Mazan

Towns and Villages - by Provence Beyond

Villages > Mazan      

Nearby:  | Bédoin 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 |

Below: | Chateaux de Mazan | Olive-Oil Mills | History | O.T. | Dates | Wine | Sports | Hiking | Lodging Hotels |

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.

Chateaux de Mazan

The original Chateau de Sade at Mazan was apparently by the church (Eglise St-Nazaire et Celse) at the top of the village; the foundations of that one date back to 1350. A second chateau was built for the Sade family at the site of the first. The only vestige of that one is the round tower at the end of the house ine the square, beside the religious monument inside the iron fence.

In August 1634, Jean-Baptiste de Sade moved from the chateau by the church to the maison d'Esprit Boutin, lord of Valouse, and that became the Chateau de Sade. Jean-Baptiste François de Sade was born here, 12 March 1702.

This final Chateau de Sade at Mazan has been turned into a rather grand hotel-restaurant, "Le Chateau de Mazan".

Olive Oil Mills    (List of Mills - 84)

Bernard Trazic

Location: 4680 Chemin des Blaynes

Tel: 0490 698 951

Olive oil available.

History

Name
First record, 982: Villa Madazano; in 1302: Maazano

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.
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.

Office de Tourisme

Tel : 04 90 69 70 19; Fax: 04 90 69 66 98

Web: www.mazantourisme.com
Email: officetourisme-mazan@wanadoo.fr

Dates

Market day: Monday mornings
Every Apr - Foire aux Chevaux à Mazan (horses), with brocante
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.

Sports

Cycling
Cycling-Shops.

Camping

Cycling

Comtat Fioul

Peugeot bike dealeship with some rentals. They require a cheque or cash deposit of 500 €.

Location: 11 bd Tournelle

Tel: 0490 698 686; Fax: 0490 69 41 80

Riding

Ecuries de L'Auzon

Nadine FRASZCZAK

Location: Chemin du Contras

Tel: 0490 697 197

Tourisme équestre, Poney club.

Ecurie Vigogne

Location: Route de Venasque, Quartier Font Chaude

Tel: 0609 867 738

Web: www.ecurievigogne.fr

Hiking

Maps:

IGN (1/25,000) #3141 ouest "Carpentras"

IGN (1/25,000) #3040 ET "Carpantras, Vaison-la-Romaine"

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 - Hotels