Mont Ventoux
The Giant Of Provence, A Bare Limestone Summit Of About 1,909 M, A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve And A Legendary Tour De France Climb · Bedoin, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
Mont Ventoux rises alone above the plains of the Vaucluse to about 1,909 m, the highest point for a long way around and visible from much of Provence. Its lower slopes are covered in vineyards, oaks, cedars and pines, but the top is a bare field of white limestone scree that looks like snow from a distance, crowned by a weather station and a tall red and white mast. The mountain is a UNESCO biosphere reserve and one of the most famous climbs in cycling: the Tour de France has finished on the summit many times, and the British rider Tom Simpson died on its upper slopes in 1967, where a memorial now stands. Three roads climb it, from Bédoin in the south, the hardest and most famous, from Malaucène in the north and from Sault in the east, which joins the Bédoin road at Chalet Reynard. The mistral can blow with violent force at the top, and temperatures there are often far colder than in the valleys. The upper road is closed to cars in winter. Around the base lie lavender fields, wine villages and the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Mont Ventoux summit road from Bédoin, Malaucène and Sault, Vaucluse, Bedoin, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
The mountain has no gates or opening hours, but the summit road is seasonal. The upper section of the road, above Chalet Reynard on the Bédoin side and above Mont Serein on the Malaucène side, is normally closed to motor traffic from roughly mid-November to mid-April because of snow and ice, and it can open later or close early depending on the weather, confirm the current dates. Cyclists and walkers still go up in winter at their own risk, but snow, ice and wind at the top make that a serious undertaking. From spring to autumn the road is open at all hours, and many cyclists start very early to avoid heat and traffic. The road can also be closed for a few days when the Tour de France or other races pass, and on some summer event days. Chalet Reynard and the small summit cafés and souvenir stands keep seasonal hours, busiest from spring to early autumn; the Mont Serein station on the north side runs a small ski area in snowy winters. The summit has no shelter or shop you can rely on out of season. Fire-risk rules in summer can restrict access to forest tracks, and the prefecture may close some areas on high-risk days.