Tourist in Beaumes de Venise

"The word "beaumes" comes from the Provençal word bauma meaning "cave" or "grotto". The surrounding hills have many of these caves that were inhabited during the Iron Age." (Wikipedia)

The oldest written review of Ad Balmas originates from 993.
Venise originates from Comtat Venaissin an area owned by the papacy of 1274-1791. The linking of the two names Baumes and Venice was made offical as late as in 1954.

One has to walk up to the old village with its narrow streets to realize that also this village was founded on a hilltop. There are no iconic buildings here, but there are some remains of fortress walls and a feudal castle.

The cooperative Cave les Vignerons de Beaumes de Venise (also called Balme Venita) were founded in 1956. In 2014 is merged with the cooperative in Vacqueyras and a new body Rhonéa was created
The cooperative in Beaumes de Venise has today 156 members delivering grapes from 340 ha.

A drive thrugh Beaumes de Venise with Google Streetview

Left: I you are arriving from the west (Vacqueyras or Sarrians you will arrive on Avenue Raspail: here is entrance to the mayor's office and behind you find the tourist
office that has been merged in to a centralized bigger organization Ventoux Provence Tourisme. Then it has become Ventoux Provence Tourisme Bureau
d'informations de Beaumes-de-Venise. Before you could buy the mucat wines form the village here. Today a caveau with local wines does not excist.
Right: Here you are in the very center of the village. The road directly to the church leads up to the old town. There are often smaller markets in this area

Left: In the middle of the picture you can see Brasserie Lou Castelet. The road on the right leads to the marketplace with a lot of parking places and a U Express
Rright: Shortly after the turn onto Avenue Jules Ferry the road to the left leads to Lafare and Suzette - the most beautiful route in Rhone.
Just before the turn is a shop with sales including of olive oil from Moulin à Huile la Balméenne.
Olives are not playing such a big role in the area as before the winter frost in 1956, but the mill has the capacity to produce 135,000 l.

Just before the roundabout by Chapelle Saint Roch are two restaurants Auberge Saint Roch (left) and Le Relais des Dentelles (rigth)
The road straight leads to Saint Véran and Caromb. The road to the right to Aubignan
Le Relais des Dentelles has a nice terrace that invites you to have a lunch The food is good.
Auberge Saint Roch (almost) no terrace, but the food is excellent and the price is a bit higher here.

Chapelle Notre Dame d'Aubune (left) is the most important historical, well-preserved and well-restored (2007) remnant of the early Middle Ages around 1100.
The chapel that is located close to the end of Dentelles de Montmirail to the right of the road between Beaumes de Venise and Vacqueyras (D7).
400m from the roundabout (with the hands and grapes) outside Beaumes a small road Chemin de Notre Dames d'Aubune, leads the chapel (300m from D7).
The church of Eglise Saint-Nazaire in the center of Beaumes de Venise is quite large. Note the port at the bottom left leading into the old part of the village.

Suggestion: Experience the phenomenal views of the Dentelles and the vineyards at the slopes on a drive around the appellation.

Beaumes de Venise - Lafare 4 km
Lafare - La Roque-Alric 3,7 km
La Roque Alric - Route de Suzette (before Barroux) 3,7 km
Start of Route de Suzette - Suzette 4,5 km
Suzette - Beaumes de Venise 7,2 km
In all 23 km.

The numbers on the map show the approximate location of interesting domains worth a visit if you have the time and wish.
For precise driving directions: see pages about the domains.

1 Domaine de Durban 2,7 km from D90
2 Domaine Coyeux 1,9 km from D90
3 Martinelle 200m from D90
4 Domaine Cassan 2,7 km from D90 (Start in the village of Lafare)
5 Domaine de la Ferme Saint Martin 800m north of Suzette
6 Domaine Saint-Amant 1,4 km from Suzette (Same road as to 5)
7 Clos de Trias. Excellent producer of Ventoux - just by D90A

The roads up to the different domains offer very beautiful views to the vines even more spectaculary than from D90.

If you want you can visit the monastery Abbay du Barroux not far from Route de Susette: 1201, Chemin des Rabassières, 84330 Le Barroux.
Here you can attend messes every second hour - or so - See website for daily schedule. Bee prepared for some dress code.
You may not understand the words (Latin), but may be moved by the monks' choiral singing.