June 2018, holiday in France, and a visit to some of our favourite vineyards and villages, Gigondas – Cote du Rhône Village, Mormoiron in the Cote Ventoux and Isle de Sorgue – surely one of the best Sunday Markets anywhere, and a wonderful place to visit at any time.
We have been introduced to wineries in these wonderful parts of France, by friends at Maison Vauron, in Auckland, New Zealand. In Gigondas we visited Domaine La Bouissiere and at Mormoiron, on the other side of Mont Ventoux, Chateau Pesquie, managing lovely lunches at each village as well.
There is so much to see and do in this area, wonderful Roman heritage at Orange and Vaison Romaine, great walks, vineyards and food and the below are just snap shots.
Gigondas
The Cote du Rhône Villages area is yet another beautiful part of France. Villages like Seguret, Sablet and Gigondas have amazing vineyards, but also wonderful history, walks and views. This visit we had some time constraints on us, so a visit and some wine purchases at Domaine La Bouissiere, followed by an excellent lunch in the Gigondas main square.
The Dentelles de Montmirail pictured above, are a beautiful example of nature carving limestone mountains using all of its elements at its disposal. The French Word Dentelles means “lace”, in English and if you hike up one of the many trails up and through the Dentelles, you will see actual windows in the limestone rock.
On a separate earlier holiday based in the nearby village of Sablet, we did a day hike over the Dentelles de Montmirail, and it was one of our very best hikes in France.
Mormoiron – Cote de Ventoux
Mont Ventoux just has impact. We could see it all the way from Lussan back on the western side of the Rhône Valley.
Closer to and as a cyclist, myself I gaze up in wonder at the mountain knowing that in July 2016 we saw the Tour de France leave Montpellier, to finish as Chris Froome crashed into a motorcycle close to the top of Mont Ventoux, 160kms later!! All in a days ride, amazing.
On the flanks of Mont Ventoux and to the south, the shelter afforded by the mountain creates a special climate for the vineyards of the Cote de Ventoux.
L’Isle sur la Sorgue
We have been to the L’Isle sur la Sorgue a few times, and it’s known for its weekend antique markets, but also for the water wheels, and there are lots of them, as it really is an island.
But visiting in mid week as we did in July 2018 we had an opportunity to see the town for itself and not as a market thronged with locals and tourists.
The markets and the waterwheels are always referred to in tourist information on L’Isle sur la Sorgue, and they are brilliant, if you can visit the market, please do.
This time we went into the Church – Église Notre-Dame-des-Anges- and it was so rewarding, as usually it’s hidden behind market stalls. The pictures above do not really do it credit, suffice to say, well worth a visit.
Travels with My Wife 