Carpentras rests in the heart of the fertile plains of Comtat Venaissin, Once the holiday home of the Popes of Avignon it is now one of Provence's largest towns with superb markets.

Aubignan ~ 5 km
Loriol-du-Comtat ~ 6 km
Monteux ~ 6 km
Pernes-les-Fontaines ~ 6 km
Beaumes-de-Venise ~ 8 km
Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron ~ 8 km
Saint-Didier ~ 9 km
Mazan ~ 9 km
Caromb ~ 9 km
Sarrians ~ 9 km
Modène ~ 10 km
La Roque-Alric ~ 10 km
Lafare ~ 10 km
Le Barroux ~ 11 km
La Roque-sur-Pernes ~ 11 km

The 18th century Hôtel Dieu used to host the hospital but is now used as a cultural center, hosting various festivals, like the electro music Colorz festival in the summer, or art expositions. Its pharmacy kept in its 18th century condition is worth visiting.

Carpentras is ideally located to explore and enjoy the department of Vaucluse. The Luberon National Park, with its picture postcard beauty and perched, hilltop villages is a 40 minute drive. Historic towns such as Avignon (with its amazing papal palace), Vaison la Romaine (with its Roman ruins) and Orange (with its complex history) are all within an easy drive.

Carpentras, historical capital of the Comtat Venaissin, has many historical features for the visitor to explore. But the region also includes many perched villages who have kept their traditional winding streets and ancient buildings such as Le Barroux, Crillon-le-Brave and Suzette.

Staying in a Just Provence luxury rental in the Carpentras region means you will be in an independant cultural niche in the middle of Provence. The area is historically rich and offers fantastic hiking and cycling opportunities thanks to its natural features.

Comtat Venaissin is a very agricultural region famed in France for its fruits and olives, but is world reknown for its wines (Côtes du Ventoux) of course.

Carpentras stands on the banks of the Auzon, a tributary of the Ardèche River. As capital of the Comtat Venaissin, it was a further residence of the Avignon popes when they needed a change from their palatial apartments in Avignon. The Papal States retained possession of the Venaissin until the French Revolution. Nowadays, Carpentras is a commercial centre and is famous for the truffle markets held from winter to early spring.

Since Antiquity, Carpentras has been a city of commerce, it has kept this tradition and every Friday morning the colorful market attracts people from all over the region. Also not to be missed is the brocante/old wares market held every Sunday. The brocante market here caters to the locals as well as visitors and you're more likely to come home with a real find at a good price, than at the more expensive antiques markets in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

It boasts many historical monuments from its history and you can visit in less than a half mile radius the 1st century AD Roman arch near the 15th century cathedral St Siffrein, the oldest synagog in France (14th century) and the 18th episcopal palace which used to be a tribunal and is richly decorated all in the center of town.

Carpentras is one of Provence's main towns so it's the place to come for all your practicalities as well as for culture and good food.

On the outskirts of the city there are numerous marked trails where one can walk and admire the local fauna and flora.

One of the best weekly markets in France takes place every Friday morning in Carpentras. Over 350 stalls.

In existence since 1155, the market has two particular claims to fame. Sweet, juicy local strawberries and winter truffles.

The 15th century gothic cathedral Saint Siffrein, took over 150 years to build. It is a national monument as well as is its main organ. The cathedral is host to a holy relic the "Saint Mors" brought back from the crusades. It belonged to Saint Helena who had a nail from the Holy Cross turned into a bit (horse tack) for her son emperor Constantine.