RegionOutline guide

Vaucluse

Department in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Photo: Chiugoran, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Vaucluse (Occitan: Vauclusa) is a department of the Provence region of France. The Vaucluse retains in part its historical identity as the Comtat Venaissin, an independent papal entity until the 1791 post-Revolutionary annexation by France.

Getting there and around

Getting there

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Airports and nearby hotels

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Avignon Caumont airport

Avignon · Regional · AVN

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Cities

Luberon

The mountain range reaches above 1000 m and is largely uninhabited and natural terrain, apart from some small attractive villages

Mont Ventoux

many hiking trails (including GR4 and GR9) pass through or nearby

Read before you go to Vaucluse

Articles and travel topics about Vaucluse and France.

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Itineraries

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Full travel guide

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Cities and towns

UnderstandThe name of Comtat Venaissin is supposed to derive from either Comitatus Vendacensis (the county of Venasque), or from Comitatus Avennicinus (County of Avignon).

TalkThe official language remains French, but a language commonly spoken by locals until the 19th century was Occitan in its Provençal dialect.

Get inThe main access from the north is undoubtedly the A7 motorway (Autoroute du Soleil), which bypasses the famous national road N7, nicknamed la Route bleue and la Route des vacances during its mid-20th-century heyday.

SeeAvignon is an open-air museum. Its Palace Square is inundated with tourists during the hot months. Not far in almost any direction are smaller squares, frequented by locals, where prices are found to be more affordable.

DoThere are many vineyards in this department, so wine tasting is an option for interested visitors. The department has many hiking trails, whose signs are organised by the local council.

BuyMake sure to arrive early, as French markets hit their peak in mid-morning and all but the largest mostly begin packing up around lunchtime.

Eat

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Vaucluse" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Vaucluse", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Chiugoran, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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