConstruction: 11th to 13th century.
Style: Romanesque.
History: the chevet and bell tower date from the Romanesque period: the chevet is characteristic of early Romanesque art (11th century) while the bell tower dates from the early 13th century. The chapel was restored in the 17th century after the Wars of Religion: the hermitage dates from this period. The building underwent major restoration work in 2007.
Anecdote: Legend has it that Charlemagne - or Charles Martel - built this chapel after winning a battle against the Moors at a place called the Saracen Cemetery. The devil detached a rock from the hill to crush the chapel, but the Virgin Mary stopped the stone.
Listed as: historic monument in 1910.
Km 109.8
Km 109.8 – Malaucène (Pop. 3,000)
At the foot of Mont Ventoux, Malaucène hosted a stage of the 2021 Tour de France men's race, which included two climbs up the Giant of Provence and was won by the formidable Wout Van Aert, who won three stages that year. The climb up Ventoux can be tackled from this town, from Bédoin, where the legendary climb begins, or from Sault (the easiest route). It was via Malaucène that Ventoux was climbed for the first time in the Tour de France in 1951 during the Montpellier-Avignon stage, won by Louison Bobet. This northern ascent, considered less difficult than the one starting from Bédoin (the southern ascent), was not used again by the men's Tour until 1972, when Bernard Thévenet won. A former track cyclist from Gâtinais, Gabriel Viratelle took part in the 1934 Tour de France and settled in Vaucluse, where he died in Malaucène in 1971.
Chapel of Notre-Dame du GroseauConstruction: 12th century.
Style: Romanesque.
History: this chapel is the only remaining vestige of the Groseau monastery, founded in 684 by Petronius, Bishop of Vaison-la-Romaine. The monastery was destroyed in 739, then rebuilt in 1032. The chapel was rebuilt in 1150. This monastery was one of Pope Clement V's favourite retreats during his stay in Provence.
Listed as: historic monument in 1862.
Saint-Michel ChurchConstruction: 13th and 18th centuries.
Style: Gothic.
History: construction began at the end of the 13th century, attributed to Pope Clement V. The Great Western Schism and the Wars of Religion left Provence in a state of political and religious instability. This period of uncertainty had consequences for Malaucène, which fortified its church. In 1560, the main door was walled up and a door was built on the north façade. The church was finally enlarged at the beginning of the 18th century. The nave was extended by a fifth bay and the choir with ambulatory was built. At the end of the 18th century, the two sides of the roof gave the church its final shape. This building retains the principle of single-nave churches with a broken barrel vault, which are common in Provence.
Listed as: historic monument in 1982.
Km 116.1
Km 116.1 – Le Barroux (Pop. 640)
Pleasant village nested at the foot of its massive castle.
Château du BarrouxFounded: 12th century
Style: medieval fortified castle, converted to Renaissance style in the 16th century.
Characteristics: defensive in nature, this castle with its refined silhouette nevertheless has multiple embrasures in its walls, preparing it for possible sieges by Saracen or Italian invaders.
Trivia: occupied during the Second World War, the castle was deliberately set on fire by German troops as they left.
Current use: tourist attraction, also open for exhibitions on the history of the castle and cultural events. Its owners have launched their own whisky production.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1963
Km 122.1
Km 122.1 – Bédoin (Pop. 3,100)
Tourism is a key part of the local economy, thanks to the fame of Mont Ventoux. The winegrowers of Bédoin cultivate around 818 hectares of vineyards with the AOC Côtes du Ventoux and Vin de Pays appellations. The climatic and geological characteristics of the commune give these wines their distinctive character. Bédoin has a cooperative winery (Les Vignerons du Mont Ventoux) as well as various estates (Galinier, As des Sœurs, Le Van, La Grange de Maximin). Fruit orchards are another important part of agriculture, providing the third largest source of income after wine. Red cherry production is widespread in the commune, along with apricots, plums and figs. Olive trees have been producing oil since the 18th century, but the frost of February 1956 greatly reduced production. Since March 2007, oil from Bédoin and Caromb has been awarded the regional AOC Huile de Provence designation. Bédoin has been the start and finish of stages in the Paris-Nice and Critérium du Dauphiné cycling races for stages in Ventoux. Winner of the 1984 Tour of Spain, Eric Caritoux is a winegrower in Flassan, 6 km from Bédoin.
Chapel of La MadeleineFounded: 11th century
Style: Romanesque
Characteristics: small basilica-style building, made of irregular rubble stone, with a rectangular floor plan. Topped by a 12th-century square bell tower with a rather unusual layout.
Current use: private chapel open to visitors at weekends.
Listed as: historic monument in 1947.
Km 137.8
Km 137.8 – Le Chalet Reynard
A rustic chalet located on Mont Ventoux at an altitude of 1,440 m, serving traditional cuisine and local specialities including truffles... It has served as the finish line for several Ventoux climbs: in 2016, due to weather conditions at the summit where the Mistral wind was blowing at over 100 km/h, the finish of the 12th stage of the Tour de France was moved there and the stage was won by Thomas de Gendt, while Yellow Jersey holder Chris Froome improvised a memorable forced jog towards the finish. In February 2020, climbed from the Bédoin side, the chalet was the finish line for the 3rd stage of the Tour de la Provence, won by Nairo Quintana.