Bédoin

Rock shelters from prehistoric times have been discovered in the area at sites such as Combe de la Madelène, and the name "Beduinum" can be first found in historic documents from the middle of the 10th century.

In the Roman era, villas and farm lands dominated the lower hillsides around Bédoin, and in 1250, Lord Barral des Baux granted the villagers important privileges, notably the use of the Ventoux farming lands, giving them prosperity for centuries.

In 1271, the Comtat Venaissin became Papal land and Bédoin a part of the papacy until 1791, at which point the Comtat was joined back to France. However Bédoin remained loyal to the pope, and the revolutionary repression that ensued was the most painful episode in the history of the village. Declared in a state of counter-revolution, the village was literally wiped from the map when it was destroyed in 1794. Thankfully, a year later it was restored.

There are a number of sights to visit around the village.

The remains of a Roman villa can be visited on the outskirts, at a little hamlet called Les Bruns. Since the site is protected you can only visit with a guide during designated times, which can be organised through the local tourist office.

To the north you can find the Chapel of the Madeleine, one of the most outstanding examples of primitive Romanesque art in Provence, which is open for visitors on weekends during summer.

Not only is this a popular place for cyclists, it also attracts mountain bikers to the bike park on the south side of Mont Ventoux plus there are plenty of options for hiking, including a few options mentioned here in our reporter review.

The town has its own municipal tennis court and swimming pool too.

You'll find a nice mix of restaurants, from pizzas and pasta to more traditional local cuisine.

There are a number of campsites in and around the area if you're looking for somewhere to pitch your tent or park your camper.

There are a handful of small hotels and B&B's in and around Bédoin.

Bédoin lies to the west of Mont Ventoux around 15km from Carpentras.