
Situated between Roussillon
and the Colorado de Rustrel ,
Gargas is part of the the superb "route de l'ocre". Made up of
several hamlets in the area, Gargas is part of the Parc
Naturel Régional du Luberon .
The countryside surrounding Gargas is magnificent, with vineyards in the
foreground (A.O.C Côtes du Ventoux) and the ochre quarries dug into
the pine-covered hills in the distance.
Gargas
is the last village in the Vaucluse which has ochre quarries still operating
today. Before arriving in the village you can see huge indentations where
the blocks of ochre were placed before drying out in the sun and being
ground to powder. Not all the quarries are open to the public, so visitors
are advised to seek information from the tourist office before going to
the extraction areas.
Gargas is a geological site, rich in history. It was here that one of
the biggest battles were fought during the Gaullist conquest and traces
of human habitation have been found dating back to 6,000-2,000 BC. |