“LE LOFT DES ANTIQUAIRES”
is an ideal base from which to discover
the fabulous natural, architectural and cultural heritage of Provence.
THE
TOWNS OF PROVENCE: TOWNS OF GREAT CHARACTER
Villages near
l'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
- Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
- a 7 km/10 min drive: an exceptional site, where the Sorgue spurts
out from underground and becomes a waterfall at the foot of an
unbelievably stunning cliff.
- Saumane-de-Vaucluse - a 7 km/10
min journey: built on a high rock, this 14th century castle
and village (where the marquis d Sade lived as a child) dominates the
Sorgues countryside, and offers spectacular views
The villages of the Luberon, listed among
“the Most Beautiful Villages in France”
· Gordes: an
18 km/20 min trip: This hilltop village, built out of stone is an unmissable
stop during your visit of Provence (the castle, Abbey of Sénanque, Village des
Bories...)
· Roussillon: a 25 km/30 min drive: a colourful hilltop village, on top of the largest
deposit of ochre in Europe
· Ménerbes: a 18 km/20 min drive: a hill-top village. Its château overlooks
the Luberon plain.
· Lourmarin: a 45 km/1h trip: the village and its 15th century
(Renaissance) castle reach out into the valley, at the foot of the Luberon
hills.
· Ansouis: a 48 km/1h trip: hilltop village, 30
km from Aix-en-Provence. Its 1,000-year-old château dominates the Durance
valley.
· And not to be missed the other villages unlisted: Bonnieux, Buoux, Goult, Lacoste, Oppède,
Rustrel…
The villages at the base of the Mont-Ventoux,
classified among “the Most Beautiful Villages in France”
- Vénasque – 20
km/30 min away: Medieval city at the foot of the Mont Ventoux.
- Séguret - 40
km/50 min away: from the battlements of its medieval chateau
you have an exceptional view of the vineyards of the Rhone Valley, running
right up to the foothills of the Massif des Dentelles de Montmirail.
- Other
unlisted towns and villages, well worth the visit: Vaison-la-Romaine
(terrific Roman ruins and a museum), Bédoin, Brantes, Méthamis,
Crillon-le-Brave…
The villages of Côtes du Rhône are known the world over for their vineyard visits and
their wine tasting.
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape - 30 km/40 min away
- Gigondas 30 km/40
min away
- Vacqueyras 30 km/40 min away
- Beaumes de Venise 27 km/35 min away
The Alpilles Villages also listed as being among “the Most Beautiful Villages in France”
- Les
Baux-de-Provence a 40 km/1h drive, an unmissable stop when
visiting the Massif of the Alpilles
- Also worth
a visit (other
villages): Saint-Rémy-de-Provence a 31 km/40
min drive and Eygalières a 23 km/35 min drive
THE
CITIES
- Avignon 26 km/35
min away: The Popes Palace; the Bridge of Avignon, and the July Theatre
Festival.
- Orange 45 km/40
min away: The Antique Theatre hosts many world-renowned singers every
summer as part of its art festival. There is also the Arc de
Triomphe, one of the oldest Roman Arcs in Europe.
- Arles 50 km/1h
away: this town contains more than 40 historic monuments, including
the arena, a magnificent Roman amphitheatre.
- Nîmes 75 km/1h15
away: The arena of Nîmes date from the first century. The Pont de
Gard is a masterpiece of Roman architecture and of best Roman
constructions in the region. Unmissable.
- Aix-en-Provence 70 km/1h
away. This is a lovely town for shopping and admiring the fountains and
museums
- Marseille 80 km/1h10
away, Capital of Culture 2013. It is
worthwhile visiting its port for its Mediterranean charm, and its
calanques (fjords).
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
- La Côte
Bleue a 85 km/1h10m drive. On the west of Marseille:
follow the villages of La-Redonne, Carry-le-Rouet, Sausset-les-Pins...
- Marseille, Cassis et les calanques a 110 km/1h20m drive : Sormiou,
Morgiou, Sugiton, En-Vau, Port-Miou, Callelongue, les Goudes, Château
d’If, Ile de Riou, Archipel du Frioul
- Les-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer 90
km/1h40m away: capital of the Camargue, for horses, birds and
nature lovers
- Saint-Tropez a
187 km/2h30m drive: the mythic village of the South of France.
- Cannes a 213
km/2h30m drive: with its International Cinema Festival, and its lifestyle
SPORTING
ACTIVITIES
- Provence
Golf Country Club: International 18 hole golf
course at Saumane-de-Vaucluse
- Cycling: starting
at l’Isle sur la Sorgue are numerous cycling routes - around the Luberon,
around Mont-Ventoux, in the Dentelles de Montmirail, around l’Isle-sur-la
Sorgue, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vaison-la-Romaine, in the Haut-Vaucluse…
- Rock
Climbing: The Dentelles de Montmirail, The combes of
Ventoux, The cliffs at Buoux in the Luberon… The Vaucluse is a well-known
climbing centre in Provence
- Hiking:
Mont-Ventoux, Luberon, Dentelles de Montmirail… the Vaucluse is a
hiker’s paradise, with more than 3,000 km of signposted routes. You can
choose pretty much anything to explore: any sort of Provencal
countryside, ochre landscapes, olive trees or lavender fields, vineyards,
hilltop villages, forest, and scrubland…
- Canoe-kayak: from
l’Isle, Kayak Vert organises a family descent of the Sorgue by kayak,
distances are 8km, and 18km
- The
Parting of the Waters (Le Partage des Eaux) at l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
is a fisherman’s paradise. It offers also a cool, peaceful resting
hole a short distance from the crowds
- Le Sorguett in l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue : a
school and place for fly fishing
- La
Bull’Aquatic in l'Isle sur la Sorgue: Sport and aquatic center. Open every day, all year.
CULTURAL
EVENTS
- The
“Festival de Théâtre” of Avignon which
takes place every July, for the month, in the Cour d’Honneur of the Palais
des Papes (Popes Palace)
- The
“Festival Off” d’Avignon: All month, every month of
July, this involves many shows in the numerous theatres and streets in
Avignon.
- The
Festival of Musical Arts d’Orange: taking
place in August, the choirs of Orange perform in the Antique Theatre.
- The
Festival of Dance, in Vaison: In July, held in the Grand
Théâtre Antique de Vaison-la-Romaine
- Choral
Events: In August, an international choral event takes place in the
Antique Theatre in Vaison-la-Romaine.
- Le
Festival of Hebrew Music in Carpentras, at the end of
July
- Summer
Evenings in Gordes at the Théâtre des Terrasses, in August
- The
Trans’Art Festival in Carpentras: music,
humour, theater, dance and festivities, in July and August
- The Alpilles Festival from June to
August, in Maussane, Lamanon, Paradou, Les Baux de Provence et
Saint Etienne du Grès
- The
Lavender Festival in Valréas at the beginning of
August
- International
Congress of Photography, in Arles, all
summer. Exhibitions and
training courses.
- The Tour
de France in July, often includes cycling up the
Mont-Ventoux
- Font’Arts at
Pernes-les-Fontaines: Theatre festival and street music, circus and art
- Floating
Market (Marché Flottant) at l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue:
the first Sunday in August
- International
Antique and Brocante Fair every
Easter and every year on August 15 in l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: antiques, art,
modern and decorative objects.
For more information
http://www.les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france.org/fr/taxonomy/term/20
http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/musees.htm#.UXqq7pXGJAQ