THE BEL-AIR GÎTES NEWSLETTER

N°47

01.08.2024

31.08.2024

Les Gites de Bel-Air

L'Echo de Bel-Air

Editorial

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXXIIIᵉ Olympiad, will be celebrated from 26 July to 11 August 2024 in Paris, France. The city is officially designated at the 131ᵉ Session of the IOC in Lima, Peru, on 13 September 2017. EMMA and I went to see the Olympic flame pass through Isle sur la sorgue. Enjoying this historic moment that won't be happening again anytime soon.

Well placed, we were able to witness a torch relay.

But before that, the expedition was made up of Stephane, our eldest son, Alain Lepori, our friend, EMMA and Jean-Claude, and Jacky joined us on site...

PARIS 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES

The expedition set off from the Bel-Air gîtes and reached L'Isle sur la Sorgue by road bike. We couldn't pass up the chance to have a picnic on the banks of the Sorgue, particularly at the "partages des eaux".
This is a must-do tour with a choice of two extensions, route 10 or route 36, as part of your holiday, with your own bikes or our hire bikes.
Jean-Claude will be able to advise you on the best way to organise the day, from choosing bikes and restaurants to simply asking our regular bakers to make you a picnic.

TOURIST FAVOURITES : ISLE SUR LA SORGUE

Every year (this year on 3 August) on the Caisse d'Épargne lake, come and watch the unique floating market at L'Isle sur la Sorgue. Aboard the «Nègo Chin», merchants dressed in their finest traditional garb glide from one bank to the other at the call of the public. They offer a farandole of colours and scents: fruit and vegetables, bouquets of flowers, cheese, wine, bread...
At around 1pm, when the floating market comes to an end, the traders gather in a line and sing the famous «Coupo Santo» celebrating Provence.
What is the Nego Chin? It's the traditional flat-bottomed boat used by the fishermen of the Sorgue; Nego Chin can be translated as ‘drowning dog». You need a lot of skill to manoeuvre them, which is why these races are so impressive!

Thursday 15 August 
10.30am: Adult relay race
Departure Frédéric Mistral

Saturday 17 August 
6pm: Mixed race

Sunday 25 August 
10am: Children's race
Departure / Arrival at the Caisse d'épargne
11am: Adult races
Start / Finish at the Bassin (2 laps)

Where can I park?
Make sure you use the car parks on the outskirts of the city! Parking Grand Sud, Parking Muscadelle and Parking Palerme. It takes around 15 minutes to walk to the city centre.

THE GOOD PLAN FOR 2024 FROM THE GÎTES DE BEL-AIR

The Bel-Air gîtes enjoy an exceptional location. Located in the commune of TAILLADES, a small village of 2,000 inhabitants, it is 3 km from exit 25 of the A7 motorway. It is at the epicentre of 3 Regional Nature Parks.

THE LUBERON REGIONAL NATURE PARK

It covers 185,000 hectares, spread over 78 communes: 52 communes in Vaucluse and 26 communes in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

MONT VENTOUX REGIONAL NATURE PARK

37 municipalities and 5 intercommunal bodies whose territory is wholly or partly included in the Park:

- Ventoux Comtat Venaissin conurbation community
- Vaison Ventoux Community of Communes
- Community of communes Ventoux Sud
- Greater Avignon Conurbation Community
- Community of communes of Sorgues du Comtat

THE ALPILLES REGIONAL NATURE PARK

The Bouche department is one of the most beautiful in France. The area includes the limestone massif of Les Alpilles, as well as 16 neighbouring communes, including the charming town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the village of Les Baux-de-Provence.