Our guide
Looking for Provençal sunshine, hilltop villages and car-free escapes? Then you’ll love the Vaucluse! Just two hours from Paris by TGV, Avignon is the ideal gateway: wander between the Palais des Papes, the Pont Saint-Bénézet and the UNESCO-listed ramparts before heading off to Orange and its ancient theatre, another World Heritage jewel.
Culture & heritage: the département overflows with treasures. In Avignon, the buzz of the summer festival blends with eight centuries of papal history. Farther north, Orange’s theatre and triumphal arch catapult you back to Roman times. Exploring by regional train or bus, you’ll also uncover Carpentras and its 14th-century synagogue, the Gallo-Roman ruins of Vaison-la-Romaine, and seven villages ranked among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France” – Gordes, Roussillon, Séguret, Ansouis, Lourmarin, Ménerbes and Venasque – perched or nestled amid the vines.
Nature: welcome to the land of UNESCO biospheres! To the north, Mont Ventoux, the “Giant of Provence”, protects 90,000 ha of landscapes ranging from garrigue to forest. To the south, the Luberon Regional Nature Park is both a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO Global Geopark. Between the two, the jagged cliffs of the Dentelles de Montmirail tower over vineyards and villages, while the flamboyant ochres of Roussillon create an almost surreal backdrop. Fans of gentle mobility can follow the Via Venaissia, the “Around the Luberon by bike” loop or the greenways along the Rhône: more than 65 km of greenway for the Via Venaissia alone, plus dozens of other routes listed in the “La Provence à vélo” app. Canoeing on the Sorgue, hiking along the Ventoux ridges, outdoor climbing… Provençal nature can be savoured all year round.
Taste buds: here, flavour is king! From November to March, the black-truffle market scents Carpentras’ Place Aristide-Briand. In spring, Carpentras strawberries and Venasque cherries brighten the stalls. All year long, AOC wines – Gigondas, Vacqueyras and the unmissable Châteauneuf-du-Pape – pair perfectly with local olive oil and goat cheeses. Food lovers are spoilt for choice: Vaucluse boasts 12 Michelin-starred restaurants in the 2025 Guide, several of which also hold a Green Star for their sustainable commitments. On the accommodation side, around twenty addresses carry the Green Key or “Accueil Vélo” label.
In short, between papal heritage, UNESCO biospheres, wine routes and zero-carbon itineraries, Vaucluse invites you to experience Provence the slow way: breathe, pedal, taste… and repeat.
