Malaucène, capital of Ventoux, sets shape around former(ancient) sound strong who(which) is situated on the highlight of the village. The old town is partially surrounded with a remarkable standing class(course) of immense plane trees several times hundred-years-old. Malaucène kept(preserved) his(her) strengthened surrounding wall only some doors of which the door Soubeyran whom he adorned acted formerly as gibbet for the public hanging of the criminals.
In first half of the XIV ° century Malaucène sheltered the summer place of residence of the pope Clément V. It(he) marked the city of the imprint through the church Holy Michel and Holy Pierre who it(he) set up as 1309 on the place of a former(ancient) temple. By visiting her(it), you will be amazed with the aspect strengthened with machicoulis, bunkers and the other war accessories (rather rare for a religious building) as well as by the mixture of Romanic and Gothic style. You will notice inside the organ with gold-coloured wooden sideboard ( 1639 ), its completely sculptured pulpit and curious sound 41,77 metres in length, stony bench, certainly the longest France.
The chapel of Groseau situated in some km on D97 in the direction of the Mountain Ventoux is the last vestige of a convent dating the VII ° destroyed(annulled) by the Saracens then reconstructed in the XI °, the pope Clément V made for it numerous stays.
Malaucène became bit by bit a big village by pursuing the same industrial activity for four centuries with the Paper mills of Malaucène, specialized in the manufacture of cuffs for the filters of cigarettes. Agriculture developed at the same time and for some years tourism made left for Malaucène.'s resources in Malaucène's streets, you will be able to admire beautiful houses of the XVI-th in the XVIII-th century, the old fountains, the laundries. On the class(course) Isnards succeed one another restaurants, terraces of coffee(cafe), hotels as well as of numerous businesses.
Malaucène is the point of departure of numerous pedestrian walks and équestres towards the Mountain Ventoux. (Do not miss the magnificent walk which leads(drives) you until the panoramic site of the Calvary). Numerous leisure activities and activities are at your disposal on the spot to distract small and big. In another kind(genre), less Provençal but picturesque, on the road of Barroux, you will be able to visit the experimental farm of breeding llamas and discover to it the studio of weaving mill.
To visit:
Gothic church with vestiges of fortifications. Pulpits sculptured and historic organ. Houses and the ramparts of the old town (XVI ° and XVIII °) Tour(tower) of the Clock ( 1539 ), Chapel of Groseau (XII °), source of Groseau, Cattle farm of llamas. The holiday of winter in the Serene Mountain.
Leisure activities:Tennis, mini golf, peach(fishing), riding school, escalation, ski, parapente and hang-glider, botanical path, hike in the forest of Malaucène, (visit commented by an agent of the National Organization of the Forest)
Holidays residences: 4 hotels, 1 campsite, guest houses, shelters, collective residence. Restaurants
