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The Region
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Beaumes
de Venise is located in the beautiful Vaucluse region of Provence with
countless places to see and things to do within easy reach.
The
Dentelles de Montmirail are an interesting and dramatic geological
formation which runs between Beaumes de Venise and Vaison-la-Romaine.
While not exceeding 400m in height their jagged peaks provide a scenic
backdrop and a range of walking tracks, some starting just outside our
back door.
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Dotted
around the lower slopes of the Dentelles are the côte du Rhone wine
villages such as Gigondas, Sablet, Séguret, Vacqueyras, and of
course Beaumes de Venise itself, known for its muscat. |
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Vaison-la-Romaine
is a very attractive town, about 16km from Beaumes de Venise. It has
extensive roman remains and museum, an elevated medieval village with
ruined chateau, and a bustling modern town centre.
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The
scenic route from Beaumes de Venise to Vaison-la-Romaine via Malaucene has
lovely views across, and from, the Dentelles.
Vaison-la-Romaine has a large market
every Tuesday morning. |
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Avignon
is just 30kms from Beaumes de Venise and is a bustling city of around
100,000 people, with its old town totally enclosed by intact
medieval walls, and renowned for its festival in July each year. The town
is dominated by the Papal Palace, but has many charms, including its
largely pedestrianised shopping streets and, of course, the Pont
Saint Benedict. Across the Rhone, Villeneuve les Avignon offers great views
of Avignon but is also worth visiting to see the Chartreuse, the Fort
Saint-Andre, and the Tour Philippe le Bel. |
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A visit
to the Pont du Gard, the 2000 year old Roman aqueduct, makes an excellent
day trip from Beaumes de Venise. |
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Only 15km
from the Pont du Gard, Uzès is a lovely town for a relaxed stroll, maybe staying for lunch in
the shaded Place aux Herbes. Continue to Nimes to see the spectacular roman arena and the Maison Carré,
before returning to Beaumes de Venise. |
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Another
suggestion is to spend a day in the Luberon. Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is
worth visiting for the source of the river Sorgue, and to climb to
the ruined chateau.
Continue to Gordes for spectacular views of the
village, and the provencal countryside.
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From Gordes travel to Roussillon,
a very busy, but delightful village with houses decorated in the ochres
that were once mined on the site. |
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Also in this area, but
warranting a separate trip are the Abbey de Sénanque and the villages of
the Petit Luberon, such as Menerbes and Bonnieux, popularised by the books
of Peter Mayle.
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Another great day trip
is to visit St Rèmy, and the nearby roman ruins at Glanum, continuing to
les-Baux-de-Provence for lovely views and impressive hilltop ruins. |
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Arles
should also be seen for its arena, roman museum, and of course for its Van
Gogh connection. While in the area, see the ruins of the Abbey de
Montmajour. |
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If you
are fortunate enough to be in Provence when the lavender is in flower, a
trip to Sault is a must for lovely views. On this trip be sure to travel one
way via the Gorges of the Nesque river, a winding but spectacular road. |
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To the north, there
are impressive chateaux at Grignan and Suze-la Rousse and the countryside
around Nyons is covered with olive groves. |
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There are countless
charming little villages dotted around the region and finding your own
favourites is part of the charm of visiting Provence.
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