Mont Ventoux, Bedoin and Provence

I have a strong attachment to Provence. One of the experiences that made it clearer was sleeping in Bedoin, the iconic Tour de France village at the base of Mont Ventoux, and climbing the mountain after a difficult physical period.

Context

The conditions were not ideal. I had slept badly in the van, eaten roughly, and was coming back from a serious rugby injury to the quadriceps that had left my right leg almost unusable for three months. In May 2024, this was my first real cycling outing of the year.

That made the climb harder, but also more meaningful. Reaching the top was not only about the bike. It was proof that the leg, the routine, and the confidence were coming back.

What Stayed With Me

The Ventoux itself is brutal and beautiful. But the real discovery was the region around it: the vineyards, the limestone landscapes, the heat, the old villages, and the calm.

The feeling became stronger during a weekend near Lambesc, close to Aix-en-Provence. The setting was almost archetypal: old stone, olive trees, petanque, rose wine, a swimming pool, summer heat, and a small Provencal chapel in the courtyard.

It changed the image I had of the region. Provence was not only Marseille stereotypes, noise, or urban caricature. It was friendship, heat, olive trees, limestone, food, and a slower form of beauty.

Lesson

The climb gave me physical pride. The region gave me emotional clarity.

Later, I want the freedom to return to Provence when I want. There is something calm and grounding there that I want to keep close.