Adventure through vineyards and hills

We pack a light rucksack, as we're well aware that we'll have to fill it along the way. Direction Sauveterre, 10km north of Avignon, where we start by climbing the vine-dotted hills above the village. Stop at Chèvrerie d'Emilie, then Domaine Castel Oualou a few yards further on, with the promise of a royal picnic.
But before that, it's all uphill to the crêtes de Saint-Geniès and the grotte de Gargantua. We admire the surrounding countryside, from the Rhône to the Ventoux, and the medieval castles of St-Laurent- des-Arbres and St-Victor-la-Coste. The afternoon ends under the plane trees of St-Victor-la-Coste with a tasting of wonderful AOC Lirac wines.

The next day, the adventure goes underground. We meet up with our guide Adrien for a morning of caving to discover another world, this one mineral. The end of the day brings a welcome coolness, as we leave the vineyards for forest tracks.
Around a bend in the road, the horizon opens up and we discover Notre-Dame-de-Grâce perched on its hillside, with a view over the entire Rhone valley. It's an inviting place to contemplate. We admire the village of Rochefort-du-Gard below. Dinner awaits, and it's time to head back down.

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