Sault Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Vaucluse (84390) Population: 1200 Altitude: 760 m Nearby: [ Apt 36 km | Avignon 65 | Carpentras 40 | St. Christol 11 | Villes-sur-Auzon 26 | Mont Ventoux | Gorges de la Nesque ] Photos: 1 The baker, the butcher, and the hardware shops (26 k) 2 The village, overlooking a stone bridge and the countryside (42 k) 3 A village bricoleur in his atelier (34 k) 4 Bronze statue of miss Liberty on the fountain (30 k) 5 Stone statue of a soldier on the war memorial (34 k) 6 The end of the village viewed from the bridge below (33 k) 7 The village perched along the ridge (36 k) Below: [ History | Lavender | Museum | Hiking | Lodging ] Sault is an old fortified village perched along the top of a high ridge overlooking a wide valley, with large lavender fields spread out below to the south and west. A long multi-arched road bridge crosses the tiny La Croc stream below, past the southeast end of the village. Along with the ancient buildings lining the high ridge are the remains of a huge feudal castle. The village is open and relaxed, with wide squares and a few cafés, and the central church is nicely restored. There's a good selection of shops, some with local and regional products. There's a fair amount of tourist traffic in the summer. The fields around Sault sit in a low area surrounded by mountains: the Ventoux and the Lure mountains range across the northwest and northeast, and the Plateau de Vaucluse is spread out across the south. Just a few kilometers out of the village to the southwest are the deep canyons of the Gorges de la Nesque. The "Pays de Sault" (the region) was an ancient Comté, ruled by a count. In the 18th and 19th centuries Sault was the center of an important glass industry. Today the glass works are gone, but the weekly market (Wednesdays) has remained -- since 1515! Name The name Sault comes from "Saltus", referring to the forests that covered the territory. Aeria was an ancient habitation at this location that was destroyed and abandoned during the barbarian invasions. History Prehistoric: Paleolithic, neolithic and bronze-age vestiges and artifacts have been found in the Bois du Défens to the northeast of the village, where a large cave is located. Gallo-Roman: Vestiges were discovered at the hamlet of Loges, on the river plain just west of the village. Medieval: The Barons of Agoult ruled Sault in the 11th century and maintained their rule for five centuries. The last of the various succeeding rulers was the Duke of Villeroy, who lost his head to the guillotine during the Revolution. Dates, Numbers Market day: Wednesdays, an active market that's been going on since 1515. Foire: 25 June; 25 Nov Foire: Monday after "Passion"; the day after Assomption Fête votive (fireworks): 2nd Sunday Aug Fête St. Jean (at St. Jean): end June Fête St. Rose (at Verdolier): end Aug Fête of Lavender: 15 Aug Office de Tourisme - tel: (33) 490 64 01 21 Lavender There are also many other lavender fields towards the eastern end of the gorges de la Nesque, and southeast along the D30 road to St. Christol. Museum The municipal museum of Sault has a natural-history collection and great collection of antiques, many obtained from the village and surrounding area. Camping Hiking Maps: IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3241 ouest "Sault" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #27 "Ventoux" The GR4 (Grande Randonnée), from just west of the village, goes south through the Bois des Fayettes to a peak at 1059 m. Just past this peak, the GR4 and GR9 join, and both trails explore the forests and mountains of the Plateau de Vaucluse. From just west of Sault, the GR4 also goes northwest, joining the GR9 in the Sault Forest. The mountains here, with their forests and many hiking trails, connect with the Ventoux mountains to the north and to the west, and there are days of uninterrupted hiking possible. A hiking trail east of Sault crosses fields and woods without significant climbing, passing through the village of Revest-du-Bion. Lodging Listing available