Sablet – in the Haut Vaucluse is a “bijou”! Close to everything but out off the radar.
Charming
and picturesque - perched on a beehive shaped sandstone hill, Sablet is a
walled village where the people you will meet in the cafes and shops are your
neighbours who live and work in the village or the surrounding area. Sablet developed over hundreds of years "inside the walls "where narrow concentric streets make their way to the top of the hill to the Church of St Nazaire.
The ramparts or “Barrys” as they are locally known have been restored by a group of local citizens devoted to preserving the historical architecture in the village. Covered “ruelles”, tall village houses huddled together to protect against invaders, fountains and lavoirs which were the village water supply and place to do laundry, the “escaliers” (stone steps) make Sablet a delightful and restful place to get away to after a busy day’s sightseeing .
Literally two minutes walk from Les Maisons are the shops, cafes and restaurants that provide a convenience to your daily life whilst here.
The Bureau de Tourisme in the village square – not only provides lots of great information about this and all the neighboring villages but also a sampling of wines (for tasting and purchase) from all the Sablet wine makers. Many wineries can be found within walking distance of Les Maisons.
There are two Epiceries (convenience markets), a Boucherie (Butcher), a Fleuriste, a Tabac – Presse, where you can pick up your daily copy of the local and Parisian daily newpapers as well as the International Herald Tribune, a Banque (with cash machine), Post Office and Medical Center with on duty doctors and a dentist.
Be sure not to miss the two amazing Boulangeries (bakeries), for your fresh bread and croissants for breakfast.
The Café des Sports is a great place to relax over a café au lait, or an early evening aperitif, maybe before dinner at one of the neighboring restaurants Le Cornucopia, Les Remparts - or the Pizza Comme Di where you can dine outdoors in the square or take it to go.
Restaurant Les Abeilles brings to life “la cuisine du marché” as the seasonal menu showcases locally produced, fresh foods. The restaurant with its large plane tree shaded terrace is found a short walk from the village center on the Route de Vaison.
The Bell Tower of the Church of St. Nazaire, illuminated at night - stands out against the surrounding countryside as a marker of the village.
The church sits practically in your backyard and the view of the tower at night is fantastic from your own private terrace.
The following is a short pictorial tour of the village
The village of Sablet is 3 hours by TGV from Charles de Gaulle Airport and then a 20 minute drive from Avignon. Alternatively you can fly into Nice and catch the TGV from there or fly to Marseille and it is about an hours drive.
