Local area

Situated on the edge of the hamlet of Les Baux at the foot of Mont Ventoux just 3km from the lively village of Bédoin with its numerous cafés and restaurants, bakers and weekly market, Gîte Les Enfantines is in an ideal spot surrounded by cherry orchards,vineyards and almond trees for walking and cycling holidays through the picturesque hamlets and villages of the Vaucluse area of Provence.

Les Baux

Mont Ventoux, le géant de Provence, dominates the landscape. Total calm reigns in Les Baux yet it is only 5 minutes by car from the centre of Bédoin. A haven of tranquility with a few dozen houses and a church which still opens for service the fifth Sunday of the month (work that one out!) Le Cigale, a bar and pizzeria with terrace overlooking the vineyards opens in the summer months and hosts the entertainment for the weekend of the local Fete in July.

A 5-10 minute walk takes you to the site of Les Demoiselles Coiffées, curious formations of red rock set amongst the trees and especially wonderful around sunset. There is a wine named after them which is also quite quaffable!

Ste Colombe

One minute by car or a lovely 15 minute walk across the vineyards takes you to Sainte Colombe where there is an artisan bakery with a very old stone oven – the perfect place to get your daily bread. Aside croissants and baguettes they bake all sorts of delicious breads, many with grains such as quinoa and spelt. There are also a couple of good restaurants in the village with nice bars so great for eating out locally and not having to drive.

Bedoin

Bedoin is a lively place with all the amenities you’d expect in a village inhabited all year round with activities held in the cultural centre and library. There are tennis courts and an open air pool too. As well as the weekly Monday market there is a local farmer’s market on Saturday evenings between May and September where you can buy the finest seasonal produce – olives, tapenades, goats cheeses, sausages, lavender, honey to name but a few. These markets takes place in different villages in the Comtat Venaissin area and provide a chance for locals to meet and catch up over a Pastis or a local Cotes du Ventoux wine.

Le Barroux

A lovely village set dramatically on a rock dominated by its castle makes for a very pleasant stroll through its cobbled streets with good views down to Carpentras and beyond. There’s a nice pottery and brocante shop nearby on the Caromb route back to Bédoin.