Anyone been to this little village. we have booked a house near the church in July 2008. I wondered what your experiences of Sablet and the surrounding area were like?

Yes, we've been to Sablet and truth be told, it was not one of our favorites.

OTOH, nearby Séguret (looking down on Sablet) certainly was. Gigondas was nice too.

The surrounding area is the Dentelles, a series of picturesque peaks. The villages of Suzette, Le Barroux and especially Crestet are interesting. Be sure to take in Vaison-la-Romaine. Another favorite of ours is Brantes near Mont Ventoux.

You may be there during the high lavender season (early July), so take some daytrips to enjoy that.

Was there anything in particular you did not like about Sablet then?

> Was there anything in particular you did not like about Sablet then? <

I dunno - just not much there. It's basically on level terrain and, unlike the crested villages, it had little of interest. It's not that we found something to dislike; it simply paled in comparison to others.

I think that, as a location to make your base, Sablet is a good choice, presuming you'll be heading out by car on daytrips...

I haven't spent any time in the village itself, but I've drunk many bottles of Sablet. It's one of our favourite Côtes du Rhône Villages.

TuckH's recommendations for the area are great. I'd add nearby Nyons (walk up into the old part of the town) as a place to visit.

Anselm

All those villages (Sablet, Seguret, Gigondas, Vaccqueyras, Beaumes de Venise) are very close together. I don't think it make a big difference which town you stay in. I don't think Seguret or Gigondas has any bakeries/grocery stores. Vacqueyras & Beaumes probably do, and Vaison does.

Stu Dudley

Sorry to barge into this thread, but I have to say a quick -- and BELATED -- thank you to Anselm and Stu for all your helpful advice last year when I was plannign our trip to Provence. You are both so thorough and wonderful and I SO appreciate how much advice you are willign to share. A million thanks; our trip was better for having had your help!

On topic, last year we stayed a week in the Luberon and a week in Haut Provence, and LOVED Haut Provence. The villages Tuck has mentioned are wonderfully atmospheric, and the countryside is gorgeous. One of the highlights for everyone in our family group, which aged in range from 4 to 74 was the market at Bedoin. We had a wonderful lunch at Les Geraniums in Le Barroux. I envy your being there in July, ferryann; we saw just he beginnings of the lavender bloom.

I like Sablet. Sablet and Gigandas(my favorie wine of the area) are considered little jewels in a setting of high Dentelle walls and cypresses. Try the sweet wine of beaumes-de-Venise poured over a cavaillon melon.

I thought Sablet was very charming. I would not hesitate to stay there. The whole area is quite scenic-- a feast for the eyes.

There is a full range in quality of accommodation available in, and around Sablet, with commensurate prices. The village of Sablet is authentic, where real local life mixes with the visitors.

I have stayed in Sablet 2 different times and found it an ideal base to visit all the nearby cluster of villages. It has the advantage over the lovely Gigondas and Seguret of being a "real" village with a boulangerie, etc. Also one of the best restaurants in the area, Les Abeilles, is close by; this is run by the former owners of the popular Oustalet in Gigondas.

I would be curious where you stayed in Sablet. We are looking for a rental property that is not for lots of people and am finding it difficult to find. Am looking at other towns but with not much success. Either tiny or way too big.

We stayed at http://www.maisondesiree.com/ but it has been a few years. We were two couples and yes it was big but we loved it and the vegetable garden that went with it. They were renovating many apartments when we were there so I'm sure should be lots more to choose from. This one looks nice http://www.vrbo.com/217326.