Carpentras, Provence, France
Carpentras is a Provencal town of art and history, located at the foot of Mont Ventoux. You can randomly walk the streets and alleys of the center and you will for sure discover many treasures of the town: The Orange Gate, the Cathedral of Saint Siffrein, the Hôtel-Dieu and also many squares and fountains.
Parking in Carpentras
We start our journey around the town at the newly built parking lot located near the Gate of Orange (P; GPS: 44.056266, 5.042782). Then we go up the stairs or use the elevator to enter the old town.
The old town
We walk along the street Boulevard Gambetta to the intersection of Rue Porte de Monteux, then turn left and go deep in the narrow streets of the old town. We pass the first fountain on the square Colonel Mouret (A; GPS: 44.054873, 5.046720). We come to the Place Charles de Gaule (B; GPS: 44.054459, 5.047143) with beautiful fountains and even more beautiful cathedral of St. Sifferein of the fifteenth century, whose construction was commissioned by Pope Benedict XIII. The work lasted about 150 years and ended in 1514. We find another fountain (C; GPS: 44.054024, 5.047747) opposite the cathedral, on the Place Saint Sifferein.
At the Place des Pénitents Noirs (D; GPS: 44.053994, 5.048631) we see the chapel du Très-Saint-Crucifix, built in the eighteenth century by the famous architect Antoine German.
The Gate of Orange
We're going in the direction of Place Maurice Charretier, where you will find the city hall and fountain with a golden angel (E; GPS: 44.055331, 5.048645). We walk the streets admiring the artistry of the builders. Finally we come to the Gate of Orange, built in 1392 (F; GPS: 44.056394, 5.047342). This gate is the only remainder of great defensive wall with a length of 1,770 meters, consisting initially of 32 towers and 4 gates.
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