Discover Villes-Sur-Auzon: village history at Mont Ventoux

If you are looking for a hotel in Villes-sur-Auzon, you can choose where to stay based on the themes you want to shape your trip: village history, routes through the countryside, cycling or agriculture. The Provençal village lies at the foot of Mont Ventoux and at the entrance to the Gorges de la Nesque. Old fountains, narrow streets, squares and plane trees are part of its townscape, alongside ochre-colored soils, vineyards and cherry trees.

Village history between narrow streets and gorge

The Grand Portail is the only surviving gate of Villes-sur-Auzon's former fortified enclosure. Its pediment is made of dressed stone. A walking tour with historical information panels leads through various neighborhoods and explains their history and changes over the centuries. This offers insights into the village's history not only through a single building, but also through its different neighborhoods. The village church features another architectural detail: its inscription reads “République Française.”

The setting at the entrance to the Gorges de la Nesque and the village's history offer two different perspectives on Villes-sur-Auzon: one leads to traces of earlier settlement and development, the other to a landscape shaped by gorges and slopes. Those who include both in their travel plans will find a range of themes in the village and its surroundings, without combining them into a single walking tour.

Routes with different focuses

The marked Sentier de découverte runs near the stadium through mountain vegetation and past traces of human activity in the landscape. Information panels accompany the route. The Sentier des citernes, by contrast, focuses on water: the route can start in the village and leads through slopes and gorges where numerous rainwater-fed cisterns can be discovered. The two routes therefore differ mainly in their themes—landscape and traces of human activity on one, cisterns and their setting in the terrain on the other.

Another route leads to historic charcoal-burning sites, but has a different starting point: the Sentier des charbonnières begins about 8 km from Villes-sur-Auzon on the D1 road toward Sault. There are about twenty historic charcoal-burning sites along the route, which also offers views of the landscape. When planning, this distance is a useful distinction from routes that can start in the village or run near the stadium.

Cycling and climbing at Mont Ventoux

Villes-sur-Auzon is 25 km by road from the summit of Mont Ventoux. The actual climb is 18 km long, with an average gradient of 10%. If you are considering this cycling route, check conditions and access before setting out. Another cycling route described here runs through the Gorges de la Nesque to the Belvédère. It is 38 km for the round trip, involves 400 meters of elevation gain and offers views down into the gorge. The distance and elevation figures allow you to compare the two routes directly, although they do not follow the same course or present the same challenge.

The Combe de l’Ermitage natural climbing area lies near Villes-sur-Auzon and is suitable for both beginners and experienced climbers. It has 83 routes graded from 4c to 8a, spread across two sectors. The number of routes and grades may change as the area develops.

Wine, grapes and cherries

Cherries, table grapes and wine grapes are part of Villes-sur-Auzon's agricultural profile. The grapes are marketed under AOC and AOP designations. The village is also at the heart of AOC Ventoux wine and table grape production. Every year at the end of September, table grapes are celebrated at the Muscat des Terrasses grape festival. This link between farming and a recurring festival is as much a part of the village's character as its historic neighborhoods and the routes through the surrounding landscape.

Discover more destinations: Caderousse, Cheval-Blanc, Lauris, Goult, Jonquières, Sérignan-Du-Comtat, Flassan, Caromb.

For the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.