Bédarrides, Avignon
Bédarrides se situe à égale distance (12 km) des trois principales villes du Vaucluse que sont Avignon, Carpentras et Orange.
What makes this village special?
One of Bédarrides’ emblems is the bridge across the Ouvèze River, built in the mid-1600s to replace an earlier Roman bridge that was washed away by floods. The town is surrounded in part by medieval walls, and has an atmospheric old centre. The city of Carpentras is close by, with a 16th Century Gothic cathedral, shaded streets and squares, and tall, dignified townhouses from the 1700s. Bédarrides is at the heart of a region packed with ancient history. Orange is a few kilometres from the town and is home to a fantastic theatre considered one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world thanks to its intact stage wall. Vaisol-la-Romaine has an archaeological park with paved roads, a villa and spa, while a little further afield are the cities of Arles and Nîmes, both famed for their Roman heritage. This city has historical interest from a later era. The Palace of the Popes is a tremendous UNESCO listed gothic building, of a surprisingly large scale. It’s commonly held as the best piece of Gothic architecture in the world. Avignon would also be a great place to come for a shopping expedition, with chic boutiques alongside the top high-street names in the Place de l’Horloge-Rue de la Republique area. When it comes to walking trips there are some wonderful choices close to Bédarrides. The tree-lined banks of the Ouvèze River are ideal. There’s lots of greenery here, and marked trails and picnic tables have been established for visitors. The hills around the town are also lovely; on trails here you’ll notice the scent of thyme. There are abundant vineyards in the area, which all help to make the landscape so evocative of rural Provence. This part of France has long been connected to viticulture. You’ll be moments from Chateauneuf-du-Pape and just as close to various Côtes-du-Rhône Villages. A host of these local domains offer tastings, although this usually needs to be arranged in advance. At markets you can buy first-rate local fruit, among them grapes, melons, peaches, apricots and cherries. Black truffles are sourced in the region, and the olive oil is also of an impeccable quality.
