Discover Provence
Visiting the region: cultural and architectural places
Provence is a region best known for its cicadas, its sun and its lavender fields, but you can also discover magnificent hilltop villages . The houses there are built of stone in a local architectural tradition : Roussilon, Crillon le brave and Le Barroux are among finest examples.
Surrounded by villages classified among the most beautiful villages in France such as Gordes or Vénasque , you can go to meet history , visit local markets, and enjoy an exceptional nature .
For art-, theater- and architecture lovers, Avignon remains unmissable with its famous bridge , its festival and the Palace of the Popes . Let’s also mention Orange which reveals many Gallo-Roman remains.
Finally, Mazan is a small village of 5,500 inhabitants in the heart of the “Comtat Venaissin”. Dynamic and charming, it has retained some of its ramparts and medieval gates .
For all visits in the region, it is recommended to have a car to get around.
Gorges and rivers
The Toulourenc , a torrential river on the northern flank of Mont Ventoux, delimits the departments of Vaucluse and Drôme.
It is possible to go up the Toulourenc from the village of Veaux. Leave your car near the small bridge at the entrance to the village. Thus, you go up the river for several kilometers and at the exit of the gorges you pass near a Grande Randonnée (GR) path which will bring you back to the starting point in less than an hour's walk.
The ocher pathway and lavender
The ocher trail in Roussillon offers several routes (short or long) allowing you to visit-ballad through this marvelous canyon of colors . Discreet desks mark out your route for explanations on geology, flora, history, the ocher massif of the Luberon...
The trails and the lavender festival (August 15) in Sault will immerse you in the heart of Provençal tradition (20km).
Anyway, many hikes offer very different routes, one of which passes through Mazan (1km).
Terroir: The vineyards and gastronomy of Provence
“A day without wine, a day without sunshine” goes an old saying. Known all over the world, the wines and vineyards of Provence are the prestigious menu of local products: Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes de Venise...
Three appellations share the territory: Côtes du Rhône, AOC Ventoux and AOC Luberon offer a profusion of scents and aromas, which can be discovered in the many estates and cellars, in museums, or even through activities in the vineyard (internships tasting sessions, guided walks in the vineyard or participation in the harvest.)
There are private cellars (9 in Mazan) and many wine cooperatives. The most famous areas a few kilometers away are: Beaumes de Venise, Gigondas, Chateauneuf du Pape, Vacqueyras, and the rosés of Provence.
Also, you can enjoy the Bodega in June, the Tour de France in July , the carnival that animates the village of Mazan during the summer; without forgetting twice a week, the market of local producers and artisans of Provence.
