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Cheval
Blanc
is a small village in the “Potager de France” surrounded by fields of
fruit and vegetables and overlooked by the Luberon mountains. The village
has two restaurants, takeaway pizza, two bars, a mini-market, a grocers
and three bakers. There is a friendly tennis club with two courts, plus a
fishing lake.
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Avignon
(30
mins) is a beautiful mediaeval city with the Palais de Papes, university,
numerous cafes and restaurants, and the famous bridge.on which everyone
once danced. In the summer months the theatre festival has become a
very cosmopolitan affair with scores of street artists and activity.
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Aix
en Provence (45 mins)
is a delightfully sophisticated university town. Sit beneath the plane
trees on the Cours Mirabeau and simply watch the world go by or walk
through the hustle and bustle of the cobbled streets of the ancient centre.
There are many art galleries and exhibitions.
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St
Remy de Provence (45
mins), at the foot of the Alpilles
mountains is a charming small town made famous by Van Gogh and Princess Caroline of
Monaco. There is good shopping and a hectic street life. The
roman ruins at Glanum, on the outskirts are well worth a visit. |
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Les
Baux de Provence (50
mins), also in the Alpilles is
amazingly beautiful. One of the roads leading to it runs
through the Val d’Enfer, which
is credited with being the
inspiration for Dante’s Inferno. The village, inhabited
since prehistoric times, warrants a visit. There are numerous
restaurants including Oustau de la Baumaniere and Cabro d’Or.
Below Les Baux is Maussane les Alpilles, a
pretty village frequented by French media stars. Charles Aznavour and
Terence Conran have properties here. |
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Isle
sur la Sorgue (20mins)
“The Venice of France” boasts more than
400 permanent antique dealers plus a huge antique/brocante
fair every Sunday. This attracts antique buyers from all
over the world, though Peter Mayle said of it, “The only thing you
can’t get in Isle sur la Sorgue is a bargain."
It has several bistros and many
excellent restaurants |
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There are also many music
festivals during the summer months some of which are at fabulous venues
like the Chateau de Maquis de Sade
and the Abbaye de Silvacane.
There are three distinct
wine growing areas in the region. Cotes du Luberon
appellation covers some 3500 hectares. Production comprises 70% reds the
remainder being whites and roses. Cotes du
Ventoux slightly smaller area 80% red and 15 %
roses. Finally one hours drive to the north brings you to the Cotes
du Rhone with villages like Chateauneuf
du Pape and Gigondas,
a huge area with some of the finest wines of
France
. It is of course both possible and pleasurable to buy the wines directly
from the producers/cooperatives.
There are a number of
stables from which one can hire horses for rides in the mountains. At
Fontaine de Vaucluse (20 mins)
it is possible to hire kayaks to canoe down the Sorgue.
At Joucas (30mins) it is possible to hot air
balloon over the Luberon. There are many
marked bicycle and walking routes in the area. Practically all nearby
villages have their own market day so it is possible to visit a different
market every day of the week. |
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