Page 166 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

164  PROVENCE AREA B Y AREA

4Mont Ventoux
Road map C2. k Avignon. * 3,000.
@ n Ave de la Promenade, Sault-
en-Provence (04 90 64 01 21).
∑ ventoux- en-provence.com
The “Giant of Provence” is the
dominant feature west of the
Alps, a limestone massif which
reaches 1,912m (6,242 ft). It is
easy to reach the car park at the
top, unless there is deep snow,
which can last until April. The
snowline starts at 1,300 m
(4,265 ft), but the limestone
scree of its summit forms
a year-round white cap.
Until 1973 there was a motor
race on the south side of Mont
Ventoux, to the top: speeds
reached up to 145 km/h
(90 mph). A car rally takes place
in Bedoin in June. The roads
have gradually improved and
the worst hairpins are now Summit of Mont Ventoux during the Mistral season
ironed out, but the mountain
roads are often included as a The mountain is often windy rise at the summit. The 21-km
gruelling stage on the Tour de and its name comes from the (13-mile) road from Malaucène
France. Britain’s cyclist Tommy French word (vent) for wind. passes the 12th-century
Simpson suffered a fatal heart When the northerly Mistral Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-
attack here in 1967. blows, it can almost lift you out Groseau and the Source
It takes around five hours to of your boots. But the winds dry Vauclusienne, a deep pool
walk to the summit of Mont the moisture in the sky, painting tapped for an aqueduct by the
Ventoux. Petrarch (see p49) it a deep blue colour Romans. The ski centre at
made the first recorded journey and leaving behind Mt Serein is based 5 km
from Malaucène at dawn one clear vistas. (3 miles) from the
day in May in 1336. As there There are three summit. A viewing
were no roads then, it took starting points for table at the peak
him a great deal longer. a walking tour of helps to discern
the mountain: the Cévennes,
Malaucène, on the Luberon and
the north slopes, Ste-Victoire.
Bedoin to the Monument to cycling hero Descending,
south and Sault Tommy Simpson the road passes the
to the east. Col des Tempêtes,
Another direct route for hikers known for its stormy weather.
is from Brantes on the northeast The ski centre of Le Chalet-
side, up the Toulourenc valley. Reynard is at the junction
The first two towns both have to Sault and les Gorges de
Engraving of rally motor car ascending tourist offices that organize la Nesque, and St-Estève has
Mont Ventoux (1904) guided hikes to see the sun fine views over the Vaucluse.

Provençal Flowers
Because the temperature on
Mont Ventoux drops between the
foot and the summit by around
11° C (20° F), the vegetation alters
from the lavender and peach
orchards of the plain via the oak,
beech and conifer woodlands to the
arctic flowers towards the summit. Early purple orchid Alpine poppy Trumpet gentian
June is the best month for flowers. Orchis mascula Papaver rhaeticum Gentiana clusii

For hotels and restaurants in this region see p201 and pp215–16