The Mont Ventoux - reserve of biosphere

The Mont Ventoux giant of Provence

Down from its 1912 meters, it is the highest summit of Vaucluse. With its 25 km long (east/west axis) and 15 km wide (north/south axis), it is the Giant of Provence !

Its summit swept across by winds 2 third parties of the year and plentiful precipitation shaped a lunar landscape. The Mount Ventoux by its geographical isolation is visible from the four places of Provence. And when the weather is clear the panorama which you discover at its summit is grandiose : in the East extends all the Alpine range, more in the South the Gulf of Lions, the Camargue, the Rhône valley, Avignon and naturally the Mediterranean Sea, we can even see the famous "Bonne Mère" which protects the city of Marseille. And if you turn your glance eastward it is the Massif Central and the Cevennes which you can admire.

This Giant of limestone always fascinated the Provençal, he inspired numerous narratives and popular legends, but also a plentiful artistic production.

The Mont Ventoux in its variety

It seems to be there from the mists of time… Nevertheless if it always fascinated man who approached it, it is only in 1336 when he was climbed. It is thanks to the famous poet Pétrarque's narrative that the date and the progress of this ascent up to the summit are known. It is himself who living in Fonaine de Vaucluse not far from there, took part in this expedition. The climate is rough and the climb difficult, the various and numerous winds which come to crash on the Mont Ventoux, its high height, produce its steep slopes little easy to climb for men…

But if this climate, mountain at the top, moderated in the middle-slope and Mediterranean for the rest, is binding for men, it is not the same for the fauna and the flora. We find an environmental variety completely profitable to the development of numerous forms of life. Thanks to its specific climate the Mont Ventoux was classified site Natura 2000 and reserve of biosphere by the UNESCO.

The Mont Ventoux and the biodiversity

Its classification in reserve of biosphere by the UNESCO dates from the 1990s. Numerous studies had been led by the INRA and it from the 1970s. The subject of these research works was "biological balances in the Mont Ventoux".

To protect at best this remarkable ecosystem, different zones were bounded. At the top of the Mont Ventoux, beyond a height of 1000 meters, it is a ground constituted by calcareous masses of fallen rocks that shelters a very rare flora, the Mont Serein is a mixture of high mountain pastures and forests. More in the North a beech grove with very old trees, if we pursue our road it is Bédoin forest of cedars that we can discover. Then there is the head of Emine, its exceptional flora and the very numerous species of birds which it shelters. To finish by the gorges of the Nesque and its vertiginous cliffs which are of use as shelter to a multitude of species.

These sensitive zones with a fragile balance benefit from another protection than that of its status of reserve of biosphere. An European ecological network Natura 2000, allowed the implementation of a protected space of 3 140 hectares, dividing up between the gorges of the Nesque and the top of the Mont Ventoux. The purpose of this network is the conservation of the species or remarkable housing environments.

The flora of the Mont Ventoux

It is a beautiful example of variety that we discover on the little appealing slopes of this giant.

Small inventory :

A "médioeuropéenne" flora which we usually meet in Central Europe, a Mediterranean flora because the temperatures can be scorching by place but also trees deserving of alpine forests. You still have to discover at its summit species that we find in Arctic region !

On the sides of the giant of Provence you can observe : holm oak, larch, cedar from Lebanon, olive tree, fir tree, small poppy from Greenland, thyme, beech, lavender, martagon lily etc. A large number of species are protected, some are only on the Mont Ventoux and their rarity is precious, it is better to avoid picking them. For the amateurs, the most symbolic of these pecies are certainly the small poppy from Greenland and the martagon lily.

The fauna of the Mont Ventoux

Such a variety of vegetation naturally incited numerous animal species to come to find refuge and food to the giant. Six species of big ungulata on eleven which counts France can be listed : stag, Sika stag, roe deer, chamois, Corsican mouflon and naturally wild boar. There are small mammals too, hares, rabbits, foxes and badgers mix.

Birds are here for their ease, a multitude of species live in this protected environment, the list would be a little bit long, because it counts more than 120 species. The rarest are : the hazel grouse, the blackbird of rocks and the owl from Tengmalm. Insects, reptiles and amphibians are not in rest. There are remarkable butterfliessuch as Macaon and other endemic sorts as this diurnal butterfly the chessboard from Occitanie.

And what about this animal of legend... the wolf ? The last one was shoot down according to the statements of the inhabitants of the surroundings at the beginning of the XXth century. But it seems that this one made its reappearance, its presence in the sector of Lure mountain is now established, and certain testimonies, in particular those of always watchful shepherds, give evidence of its presence on the Mont Ventoux.

The Mont Ventoux a symbol of Provence

Provence is a rich ground by its variety, a ground with multiple facets, with multiple faces. Different and changeable landscapes, varied climates and lifestyles. The Mont Ventoux is a mix of these elements, it symbolizes all the wealth of Provence.

The Mont Ventoux is a wonderful reserve of biosphere, but it is not only that. There are legends which are connected with it and not only old legends that we told in the corner of the fire, but also legends of cycling. Every year we meet thousands lovers of cycling on the steep slopes of the mountain. Its reputation is redoubtable, the Mont Ventoux was often a key stage of the famous Tour de France. The surroundings of the Mont Ventoux are an ideal place for holidays if you wish to ally rest, discovery and riding, a small advice before beginning your ascent the easiest road being the one which comes from Sault.

Around the Mont Ventoux, the population lived until now on breeding, on farming, on high plateaus the fields of lavender and spelt succeed one another. At feet of the mountain in the region of Comtat Venaissin it is the vine which dominates and gives a Côtes du Ventoux AOC wine. But these last years the Mont Ventoux welcomes more and more people attracted by the green tourism in summer, and the numerous proposed activities : discovery of the fauna and the flora, bare of the cultural heritage, walking, riding or pony trekking and ski in winter ! And recently a new activity offers a new center of interest to the Mont Ventoux the wine tourism which allows to discover with an other eye the wealth of this country, quite as an initiation into the tasting of the truffle…

The Mont Ventoux, symbol, legend, rich and fragile at the same time can only surprise you !