Mazan Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Vaucluse (84380) Population: 4460 Altitude: 197 m Nearby: [ Bédoin 10 km | Caromb 8 | Carpentras 7 | Mormoiron 6 | St. Pierre/Vassols |Venasque | Villes-sur-Auzon ] Photos: A larger view of the renaissance door (22k) An ancient village fountain with a typical user (17k) Below: [ History | Wine | Cycling | Hiking | Lodging ] Mazan is a proper town of 4500 inhabitants, with the old town protected by its circled wall of buildings dating from the 14th century. The old "portes" give entrance into a lot of narrow streets, with ancient houses, churches and fountains. The romanesque medieval church was an ancient "prieuré". Next to the church is an old hotel particulier with a Florentine style renaissance doorway (photo). Behind the church there's a museum with a fantastic looking old stone kiln, the thick stones worn and weathered by time. The road between Mazan and Villes-sur-Auzon passes through vineyards, but also through a nice pine forest; a great place for relaxing walks and picnic lunches. Mazan had a rocky and interesting history, including the infamous Marquis de Sade who staged theatrical productions here in his 18th-century castle. Name First record, 982: Villa Madazano; in 1302: Maazano History Prehistoric: Polished stone axes have been found from the neolithic era. Gallo-Roman: There were several large Gallo-Roman domains here, at the large domains of La Condamine, Jusalem, Les Molances and St-Andéol. In the cemetery of Mazan there are 64 very rare beautiful gallo-roman sarcophages. Roman: 1st to 4th century necropoles are at the vicus of St-Andéol. Medieval: the commune was ruled in two parts by different families, one of them being Sade. During 1588-1589 and in 1629, a reoccurrence of the plague epidemic decimated the commune. At the end of the 18th century, the Marquis de Sade held the first Festival de Provence at his château. Dates Market day: Monday mornings Fête votive: 4th Sunday July Pilgrimage to La Brune: 2nd Sunday after Easter Wine Mazan is in the region of the Rhône Valley and has some very good rosé, white and red Côtes de Ventoux wines. Cycling Cycling-Shops. Camping Hiking Maps: IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3141 ouest "Carpentras" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #27 "Ventoux" Mazan is in the center of the rolling plains of the Auzon river, an area of rich farmlands, cherry orchards and vineyards. Country walking along the small roads here is pleasant, but there are no real hiking trails close to the town. For real hiking, Villes-sur Auzon (10 km east) and Venasque (10 km south) are both on the edge of the forested Plateau de Vaucluse where the GR91 (Grande Randonnée) and other good trails are located. Lodging Listing available