RHONE - THE AREA
Rhone Wine Tasting Tours, Holidays and Trips
The Rhone - Sunshine
The land of Vaucluse is where the river Rhone meanders into the beautiful countryside of Provence. The region enjoys an enviable 2600 hours of Mediterranean sunshine per year while the mistral often blows up the valley to provide a welcome breeze in the heat of the day.
Rhone Cities - Avignon, Orange and Vaison La Romaine
The history of this region is rich and varied. The towns of Orange and Vaison La Romaine have significant Roman heritage, in particular, the theatre in Orange is the best preserved example in Europe. The capital of the department is Avignon and whilst this city was important in Roman times, it is the structures of the 12th - 14th centuries for which it is justifiably famous. Notably, Avignon was the seat of the papacy from 1309 - 1377 and the Popes palace dates from this period. It was at this time that the whole of the region was acquired by the Catholic Church and many of its vineyards were planted. In addition, the city is famous for the St Benezet bridge (Pont d’Avignon) of which just 4 of the original 22 arches remain.
The Rhone - Vineyards, Lavender and Truffles
Once outside the towns, the region boasts some spectacular scenery and attractive villages. The Dentelles rise up behind the villages of Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise, while the Mont Ventoux provides an even more spectacular backdrop to the region. In addition to the vineyards on the slopes, this area is home to 45% of the lavender that is grown in France and for gastronomes, it is also the source of almost 3/4 of all French truffles.