Mas St Luc - The Area Page

The Area & Region:
Le Barroux sits at the southern edge of the hills between the Dentelles de Montmirail and the hills of Mont Ventoux.

An imposing 12 century chateau dominates this pleasant village perchee. The striking chateau (rebuilt in the 16th century and restored in 1960) gives the village a medieval mood and it is easy to imagine knights and ladies and even dragons!

The truffle market town of Carpentras (atmospherically described by Peter Mayle in A Year in Provence) is a short drive away in the valley below, as are the picturesque villages surrounding Mont Ventoux - Caromb, Beaumes de Venise, Crillon le Brave, Mazan, Malaucene, Vaison la Romaine and Bedouin.

Eating out:
Le Barroux itself has a number of restaurants with Hotel Les Geraniums being the best situated with a wonderful view of the valley. The menu is also excellent!

Le Grand Jardin at Lafare and Les Florets at Gigondas are also highly recommended.

Walking, climbing and mountain biking:
The area is well know for its spectacular walks, climbing and mountain biking in the hills and peaks of the Dentelles. One hiking trail leaves the village to the west, crossing low hills and fields, and branches after about 4 km with one branch continuing west towards Beaumes de Venise and the other going north to the hamlets of La Roque Alric and Lafare (well worth a visit).

Wines and domaines:
The famous wine villages and vineyards of the southern Cotes du Rhone, such as Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Rasteau, Beaumes de Venise (prized for its delicious muscat) and Chateauneuf du Pape and all within easy driving distance.

Markets:
There are markets filled with inviting local produce on the following days:

Beaumes de Venise - Tuesday morning
Orange - Thursday
Vacqueyras - Thursday
Carpentras - Friday morning (huge)

World Heritage sites
- day trips by car:
The region has a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites and there are three within a 40 minute drive of Mas St Luc.

The old centre of Avignon including the Palais des Papes is the first Avignon, with its cultural festival in July, is the second most visited city in France after Paris.

The next World Heritage site is the Gallo-Roman amphitheatre at Orange, dating back to the first century AD. This is an exceptionally atmospheric place to visit as one can imagine the stage productions in Roman times. Today, it is a living theatre with many orchestral and jazz concerts scheduled throughout the summer

The third site is the Pont du Gard, the Roman viaduct over the river Gard. This is part of an aquaduct over 50 kms long which supplied Nimes with water.

And of course, there is Mont Ventoux itself - which has also been named by UNESCO as a world heritage site of environmental importance.

The Cistercian Abbey of Senanque near Gordes is a beautiful sight in summer when the lavender is in full bloom. The tranquil and peaceful abbey, set in the bottom of a sleep valley, is open throughout the year and is a "must see" place to visit together with the nearby village of Gordes.