Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NORTH OF AVIGNON
The vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are world-renowned and extend north of Avignon
to Orange, a small city which is famous for big Roman antiquities. Just east, Vaison-la-Ro-
maine is also rich in ancient treasures, its narrow medieval streets an adventure to explore.
Just beyond lie the compact, saw-toothed Dentelles de Montmirail mountains, with small
villages known for great wines. Lording over all rises windswept Mont Ventoux,
Provence's mighty mountain, a magnet for bicyclists and recognised the world over from
the Tour de France.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
POP 2168
Carpets of vineyards unfurl around tiny, medieval Châteauneuf-du-Pape, epicentre of one
of the world's great wine-growing regions. Only a small ruin remains of the château, once
the summer residence of Avignon's popes, dismantled for stone after the Revolution, and
ultimately bombed by Germans in WWII. Now it belongs to picnickers and day hikers,
who ascend the hill for 360-degree panoramas of the Rhône Valley. It's an ideal half-day
trip for wine-tasting and lunch before continuing to Orange.
Sights & Activities
The tourist office (
Click here
)
has a brochure detailing which wineries allow visits and of-
fer tastings, their fees, and whether they offer English-language tours. Some wineries re-
quire appointments: if you're set on some place specific, call ahead.
A car is easiest, but the tourist office also has a brochure detailing a 16km
walking cir-
cuit
. Alternatively, hire a bicycle or trot in a
horse-drawn carriage
( 04 90 70 88 42;
la.rebousse@wanadoo.fr; 583 chemin St-Laurent, Courthézon)
.
WINE TASTING
Caves du Verger des Papes
( 04 90 83 58 08;
www.vergerdespapes.com
; 4 montée du Château; free tastings;
10am-4pm Tue-Sun Feb-mid-Dec)
Beneath the town's namesake château, these small,
magnificent wine caves date back 2000 years. The bar carries 80 of the town's 250 labels,
with vertical tastings (same vineyard, different years). The prices are excellent with bottles
ranging from €19 to €90. English is spoken.
