Exceptional sites to discover and activities in the Vaucluse
Mont Ventoux
Offering an exceptional view opposite the hotel, Mont Ventoux, our "Fuji-Yama", is the highest peak in the Vaucluse. Nicknamed the Giant of Provence or the Bald Mountain, due to the absence of vegetation at its summit, Mont Ventoux has become mythical thanks to cycling races. Since 1951, the greatest names in cycling have climbed it, and many enthusiasts dream of climbing it. The summit of the Ventoux is visible from miles away because of its geographical isolation but also because of its bright white colour, linked to its limestone nature. It offers an exceptional 360° view of the surrounding plains and, when the sky is clear, of Mont Blanc and the Mediterranean.
The Luberon
In the Vaucluse, many villages were built on rocky acropolis or on the side of a hill. The village of Sault is no exception to this typically Provencal and Mediterranean characteristic. Perched on a rocky spur, it dominates the plain that stretches out at the foot of Mont Ventoux. But many other perched villages are quickly accessible from the hotel. Some of them are among the most beautiful villages in France, such as Gordes, Ménerbes, Lacoste, Roussillon, Simiane la Rotonde, Séguret and Venasque. They all offer a special atmosphere thanks to their stone houses with a patina of age, their narrow streets and the freshness of their squares, usually with fountains.
The Baronnies
A few kilometres from the village and the Val de Sault hotel, beyond the Mont Ventoux, lies the natural and historical region of the Baronnies. Now classified as a regional nature park, this low mountainous region takes its name from the Barons of Mévouillon and Montauban who, at the beginning of the Middle Ages, had obtained a certain independence from the Count of Provence and the Dauphin. The Baronnies have a rare soil where lime trees, apricots, vines, olives and truffles are grown. They have preserved landscapes such as the Toulourenc valley and towns that have stood the test of time such as Nyons, a medieval town classified as one of the most beautiful detours in France.
The Toulourenc valley
The Toulourenc is a small river that meanders between the Mont Ventoux and the Baronnies and that flows, over 30 kilometres, in a narrow valley. This valley is a real haven of peace which offers a dazzling spectacle: landscape of the Ventoux mountains, stone bridges, natural pools, gorges... In summer, the river bed, almost dried up, can be used to discover this small earthly paradise. To make this walk from the Val de Sault hostelry, go to Saint-Léger du Ventoux where the river is easily accessible, then follow its course to the Veaux bridge. A change of scenery and serenity guaranteed!
The gorges of the Nesque
Classified as a "Biosphere Reserve" by UNESCO, the Nesque gorges offer one of the most spectacular natural settings in the South Ventoux. Only a few kilometres from the hotel, this wild and grandiose canyon stretches over 12 kilometres and can reach a depth of over 400 metres. Its course is marked out by belvederes where you can admire the rocky spurs. Don't miss the Rocher de Cire, more than 300 metres high, which owes its name to the wild beehives it once housed. Below, near the river, you can also visit a 12th-century troglodyte chapel: Saint-Michel de Anesca.
