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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.
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Nearby: |
Apt 36 km |
Avignon 65 km |
Banon 29 km |
Carpentras 40 km |
Forcalquier 54 km |
Gordes 40 km |
Nesque Gorges 6 km |
11 km |
Ventoux Mountain 26 km |
Villes-sur-Auzon 23 km |
Below: |
Lavender |
Museums |
History |
O.T. |
Dates |
Transportation |
Hiking |
Lodging Hotels |
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!
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.
Museums & Sites
The municipal museum of Sault has a natural-history collection and great collection of antiques, many obtained from the village and surrounding area.
History
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.
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.
Office de Tourisme
Tel: 04 90 64 01 21; Fax: 04 90 64 01 21
Email: OT-Sault@axit.fr
Dates
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
Transportation
Bus Carpentras - Sault
Route: Carpentras, Mazan, Mormoiron, Villes-sur-Auzon, Monieux, Sault.
Cars Comtadins; tel 0490 672 025
Bus Apt - Sault
Route: Apt, Villars, Saint Saturnin-lès-Apt, Petits-Cléments, Grand-Cléments, Rustrel, Saint Christol, Sault.
For details, contact the Gare Routière Avignon (tel 0490 820 735) or the Office de Tourisme in Sault, Apt or Carpentras.
Hiking
- Maps:
- IGN (1/25,000) #3241 ouest "Sault (Vaucluse)"
- 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 - Hotels
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Photo gallery of 7 photos for Sault
