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The Region

 

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. 

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. 
 

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.  

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.

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.
A visit to the Pont du Gard, the 2000 year old Roman aqueduct, makes an excellent day trip from Beaumes de Venise. 
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.
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. 

 

From Gordes travel to Roussillon, a very busy, but delightful village with houses decorated in the ochres that were once mined on the site.

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.

 

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. 
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.
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. 
To the north, there are impressive chateaux at Grignan and Suze-la Rousse and the countryside around Nyons is covered with olive groves.

There are countless charming little villages dotted around the region and finding your own favourites is part of the charm of visiting Provence.