Visit to one of the 7 Most Beautiful Villages in Vaucluse

We usually take daily trips away from Sablet to explore the Vaucluse and surrounding Departments. We probably go most often to the hill-top villages of the Luberon including Venasque, which is what we did a few weeks ago.

Venasque is a small pretty village that clings to a rocky hillside overlooking vineyards, garrigue (areas of shrubby vegetation found in the Mediterranean region), and cherry trees. It is classified as one of the "Plus Beaux Villages de France" (translated as most beautiful villages of France).

Cherries have been grown in this part of Provence since the 17th century and it remains the largest cherry producing region in France. Cherries from Venasque are said to be the best; the village refers to its cherries as diamants rouges (red diamonds). 

Venasque

Venasque is one of the oldest villages of the Comtat Venaissin often referred to simply as the Comtat. Comtat means county in its original sense, or land belonging to a count. Venaissin refers to Venasque, a former bishop seat which gave its name to the Comtat. 

Saracen Towers and Arched Doorway through Defensive Walls

Venasque's location on top of the hill provided a natural defense against attacks from enemies. Nevertheless, in Roman times, a defensive wall with towers was built around the village. The arched doorways were restored at the beginning of the 20th century.

Defensive Wall

The thick walls of the ramparts which survive connect three Saracen towers and two arched doors. Supposedly the stones in the defensive wall that no longer exist were removed as if the walls were a sort of rock quarry and used to build the school and village houses. 

One of the reasons we like to come to Venasque is because of Les Remparts restaurant. At Les Remparts, you can sit in the interior dining room, a large sunroom or a small outdoor terrace with views of the valley on sunny days.

Les Remparts offers a number of prix fixe menus, including a 3-course vegetarian menu currently priced at 39 Euros. Food is always well prepared and beautifully plated. We recommend you reserve ahead. 

Les Remparts Restaurant

As you can see, Venasque is a small village. There are only 1013 people who reside in the village according to the lastest census. 

Water was piped to houses throughout the village between 1959 and 1965. Prior to this time, villagers got their water from the various fountains scattered throughout the village.

The fountain in the center of Venasque at Place de la Fontaine

Artist workshop in Venasque

Lady taking in the views down the Venasque street

Hotel de Ville (Town Hall)

The Notre Dame church in Venasque dates from the end of the 12th century. The side chapels date from the 17th and 18th century, and the bell tower from the 17th century. 

Notre Dame Church in Venasque

Inside the church, there is a very beautiful baptistry. Its origins are unclear, but it is believed to be the oldest religious baptistry in the region.

Iron Cross near Notre Dame Church in Venasque

War Memorial in Venasque near Notre Dame Church

Arched Passageway into and out of Venasque

It is worth the trip up the hill off the D-4 to visit Venasque. As I said, it is small and will only take you a couple of hours to walk around the village. Try to time your visit so you can eat lunch at Les Remparts. You will be happy you did.

Les Remparts Restaurant

37 Rue Haute

84210 Venasque

Tel: 04 90 66 02 79

Les Remparts, Venasque

As you probably recall, we had several friends from our Bistro Des Copains in Occidental, California visit during our last sojourn in Sablet.

Usually, when we head out with friends to visit a pretty village or historical site, be it in the Vaucluse or elsewhere, we plan the day so our friends can see and experience as much as possible on the way to and from whatever village we choose that day.

It might seem hard to believe given how much I talk about food and wine, but we almost never choose a village or plan our day around where we are going to eat lunch. That is probably against all the rules for a restauranteur or a foodie to say, but that's the truth.

Wife Shirley has only recently started to eat fish and several of our friends are vegetarian so we are always on the lookout for restaurants that offer vegetarian dishes.

Well one morning while our friends from the Bistro were visiting, I remembered as we were planning our day, that there is a restaurant in Venasque called Les Remparts which offers a vegetarian menu each day. I am sure there are others but this is the only restaurant that we have been to in France where we have seen this.

I figured that the vegetarians in the group might be getting tired of eating chèvre chaud salad - warm goat cheese salad for lunch and we should go visit Venasque and eat déjeuner - lunch at Les Remparts. Despite the abundance of fruits and vegetables on display in village markets, restaurants in France usually don't offer many vegetarian dishes.

In addition to a nice lunch, I figured that our friends would enjoy seeing Venasque. Venasque is a small picturesque village perched at the top of a steep hill and classified as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France - one of the most beautiful villages of France. See previous post.

As the name says, Restaurant Les Remparts is built into the remparts - old walls, that surround the village.



The restaurant is located just a few steps from the fountain in the center of the village.



At Les Remparts, you can sit in the interior dining room, a large sun room or on a small outdoor terrace with views of the valley on sunny days.



Unfortunately, it was a grey day and raining off and on so we chose to sit in the glass enclosed sun room.



Les Remparts offer a number of prix fixe menus du jour - menus of the day, including the vegetarian menu for 25 Euros that consists of all vegetarian dishes. I chose the menu Provençal for 32 Euros. Wife Shirley chose the vegetarian salad for 12 Euros.

The vegetarian menu started with a Clafoutis Provençal with fresh goat cheese accompanied by mixed greens.



The vegetarian salad included small portions of a tomato tart, a savory carrot cake with ricotta cheese and pesto, the clafoutis Provençal with goat cheese, boiled egg, cheese and mixed greens.



My starter was a tasty plate of small bites including tomato crumble over goat cheese cream, a salt cod tart, and tomato tart tatin.



Vegetarian main courses included lasagna



and ravioli in a creamy leak sauce.



For my main course, I had a croustade d'Espadon, a tasty fish accompanied by a basil leek crumble.



The vegetarian menu included a goat cheese tasting.



Our desserts included red-wine poached goat cheese with honey.



A dessert sampler with crème brûlée, nougat glacé, and chocolate cake.



A creamy creation with oranges.



Floating Islands with chocolate sauce.



We had a pitcher of rosé wine to accompany our wonderful meal.

I recommend reservations so you can be sure to get a seat in the sun room or on the terrace on a sunny day.

Venasque

Seven of the villages in the Vaucluse region of Provence (where our house is located), are classified as Plus Beaux Village de France; most beautiful villages in France.

A 32 kms drive southeast of Sablet past the town of Carpentras, onto a small road bordered on both sides by cherry orchards, will bring you to one of those beautiful villages.



Venasque is a picturesque village perched at the top of a steep hill and classified as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France.

Venasque is small and compact with a few shops, restaurants and hotels. It can be easily visited in a few hours.



Shirley Augsburger exploring Venasque. The streets are quiet during lunch time.



The 12th century Notre Dame de Venasque Church.




One of the many pretty streets.



Shirley Augsburger, grandson Dylan Pasamonte along with Stephanie and Earl Pasamonte in front of the 12th century towers of Venasque.



There are wonderful views out in every direction. Mont Ventoux can be seen in the distance.





Restaurant Les Remparts is a good choice for a meal during your visit to Venasque. The restaurant is built into the remparts; the old walls of Venasque.

The restaurant has a small terrace for outdoor dining in nice weather and a pretty dining room with amazing views of the valley.



Restaurant Les Remparts offer a number of prix fixe menus du jour, menus of the day, including an unusual one that consisted of all vegetarian dishes. I decided to try it and it was really delicious.