Page 513 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

Seemingly endless rows
9 of vines at Châteauneuf-
Mont Ventoux du-Pape, with some of
the resulting wine (inset)
! F6 ⌂ Vaucluse
~ Avignon £ Avignon
@ Carpentras n Avenue
de la Promenade, Sault- in bad weather. At other times,
en-Provence; www. though, the spectacular views
from the top make the effort
ventoux-sud.com
very worthwhile.
The name Mont Ventoux
means “Windy Mountain” in Wine festivals punctuate the
the Provençal language, and it 10 year, including the Fête de la
really does hint at conditions Véraison in August, when the
visitors might expect up there, Châteauneuf- du-Pape grapes start to ripen, and the
but, at 1,912 m (6,273 ft), it’s ! F6 ⌂ Vaucluse wonderful Châteauneuf-du-
also known as “the giant of £ Sorgues, then taxi Pape Spring Wine Fair, hosted
Provence”. A variety of flora @ From Avignon or Orange by local growers.
and fauna may be found on n 3 rue de la République;
the lower slopes, but only moss www.chateauneuf-du-
survives at the summit, where pape-tourisme.fr FÊTE DE LA
the temperature can drop to VÉRAISON
-27° C (-17° F). The bare white Here, in the 14th century, Chateuneuf-du-Pape
scree at the peak makes it the popes of Avignon chose celebrates its medieval
look snow capped even in the to build a new castle (château roots and its fabulous
depths of summer. neuf) and plant the vineyards wines with the annual
The legendary British cyclist from which one of the finest Fête de la Véraison, on
Tommy Simpson died during wines of the Côtes du Rhône the first weekend of
1967’s Tour de France on Mont is produced. These days, August. Highlights of
Ventoux. In spite of this, it almost every doorway in this the event include a
remains a popular challenge attractive little town seems to grand medieval-style
for some cyclists, and guided open into a vigneron’s cellar banquet, a huge bonfire
rides are available from local where tastings – and, if you’re party on the place de la
tour operators. A road leads lucky, some worthwhile Fontaine, a medieval
upward to the radio beacon bargains – may be offered. market, complete with
pinnacle, but even in a car the After the Wars of Religion, costumed jongleurs
trip should not be attempted all that remained of the papal and troubadours, and a
fortress were a few fragments lively procession by re-
of walls and tower, but the enactors dressed in the
ruins look spec tacular and period costumes of the
Preparing to enjoy the offer magnificent views across Avignon pontiffs and
perfect acoustics in the to Avignon and the Vaucluse their courtiers.
Roman Theatre at Orange uplands beyond.
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