I am Mont-Ventoux
Some say that the origin of my name comes from ‘vent’, meaning wind. It is true that the Mistral wind can be very strong at my summit! But the ‘Ven’ in Ventoux actually has Celto-Ligurian origins, making it pre-Latin. It means height or a high place. It is also found in Venasque, a village nestled at my feet! I am ‘the mountain that can be seen from far away’, and that is obvious!
I am also called the Giant of Provence
I am the only mountain in the Vaucluse, located in its northern limit. My resorts to the south and north come alive in winter and summer. I certainly impose myself, but the gentleness of my slopes and my delicate combes which plunge southwards, remind us of the finesse of my intentions. From the top of my 1910 metres (formerly 1912 metres, I have therefore shrunk due certainly to my old age as I am older than the Alps!), I tirelessly dominate and protect my town and villages of the Comtat Venaissin. You reach my summit by road via Bédoin, Malaucène (21km) or Sault (25km). Or by multiple marked paths...
On these paths, the same, centuries-old feelings return!
• The joy of seeing me from afar,
• The sense of satisfaction that you feel after the effort of climbing up me
• The feeling of contemplation upon seeing the breath-taking panoramic views at the summit.
I feel that the locals watch over me and look at me as they pass by everyday. I watch the enthusiasm of the sportspeople who give so much for me, as well as the nature lovers who so deeply respect me. South of my summit, I can admire the Plain of Comtat, the Dentelles de Montmirail, the Monts de Vaucluse, the Rhône Valley, the Cévennes and even the Mediterranean Sea. To the north, I look over the Drône Baronnies and the Alpes du Sud.
I protect and feel protected
This reassures me. I have been recognised as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. I am also a part of the European Natura 2000 network that aims to integrate human activities into the development of natural heritage in the most sustainable way. I provide a home for almost 1,500 plant varieties and over 150 species of birds. I also have chamois, mouflons, stags, roe deer, birds of prey, wild boar and hares. You can even find the meadow viper here which is highly protected because it is so rare.
My biosphere is one-of-a-kind !
It is true that I am unusual - I am a mountain in Provence with climates similar to those from the Mediterranean up to Greenland! I welcome protected Arctic plants, Mediterranean plants like thyme, lavender, broadleaved lavender and rosemary, as well as African plants such as pomegranate trees and the Atlas cedar. I am also home to the biggest cedar forest in Europe.