There doesn't seem to be a lot of information in the guidebooks at my library on the Haut Vaucluse. We're there for a week this June -- after a week near the Luberon -- and I'd love to know what experiences, views, restaurants, and so on you've enjoyed.

We chose a place near Malaucene because we want to hike near the Dentelles, visit some wineries/caves for Gigondas and Vacqueras, and be near to Vaison-la-Romaine for the ruins and, I suppose, the market.

Do you have my 20+ page Provence itinerary - with info about that region? If not, e-mail me at [email protected].

Almost every road around mt Ventoux is lovely - the D19/D974, the D40/D72 with an up & back to Brantes, and the D5/D41 with a down & back to Brantes.

Malaucene has a decent grocery.

Explore the Baronnais - lots of scenic drives & lavender fields. See the Michellin Green Guide for suggested driving itineraries.

My wife was on a Lavoir (medieval wash house) quest last time we were there, and the best one is in Mollans.

Stu Dudley

Try googling 'beyond the French Riviera'
for a great website with lots of info.
on the Vaucluse.

Wonderful area of France.

Here is the "beyond" site

http://www.beyond.fr/

Stu Dudley

Thank you both for your replies. The e-mail is on its way, Stu; thank you very much for your willingness to help me -- and so many others -- with travel planning.

That website looks really useful, and in all my googling, I hadn't come across it. Thanks for the link.

We spent a night in Malaucène a few years ago and loved it. Be sure to drive up to the top of Crestet, a few kilometers away, for spetacular views and a darling little perched medieval town.

Also the Château de Grignan was a wonderful visit. I thought the market in Vaison-la-Romaine was pretty ho-hum, but Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and les Dentelles were splendid.

The area around the Dentelles is beautiful.

For a restaurant rec- Bistro D'O- Vaison La Romaine.

St. Cirq, was there any place memorable to eat in Crestet?

We'll be riding our bikes and so we'll be in cycling clothes, so nothing too fancy.

We've got a nice ride planned from Bedoin to Malaucene to Crestet to Vaison, to Seguret and back to Bedion through Malaucene.

jen