Perched village of Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Le Barroux takes place on a limestone peak between Carpentras and Malaucène. It is located about thirty kilometers from Avignon, not far from the town of Bédoin.
Le Barroux was born from the construction of a military fortress to protect the comtadine plain against Saracen and Italian invasions in the 12th century. The town, like the whole Comtat Venaissin, becomes papal land in the second half of the 13th century after the cession of the territory by the King of France. Once again attached to France at the end of the 18th century following the French Revolution, it is now mainly turned towards tourism, thanks to its proximity to Mont Ventoux.
Known for its production of AOC Côtes du Ventoux wines, the village of Barroux still has today an interesting architectural heritage appealing visitors.
Partly visited, the castle of Barroux still has some medieval elements, as well as a chapel decorated with murals of the eighteenth century listed historical monument.
Listed in the Historical Monuments, the church Saint-Jean-Baptiste built in the fourteenth century is not lacking in interest. Romanesque style, it reveals a square base bell tower on which we can see a staircase giving access to the bell tower of the sixteenth century.
Walking through the town, you can admire a Hotel Dieu of the sixteenth century, the remains of a nineteenth century aqueduct or the old communal oil mill.
Erected in the late 1970s, Abbey Sainte-Madeleine is occupied by a brotherhood of Benedictine monks since 2008. Made in a Romanesque style, it has an outdoor assembly of buttered stonework, and inside three colored stones and different aspects. The site produces its own bread and olive oil, part of which is for sale, and offers spiritual retreats for men from February to December.
Feminine at Sainte-Madeleine Abbey, the Abbey of Our Lady of the Annunciation was also founded in the late twentieth century. There are about forty nuns known for their gifts in Gregorian chant.
Discovering the surroundings of Barroux, do not miss to appreciate the chapel Saint-Christophe located in the countryside, or the chapel Saint-Andéol.
