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4 km north
west of Apt via the
D101.
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.
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