The village
Caromb is a typical Provençal fortified village, its old buildings forming a circular wall, within which a warren of narrow streets coils towards a 16th century belfry. Beside the main square sits one of the largest Romanesque churches in the Vaucluse, and the main street leading from here up to a stone gateway is lined with local shops, restaurants and cafés. A lovely place to be based, Caromb is hugely charming but also an everyday French village, where people live and work year round.
Local specialities
‘Berlingot’, a speciality from nearby Carpentras, is a hard sweet which comes in different colours and flavours such as mint, aniseed, lemon.
The village of Beaumes de Venise is famous both for its sweet white wines and also a delicious cake made with apricots or other fruit soaked in this wine.
Many delicious fruits are grown in this part of the country but when you’re at the market, particularly look out for cherries from Venasque.
Things to see
Take a scenic drive around the Dentelles mountains, passing or stopping off at pretty villages such as Le Barroux and La Roque-Alric, or one of the vineyards around Gigondas and Vacqueyras. At the northern end of the Dentelles, visit the Roman town of Vaison-la-Romaine with its superb Roman remains and archaeological museum.
Other day trips could include Orange or Avignon, both with much Roman history to discover, the beautiful canal town of L’Isle sur la Sorgue, the iconic Mont Ventoux and the lavender fields of Sault.
Things to do
The Lac du Paty, just north of the village, has a lovely lakeside beach where the locals go to cool down in the summer. Or about half an hour’s drive will bring you to the Toulourenc river gorges, where you can bathe and go for ‘gorgeous’ walks!
There are tennis courts in the village, and bike hire and horse riding available in nearby villages.
Young people in the group may be happy to try out one of the biggest karting circuits in France at Monteux (20km), or spend a day at the water and theme parks on the edge of Carpentras.
If you’re looking to expend some serious energy, there is a treetop adventure park near Mormoiron (approx 12km), climbing in the Dentelles mountains (18km) or canoeing on the River Sorgue (30km).
