Venasque

Visit Venasque, Provence

Venasque is a village in the centre of the Vaucluse department of Provence, to the south-east of Carpentras and east of Pernes-les-Fontaines.

Perched high on a rocky promontory below Mont Ventoux, Venasque has far-reaching views across the Nesque valley and Vaucluse. Venasque is officially listed as one of the 'most beautiful villages in France'.

Explore Venasque

The village has a pleasant centre to explore, with the quiet streets interrupted by the babble from the occasional fountain, and several buildings of particular interest. The most important of these is the baptistery.

Venasque Baptistery is an impressive structure dating back to the 6th century. The traditional 'well' in the middle of the floor of the baptistery enabled adults to immerse their whole bodies in the water during baptism (a tradition that only changed in later centuries when people started being concerned about unbaptised children, and baptism without immersion was approved).

The four sides to the baptistery represent the shape of the cross, the five arches in each side represent the senses, and the eight sides to the baptism well represent the seven days of creation plus the day of the resurrection (Easter day). (A small entry charge is payable to enter the Venasque baptistery.)

Other highlights in Venasque include the Church of Notre-Dame (12th-17th century), containing an important 15th century painting of the crucifixion, and the substantial ramparts and towers in the village - there are especially good views from the path between the towers.

You can also see the Saint-Siffrein Chapel and the Priory of Saint-Pierre-les-Termes.

The countryside around Venasque

Nearby, one particular highlight in the shadow of Mont Ventoux are the Gorges de la Nesque - these scenic gorges can be seen by road from above the gorge or a footpath through the bottow of the gorges.

You will also notice many small stone shelters called bories in the area around Venasque, and part of a wall erected in the early 18th century to defend the region against the plague epidemic that was spreading across the country from Marseille.

See Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur and Vaucluse (the region and department for Venasque) for more travel ideas...

Tourist classifications for Venasque: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 2*;

Suggested places to visit near Venasque, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Gordes 10km; Roussillon 16km; Le Barroux 16km; Oppede-le-Vieux 17km; Menerbes 19km; Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt 20km; Lacoste 21km; Dentelles de Montmirail 21km; Bonnieux 23km; Sault 23km; Apt 24km;

Venasque tourist information: sights and attractions nearby

Jarditrain - remarkable garden (3km) : Abbaye de Sénanque (Gordes) - religious monument (10km) : Collégiale Notre Dame des Anges (Sorgues) - religious monument (10km) : Gorges de la Nesque - site of natural beauty (16km) : Dentelles de Montmirail - site of natural beauty (21km) : Mont Ventoux - grand site of france (22km) : Jardin du château de Brantes - remarkable garden (22km) : Jardin de la Louve - remarkable garden (23km) :

See more places and a map at places near Venasque