Places of interest

The name Provence is derived from the first province of Ancient Rome. The area has fascinating remains of the Roman period, such as the huge theatre in Orange which has regular amazing operas during the summer months.  There is the walled city of Avignon the former home of the Popes and the fascinating museum in Pont du Garde.  Closer to our house is Vaison La Romaine which also has a functional amphitheatre and Roman ruins and there is the old town high on the hill above the town and well worth a visit.  The Mediterranean is not that far and nor are the mountains such as the Alps. You can visit the Camargue and Van Gogh country and for those of you who love the Tour de France, this famous bicycle race always passes near by in July and these are only a few of the delights of the area.

 Outdoor Activities

Tulette just 4 ks. away has an excellent outdoor swimming pool as do most of the villages nearby. Not far from Tulette on the road to Nyons is a place called Sagittaire with a  lake, several outdoor swimming pools, a café/restaurant, a small supermarket and miniature golf.  The Toulerenc river weaves its way through a beautiful valley towards Mont Ventoux.  There are pockets of deep clear water and for the more adventurous a days; hike through the river is very enjoyable.
On the other side of the Rhone and not far at all is the Ardeche river with a number of different points of entry, where you can hire canoes. The Pont du Gard crosses the great Rhone River. And the Mediterranean is a two hour drive away. 
Bicycles can be hired from Tulette or Vaison La Romain and we can provide bicycles at a small extra charge.  This is an excellent way to enjoy the countryside and visit the villages cutting through roads that weave between the vines.  Or you may choose to walk – from our house you can walk up past the cemetery and into the forests, where you can pick wild thyme.
Each season has something special to offer.  In summer there are many village festivals some around a theme of wine or lavender or simply to celebrate summer or cultural festivals such as the famous Avignon festival.  In the autumn you can find delicious edible mushrooms in the mountains above the village and the autumn colours are breathtaking. 
The house is an ideal place to relax and enjoy the sun and the local surroundings or as a base from which to explore Provence.

Food and provisions:

The nearest village with shops is Tulette. There you can find superb patisserie and boulangerie shops, a wonderful boucherie and two small supermarkets. 
There are two larger supermarkets within easy reach in Vaison La Romaine.  In Valreas there is a large Leclerc and in Bollene you will find a Leclerc hypermarket and for an even larger hypermarket head for Avignon to Auchan but you need to be an avid shopper to cope with the size and crowds.
Many towns and villages have their own weekly fascinating out door market where you can buy the finest foods including fresh fish, fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, olives, flowers, lavender, and provencal herbs and fabrics and I could go on and on.  They are really wonderful, full of colour and you can take time out for a coffee in one of the cafes in each of the villages.  We have left a list of our favourite markets at the house.

Wine

The area is famous for its Cotes du Rhone wines and wine tasting is commonly practiced.  Many of the smaller wine makers are very friendly and will discuss the wine making process with you if you are interested.  There are some wine books at the house (although quite out of date now) and some suggestions of wine places to visit.  My favorites are our village cave – their wine is excellent, La Fourmone in Vacqueras.  Don’t miss out Cairanne, Gigondas and Chateau Neuf du Pape.

Restaurants