Nearby:

Bedoin 10 km
Caromb 8 km
Carpentras 7 km
Mormoiron 6 km
Saint Pierre-de-Vassols 7 km
Venasque 13 km
Villes-sur-Auzon 10 km

The infamous Marquis de Sade's birthplace, the chateau de Mazan (17th century) is now a luxurious hotel-restaurant, the original castle (13th century) is mainly destroyed but one of its towers can still be seen in town.

Though humans inhabited the area since the neolithic its during the Gallo Roman era that the village developed into an important agricultural center. It is in Mazan that were found France's most ancient Gaul made anphoras (1st century BC). The village has had a tumultuous history riddled with barbarian invasions, plagues, revolutions and finally rural exodus. But it is now all the richer for it with some interesting sites such as the 6th century necropolis or its old rampart gates, some dating from the 15th century. The town has some very nice fountains and a colleciton of chapels and churches dotted around its winding streets that you will surely enjoy discovering along with its rich history.

Monday is market day in Mazan, where you will find the local poduce of fruit, vegetables, oils and Côtes-du-ventoux wines. Carpentras is just a few minutes drive away and hosts the area's biggest and most noteworthy market every Friday.

Mazan sits at the bottom of the Mont Ventoux in an area known as the Comtat Venaissin which was from 1274 until 1793, like Avignon, property of the popes.

Although not formed of a whole united geographical entity, it included mainly the valleys between Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail. Villages as far north as Montelimar and south as Bonnieux in the Luberon were also part of the Comtat.

The region includes many perched villages that have kept their traditional winding streets and ancient buildings such as Le Barroux, Crillon-le-Brave and Suzette. But also, important market towns like Carpentras which are full of historical monuments and colourful stands.

Staying in a Just Provence luxury rental in the Comtat Venaissin 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.

It is a very agricultural region famed in France for its fruits and olives, but is world reknown for its wines of course.