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- St-Restitut
France
St-Restitut
The little fortified medieval village, St-Restitut, is situated on a hilltop in beautiful and verdant countryside between Orange and Montélimar in the department of Drôme Provençale. A holiday in St-Restitut offers good possibilities for exploring the surroundings with idyllic medieval villages and old historic cities like Orange, Avignon, Nîmes and Arles. The area around St-Restitut also offers a wide range of sports activities, such as golfing, walking and hiking, cycling, skiing, horseback riding, climbing and paragliding.
Read more about St-RestitutSt-Restitut lies beautifully east of the Rhône river and not far from the legendary mountain, Mont Ventoux. The village is completely enclosed by pine trees, thyme and wild lavender.
St-Restitut has narrow streets, small shady squares, old, whitish or ochre-shaded stone houses with pale green or blue shutters and remains of the old ramparts. In the village you must admire the church with its old square tower and entrance gate with antique decorations and a fantastic iconography.
You must not miss wine tasting in the Caves Cathédrales, located in the old quarries (the stone was mainly used for constructing the Papal Palace in Avignon). It is a fantastic place, an underground cathedral, offering exceptional hydrometrical conditions for the wine Cellier des Dauphins.
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The medieval city, Avignon, is the main city of the department of Vaucluse. The inner part of town is still encircled by its 5 km long fortification walls with its 39 towers and 7 gates. Avignon has a great many attractions. The greatest sight is without any doubt the majestic Palace of the Popes: www.palais-des-papes.com; www.mairie-avignon.fr/en/musees/palaisen.php, which overlooks the Rhône river. Because of unrest and anarchy the Popes preferred Avignon to Rome for almost one hundred years (1309-77). Another of Avignon’s famous sights is Pont St-Benezet, immortalized in the children’s’ song Sur le Pont d’Avignon.
Beaumes-de-Venise is situated at the foot hills of the mountain range Dentelles de Montmirail. Beaumes-de-Venise is first and foremost known for its outstanding wines, both the very famous Muscat wine and the red Côtes du Rhône wine. Beaumes-de-Venise has a pretty, old quarter with well-restored houses, old fountains and fortification walls. In the town one can also find the ruins of an old feudal castle from the 12th century, a chapel from the 11th and 12th century, prehistoric caves and an old olive mill.
Pleasant, little medieval village. Set in beautiful hilly surroundings by the Ouvèse River, at an altitude of 370 metres. Typical of Provence with its narrow streets, shady squares, old stone houses and remains from the ancient town wall. Buis-les-Baronnies is best known for climbing and every year the town attracts numerous climbers from France and abroad.
The capital of the Comtat Venaissin. A very exciting town, situated in the middle of the wine district Côtes-du-Ventoux. In the town one can find France’s oldest synagogue, a testimony from the Middle Ages and from the period when Carpentras was under the Papacy and the Jewish population enjoyed wide freedom to cultivate their religion. Carpentras is also well known for its truffles. It is here that one can find France’s biggest truffle market.
A modest little village which has given its name to the most well known wine district in Côtes-du-Rhône. In the town there are several restaurants and wine cellars, selling wine from the local wine producers who have the right to use the denomination appellation côntrolée. In the town one can find a museum, showing the history of the local wine production.
Curnier is beautifully situated in green hills and surrounded by vineyards and lavender fields. Curnier is a most charming, little medieval village with small winding streets, shady squares, remains of an ancient medieval castle, a stone church with a squared bell tower as well as an ancient fountain.
A 15 km mountain range, south of Nyons near Vaison-la-Romaine. The region offers lots of good hiking paths, picturesque villages, excellent Côtes-du-Rhône wine and well-tasting goat cheese.
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is one of the most visited places in Vaucluse. The town’s greatest sight is the spring of the Sorgue River, one of nature’s greatest wonders in Provence. The water flows out of a 230 metres high cliff in the valley above the village. It is the most powerful spring in France and the fifth most powerful in the world. Every year 630 million cubic metres stream out from the underground. By the river, there is an old paper mill which has produced handmade paper since the 14th century.
Gigondas is a charming village at the foot hills of the Dentelles. In Roman Times Gigondas was a residence for Roman legions and had accordingly a flourishing wine production. The region is still well known for its wine production and notably the red wines are very fine. The wine had its own appellation in 1971.
Gordes is an extraordinary interesting medieval village, especially well known for its striking setting on top of a little rock. The town is dominated by the Château de Gordes from the 16th century and the church St-Firmin. From here, there are fantastic panoramic views of the valley and the Lubéron massif. Gordes is nominated “one of the most beautiful villages in France”. Southwest of the town, there is a Borie-village, whose well-retained stone huts for hundreds of years have been used by nomad-shepherds. These houses, made of piled, flat stones, originate from the Celtic and Ligurian period. Gordes also offers a very beautiful Cistercian abbey from 1148, Abbaye de Sénanque. Just like Provence’s two other Cistercian monasteries, Le Thoronet (Var) and Silvacane (Bouches-du-Rhône), Abbaye de Sénanque is one of the purest testimonies of the primitive Cistercian architecture.
The famous canyons, Gorges de l’Ardèche, are situated in the southern part of the Ardèche department. Gorges de l’Ardèche has grandiose natural scenery. Here, one can find one of nature’s biggest wonders: Pont d’Arc, a more than 30 metres high natural cliff bridge over the Ardèche River. This region offers a variety of outdoor activities including canoeing, horseback riding, climbing, angling, mountain biking, swimming, hiking and speleological exploring.
