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Mont Ventoux

3 ascensions différentes sont possible:

par Bédoin - Malaucène - Sault - agrandir la carte

altitude: 1912 meters.
accès: Malaucène, Bédoin, Sault.
difficulté: **** da 20 a 25 km

La réserve de biosphère du Mt Ventoux

récits et témoignages

articles du cycle octobre 2004

This is surely one of the top 20 in the French passes. As all the cyclists will tell you, the Mont Ventoux is a really difficult ascent that you can compare with the hardest from the Alps. If you are really fit, the triple plateaux are mandatory, otherwise a 39/27 or 39/25 should be enough. If you are in great shape, I advise you to climb from Malaucène for the wonderful view you’ll have on the surrounding mountains and the quality of the road. You can also have a snack at the ski station Mont Serein before fighting for the last five kilometres. For a more relaxed ascension, it is better to begin from Sault: the first twenty kilometres are quite easy and in the forest. When you arrive at the Chalet-Reynard, have a rest to be able to go for the five last kilometres at 9% average. The most sportive start from Bédoin, it’s the pros 'ascension and with no doubt the most difficult.

A few tips to keep a good souvenir of your ascent:

- Do not climb with a strong facing wind, neither when clouds hide the summit. The best is choosing a lovely day, when the view is clear. It is a pity to make the ascent in the rain or the clouds without benefiting from the view. It is also important not to forget the changes of temperatures; it can be really cold with the wind.

- Be fit and able to deal with effort to avoid being completely exhausted at the top.

- Do not forget that the ascent is long: between 20 and 25 km. This means between 1h30 and 2h30 of effort.

A rapid description of the Ventoux:

Located near Carpentras, the Mont Ventoux is 25 km long and 15km wide. It overlooks a plain situated at more or less 100 to 300 meters. It stands out from the other mountains and encounters important climatic effects: major variations of temperature that go from heatwaves to -30°C. During the summer, scorchers can be followed by snowstorms. The wind can reach 250 km/h, coming from all directions.
During a sunny day on the top of the Ventoux, you’ll discover one of the most wonderful panoramas of Europe. One the east slope, behind plateau d'Albionand montagne de Lure, the mount Viso marks the Italian boundary. Further South, the gorges de la Nesques, the Luberon, mountain Saint-Victoire and pond de Berre to Mediterranean. The north offers a view that goes from the south to reach the highest alpines summits. There, you will discover Rhône valley, Cévennes and Mont Aigoual before reaching the big mountains around the Mont Blanc.
The Mont Ventoux is the highest point of Provence, with its 1.912 meters. It is a remarkable natural site with huge varieties of vegetal and animal species. Is has been classified "Réserve de Biosphère" by the U.N.E.S.C.O, like 368 natural sites worldwide. From the ten French reserves, two, Mont Ventoux and Lubéron are located in the Vaucluse.