Comtat Venaissin
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Through the County This itinerary leas you through the County Plain and its varied agricultural landscapes: strawberries, asparagus, vineyards... Not forgetting a short visit to the historic cities of the Venaissin County: Pernes-les-Fontaines, its fountains, the old market and castle, private mansions, the donjon tower and Carpentras, its synagogue, the Roman arch, the fortified gateway Porte d'Orange, the cathedral, chapels, the remarkable library and old hospital. |
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Perched Villages This ride starts from the village of Saint Didier and takes you to the foothills of the Monts de Vaucluse, through magnificent panoramic views of Mont Ventoux and the surrounding cultivated fields – vineyards, the cherry orchards producing the Monts de Venasque cherries, almond trees, and the villages of La Roque-sur-Pernes, Le Beaucet, Venasque. These villages were built up high on the rocks offering protection over time. |
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Around the canal The cycling itinerary around the Carpentras Canal is an absolute must for anyone who wants to explore and understand the Comtat Venaissin. The canal is very central to the area and holds the key to understanding the landscapes around you. From the town of Carpentras to Beaumes de Venise, from the Comtat plain to the foothills of the Dentelles de Montmirail range and Mont Ventoux, water is the main thread stitching together a society whose history is marked by judicious water management and the creation of engineering works. |
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Comtat's vineyards The road through the Comtadin vineyards winds amidst famous AOC Côtes du Rhône vines and AOC Côtes du Ventoux vineyards. Vineyards are not the only point of interest in the countryside on this circuit. Here you will also see the by-pass channel for the Carpentras canal – further testimony to the very sacred nature of water in Provence. The water management structures built in the past gave rise to very prosperous fruit and vegetable farming and orchards, in particular strawberry and cherry, which have shaped the fate of this area. |
