A realm of extremes in the Provençal sky

A lookout over the Provençal landscape

The summit of Mont Ventoux rises above Provence, its brilliant white dome acting as a landmark visible from more than a hundred kilometres away, from the Cévennes foothills to the Mediterranean shores. A dominant presence in the Provençal landscape, this solitary sentinel—an outpost of the Alps and the highest point of Vaucluse— watches over the Rhône Valley from its 1,912 metres.

A land of contrasts

It marks the transition between Alpine and Mediterranean influences. Its appeal lies as much in its striking presence in the landscape as in the contrasts it shelters: above the slopes covered with beeches and pines unfolds a bare, mineral world where limestone stones reflect the radiance of the Provençal sky.

A horizon open across all Provence

Visitors come here to contemplate a horizon open in every direction, from the high Alpine peaks to the north to the ridgelines of the Luberon and the Alpilles to the south. Up here, the wind rules; the air cools, reminding one that the gentle Mediterranean climate has been left behind for an Alpine atmosphere. At the height of summer, while the plains swelter, average temperatures at the summit barely exceed 21 degrees.

Extreme climatic conditions

Mont Ventoux was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1990. On its upper scree slopes survives a rare vegetation for these latitudes, a legacy of the glacial eras. Up here, the conditions become extreme: the first weather station was built in 1873 to study climate variations. Its records bear witness to an uncommon climatic harshness: nearly 284 days of frost per year, winds regularly exceeding 100 km/h, and a record gust of 320 km/h recorded in 1967.

A legendary challenge for cyclists

Now mythical among cyclists, the ascent by bike is a rite approached with humility and requires solid training. The first to reach the summit—on a dirt road in 2h29—was Jacques Gabriel in 1908. The Tour de France first took this route in 1951, and has returned regularly ever since, drawn by this setting made for feats and tragedies, in a landscape of striking power.

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Reaching the summit

The summit is accessible by one of three winding roads—from Bédoin, Malaucène or Sault. Hikers prefer more discreet paths starting from the plain, or from Mont Serein or the Chalet Reynard. Due to extreme conditions, winter access to the summit is closed to vehicles from mid-November to at least mid-April.

The lunar landscape at the summit of Mont Ventoux heightens the impression of altitude and solitude, creating a striking, luminous panorama of rare purity.