Mini-variety of the Gorges du Verdon canyons. Fantastic scenery. There are a great many hiking routes, and it is often even possible to walk in the bottom of the canyon, as the river is often dried out.
A charming village, situated on the plain of the Comtat Venaissin. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is first of all well known for its many second-hand and antique shops. In this little town one can find no less than 300 antique shops. Twice a year, at Easter and over the 15th of August holiday, more than 500 antique and second-hand dealers arrive to expose their finds. This event attracts a huge amount of visitors from all over the world. The town is intersected by several canals which are all ramifications of the River Sorgue. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue also offers several interesting buildings such as the church, La Collégiale ND des Anges, with its exceptional baroque interior and la pharmacie de l’Hôpital, which houses a rare collection of faiences from Moustiers.
Malaucène is the principal town in Le Ventoux. It is quite a big town, situated on a hillside between Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail. On top of the town thrones the old church which was built in the 14th century by Pope Clemens V, and which from the outside both looks like a castle and a fort. The old part of town is fortified and offers several pretty houses from the 16th and 18th century, old fountains, cafés and a big number of small shops. Malaucène was earlier a Huguenot fortification and in the town one can still find an old bell tower, used as a watch tower during the religious wars. Malaucène is furthermore a good starting point for trips to Mont Ventoux.
Is by name well known of most bicycle enthusiasts and has several times been included in the Tour de France. Mont Ventoux is with its 1912 metres the highest mountain in Provence. Due to its always white top – in the winter of snow and in the summer of white limestone – the mountain is also denominated the bald-headed mountain. It is always windy at the top of Mont Ventoux, and one must be aware that the average temperature is 11 degrees lower than in the valley below.
An interesting town set in beautiful natural surroundings. Nyons is best known for its mild climate and its very fertile soil. An old bridge, dating back to the 14th century crosses the river Eygues, and leads you into the old town with its narrow, winding streets, shady squares and medieval fortifications.
One of the most interesting towns in the region. The town’s two greatest sights are among Europe’s finest monuments from the Roman period: Arc de Triomphe, erected in 25 B.C., and one of the most well preserved Roman triumph arches and the ancient Roman theatre, Théâtre antique, which still functions. The old city is interesting with its narrow, twisting streets, nicely restored facades and ancient shady squares.
Pernes-les-Fontaines is situated between Carpentras and L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. Pernes-les- Fontaines is first of all reputed for its many fountains. Here one can find no less than 40 medieval fountains. Pernes-les- Fontaines also offers a handful of pretty town houses from the 17th and 18th century, la porte ND, remains of the ancient rampart, the dungeon of the ancient Château des Comtes de Toulouse and a covered market. You should take a while to visite La Tour Ferrande from the 13th century. Here one can find some fantastic frescos, also form the 13th century and a little museum with traditional clothing.
A unique monument and one of the finest remains from Roman Times in France. Pont du Gard which has three levels and is 40 metres high, crosses the river Gard and was built by the Romans to transport water to Nîmes.
Sault is beautifully set at the edge of a plateau, at 776 metres altitude, at the foot hills of the legendary mountain, Mont Ventoux. Sault is especially famous for being the main attraction on the Lavender Route. The town is entirely surrounded by huge lavender fields and because of its sublime natural scenery the pays de Sault was listed by UNESO in 1992.
An interesting town, situated at the Ouvèse river. Vaison-la-Romaine offers exciting old quarters with a multitude of historic testimonies. An ancient Roman bridge leads into the old town with its two archeaological sites of excavations from the town’s Roman period, among which a Roman theatre, one of the most well preserved from Emperor August’s time and a handful of buildings.
Very charming medieval village beautifully set at an altitude of 280 metres and surrounded by cypress, olive and cherry trees. At the top of the town there is an interesting old temple, dating back to the 12th century. From here, there are wide views of the plains and the vineyards. Vinsobres has a great many beautiful old town houses in shades of yellow ochre. The houses are characteristically built of round stones. Vinsobres is also known for its very fine wines.
Activities in St-Restitut
- 3 eating places.
- Hiking tours.
- Tennis
- Paragliding
- Fishing.
- Riding.
- Canoeing, kayaking.
- Climbing
- Golf –There are lots of courses in the region of Rhône Alpes and 8 in the department of Drôme. Most of the courses can be found on the French golf union’s website. Unfortunately the website is in French. Seek under Guide de golfs and then under the region Rhône Alpes: www.ffgolf.org
- Cycling: Challenges for everyone – both experienced and families with children. There are several scenic tours to other villages in the area, many easy mountain routes as well as the difficult Mont Ventoux route.
Sights in St-Restitut
- Tour funéraire, sepulchral monument from the 11th century.
- Church in Roman Provencal style from the 12th century.
- Crocodile farm (La ferme aux crocodiles) – situated in Pierrelatte, 11 km northwest of St Restitut: A huge 8000 m2 tropical green house with more than 400 crocodiles and exotic vegetation – http://www.lafermeauxcrocodiles.com/article.php3?id_article=115.
- Chapelle Saint-Sépulcre in Gothic style from the 16th century.
- Remains of the old rampart.
- Maison Renaissance: A tower like house in renaissance style.
- Old quarries.
