Amongst blue lavender fields and slender cypresses, about 1 hour by car east of Avignon on the high plateau of Vaucluse lies Aurel, a picturesque little village, typical of southern France. Sunny landscapes delight the eye with lovely slopes where gorse, almond and cherry trees blossom in spring. For centuries, the crystal clear sky has enchanted artists from all over the world and astronomers claim its stars sparkle more clearly than anywhere else in Europe. We are in the High Provence in the Pays de Sault, not far from Mont Ventoux, the majestic king mountain of this area. Looking south, the blue silhouette of the Luberon appears in the distance. At night, if the Mistral does not blow and the crickets keep silent, you hear the silence of the horizon. In the evening, Aurel, with its barely 150 souls and its dreamy narrow lanes around the medieval castle, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, is absorbed in memories of a primordial harmony between man and nature. No wonder UNESCO has declared this area, coloured by so much “soul” and archetypical beauty, a natural monument of mankind.

The visitor is rewarded with discoveries in all directions. No road is the same, whether north over Mont Ventoux into the rocky landscape of Southern Drome, east to the Alps of High Provence with its Gorges du Verdon, the Grand Canyon of Southern Europe, or west towards Avignon, Oranges or Vaison-la-Romaine, ancient Roman cities, or Aix-en-Provence, once capital of the kings of Provence. Even the Mediterranean with its scenic silhouette of cliffs and rocks of the Calanques is not more than two hours of comfortable driving from Aurel. Let’s not forget the famous culinary pleasures of southern France in the numerous wonderful restaurants which invite you in for a memorable meal. There are not many places in Europe where the feeling of sweetness and grandeur coexist

so intimately.

Orto de Prouvenco - means “large garden of Provence” in Provencal,

one of the old romance languages of southern Europe. Our project originated in 1992 with a profound desire to create a meeting place in High Provence for all those who share our love of nature and its healing powers and who wish to discover more of themselves, far away from the noise of the world. The Pays de Sault, one of the densest areas of medicinal plants in Europe, extends in a radius of about 70 km around Mont Ventoux. Since time immemorial, this area has maintained

its own flora, so fascinating for botanists from all over the world. Orto de Prouvenco is a semi landscaped garden of about 150 acres in the vicinity of Aurel. Three different buildings built in the typical style of Provence together offer 25 charmingly furnished guest rooms - all with bathroom and shower - Professional kitchen; Salon for dinning and relaxing; and a beautifully appointed lecture suite. Orto de Prouvenco is above all a large garden of experience and observation of medicinal plants in their natural environment. Our longstanding study of essential oils and medicinal plants presents the perfect platform for projects of all types - especially ones using plants, silence and space as a background.

Thank you for your interest and please contact us to discuss your project .