Beaumes de Venise

Nestling at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, which serves as a natural wall against the Mistral wind, the village of Beaumes de Venise owes its name to the many caves hollowed out of the Courens Hill to which it clings.  

"Baumo" means "caves" in Provençal and the name of the county "Venaissin" was shortened to  "Venise". So, the "caves of Venaissin" was poetically transformed into "Beaumes de Venise".

This little town is the ideal spot to regenerate and enjoy the mild and sun-filled climate. Its exceptional situation at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail and near the Mont Ventoux attracts many people who leave behind the crowds on the coast to come relax in the peace and greenery.  

Numerous walking trails let you discover the old heart of the village, the surrounding garrigue covered in Mediterranean plants, the olive orchards awash in sunshine and the renowned vineyards.

The village is situated in the Haut Vaucluse, 9 kms from Carpentras, 20 kms from Orange, 20 kms from Vaison la Romaine and 32 kms from Avignon, letting you easily visit some of the most beautiful tourist sites in Provence.

To see in the village of Beaumes de Venise

Occupied since Antiquity, the village of Beaumes is surmounted by the ruins of a 12th château. Notre Dame d'Aubune Chapel in Beaumes de Venise, a gem of Romanesque art, is one of the most prestigious legacies of the past.  

A hike on the plateau of Courens, accessible on foot, is a must. It offers a super panorama over the Dentelles de Montmirail and the village stretching out at your feet. A strategic and defensive site, you will come across traces of occupation since prehistoric times:

- the Ambrosi caves to the north of the Plateau of Courens

They first served as shelter in prehistoric times before being used as millstone quarries in the first centuries AD. Depending on their size, these millstones were used in the oil or flour mills for pressing the olives or grinding the wheat.  

- the oppidum of Courens which covered an area of 7 hectares: fragments of amphoras attest to a Greek presence since the 6th century BC. Celto-Ligurian tribes then the Romans followed in the 2nd and 1st century BC.  

- the Saint-Hilaire chapel, built on the site of a Roman temple of which the 4 bas reliefs are today exhibited at the archaeological centre of Beaumes de Venise.

- the Early Christian cemetery of Courens next to the Saint-Hilaire chapel: a vast cemetery from the first centuries of Christianity stretches out over the southern part of the plateau. Some fifty sepulchres have been unearthed during archaeological excavations.  

- to the east of the oppidum are the ruins of the Castellas and the ancient village of Durban.

Beaumes de Venise, in the heart of the turquoise itinerary of the Côtes du Rhône

Wine lovers will not be disappointed: here, vineyards and wine-tourism activities flourish. All the wines are classed, whether it is the Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, Beaumes-de-Venise red, Côtes-du-Rhône rosé and white or Côtes-du-Ventoux red, rosé and white. The vineyards of Beaumes-de-Venise produce a highly-valued red wine and a sweet and renowned muscat.
 

Nearby, make a detour to two other wine villages: Gigondas and Séguret, listed among the most beautiful villages of France.