The southern village of Tavel is situated at the heart of the Rhône Valley
in the department of the Gard, 15 km from Avignon, 15 km from the Pont de Gard,
20 km from Orange, and 40 km from Nîmes. It rises high above the Rhône,
at the center of what is known as the "sillon rhodanien" (the furrow
of the Rhône). It is the birthplace of the well-known wine that bears the
name of the village, a Côtes du Rhône "cru" and France's
best rosé.
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| shops |
Known the world over for its limestone and even more for its
rosé wine, which is produced on its 960 hectares, our village provides
numerous facilities to welcome and charm you: 3 hotels, 4 restaurants, guests
houses, 1 pool, 2 tennis courts and club house, game of boules, hiking trails,
cycling. |
| heritage |
Chapel of St. Férréol, wash-house, fountain,
the neighborhood of les Jardinets, the church, and the "temple." |
| history |
Nature has given Tavel a treasure which it has guarded
since the earliest times. The history of Tavel and of its nectar is truly
a story about the senses. |
| local products |
Wine and limestone.
Formerly, farmers reserved their most fertile soils for growing wheat and banished
its grapevines to the most difficult terrains. The unwelcoming nature of Tavel's
soil has now been transformed into a quality and an advantage.
Tavel has deliberately chosen to produce only rosé wines, for reasons
that are essentailly related to the nature, the climate, and the history of the
land.
Since the Renaissance, people everywhere have sought out the Tavel wine called "clairet," whose
distictive feature, as the name indicates, is its light, rosé color.
Today, under the eyes of the benevolent giant that is Provence's Mont Ventoux,
a vineyard trail offers a pleasant stroll through the heart of Tavels' three "terroirs," all
of which fully contribute to the creation and the reputation of France's best
rosé.
The second source of riches for our village is the stone of Tavel. For over 100
years, a vein of very pure compact limestone has been exploited. It is less than
800 meters wide and 1500 meters long. It is divided among three quarrymen.
The stone of Tavel is a "cold" limestone; it is hard and can only be
worked with a chisel or with a grindstone.
It is of a creamy white color, and it contains a large amount of iron oxide which
eventually gives it a lovely ivory hue. There is also a bluish variation, which,
when polished, has the appearance of marble. |
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Between Ceze and Ardeche rivers
Cevennes foothills
Tave river valley
In the Cotes du Rhone
Around Uzes
Near the Pont du Gard
Across the bridge from Avignon
