Page 165 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

V A UCL USE  163

3 A Tour of the Dentelles

Dentelle means “lace”, and the Dentelles de Montmirail
is the name of the 15-km (9-mile) range of hills that
form a lacework of delicate peaks. Not as high or
rugged as they initially seem, the Dentelles have good
paths and offer some of the most accessible, enjoyable
mountain walks in Provence. The paths are bright with
broom and flanked by pines, oaks and wild almond
trees. When you have had your fill of the stunning Muscat grapes outside Beaumes-de-Venise
scenery, enjoy fine Côtes du Rhône wines and delicious
goat’s cheese produced in the picturesque villages 1 Vaison-la-Romaine
tucked into the folds of the Dentelles. A chic town, favoured by
wealthy Parisians, Vaison
Valreas
is built on separate Roman
and medieval sites. Among
its many attractions are
the cathedral with
its 6th-century
sarcophagus of
healer St Quenin,
and a Roman-
Crestet esque chapel.
Gigondas vineyard
Séguret
6 Gigondas
The local red wine
is highly regarded
and its producers
include the master-
chef Roux brothers.
The Counts of
Orange built the
14th-century Dentelles de 2 Malaucène
château. Montmirail This former Huguenot strong-
hold has a clock tower, originally
built as a watchtower during the
Wars of Religion (see pp50–51).
Lafare 3 Le Barroux
Surrounded by olive
and apricot trees,
Montmirail
this tiny village
is overlooked by
Orange a 12th-century
Avignon château, once a
stronghold of the lords
of Baux. It has fine views.
5 Vacqueyras
The home of the famous 4 Beaumes-de-Venise
troubadour, Raimbaud, This is a town of many
who died on a Crusade, this restaurants, and the home Tips for Drivers
village has a church with of Muscat, the town’s famous
a 6th-century baptistry. Tour length: 50 km (30 miles).
fortified sweet white dessert Stopping off points: The hilltop
wine, which can be enjoyed village of Crestet; Lafare, a hamlet
with lunch or dinner.
leading to the 627-m (2057-ft)
Key Rocher du Turc; and Montmirail,
a 19th-century spa resort visited
Tour route 0 kilometres 2
by Mistral. (See also pp250–51.)
Other roads 0 miles 2
For additional map symbols see back flap