Piolenc
8 km north of Orange on the N7.
Discover the village of Piolenc in the Vaucluse, near Mornas
You'll arrive at Piolenc via national highway N7 which goes through the village. The village shops are on this road. The village is encircled by a road and is easy to explore. Park you car to take a short walk through the streets leading to the church.
Saint-Pierre church
The church of St. Pierre with its bell tower is perched on a promontory and crowned by the village clock. A long stone stairway leads up to the church door, and is the ideal place for visitors to take a photograph.
Piolenc, the city of garlic
Piolenc produces very large quantities of garlic, and every year at the same period, the village holds a garlic festival. For a week the whole village takes part. Shop windows are decorated and garlic seller's stalls are set up everywhere. All sorts of effigies are created of this bulbous plant. The high point is the preparation of a giant "aïoli" (meal with garlic mayonnaise), to which everybody is invited. There's a great atmosphere!
Piolenc, home of Gruss circus
1 km south of the village is a strange chateau hidden away, belonging to a famous family : the Gruss family, founders of the Gruss Circus. Activities are organised all year round, such as courses and lessons in acrobatics, animal training and artistic horse-riding.
Tourism: the Parc Alexis Gruss and its famous horses
From mid-April to mid-September, from Tuesday to Sunday, the Gruss family organises visits and events in the grounds and chateau, lasting all day. From a visit to the museum installed in a section of the chateau, to an encounter with the circus horses that have made Gruss so famous, not forgetting the old-time circus show, you'll be constantly amazed and the day will seem to go by far too quickly !
Our map of Piolenc (postcode 84 420)
To find your way around Piolenc, you can use our interactive map on this page. We've included all the town's points of interest, as well as our accommodation recommendations. So you can locate them before you book your holiday or weekend in Piolenc in the Vaucluse.
What to see
Romanesque Church of Saint-Pierre.
Leisure activities
Walking. Mountain-biking. Horse riding.
Summer events. Arts and crafts.
Bed and breakfast
Bed & breakfast - 5 guest rooms in a charming renovated house
Swimming pool - Landscaped garden
Holiday rentals
2 holiday cottages for 2 and 3 people, one is air-conditioned with a jacuzzi spa on its private terrace. Pool and garden access. Meals by reservation. Breakfast available with supplement.
Accomodations
Hotels.
Bed and breakfast.
Vacation rentals.
YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VILLAGE OF PIOLENC
You have sent us many questions about Piolenc. Here are our answers to your most frequently asked questions, so that all our readers can find out more.
Where to stay in Piolenc? At La Mandarine, of course!
If you're looking for somewhere to stay for a weekend or a holiday in Piolenc, we recommend the beautifully restored bastide of La Mandarine, which offers both bed and breakfast and holiday rentals. Superb swimming pool, wooded garden, old stones... all the pleasures of Provence! You'll find a link to La Mandarine's website at the top of this page.
A good restaurant in Piolenc?
If you're looking for a good place to eat in Piolenc, we recommend two restaurants: "Au comptoir" and "Au cul de poule". Both are good places to eat, with refined cuisine and a warm welcome.
What are the inhabitants of Piolenc called? Their names, how many inhabitants...
The inhabitants of Piolenc are called "Piolençois" and "Piolençoises". There are 5,100 inhabitants in Piolenc and the population is growing year on year. The etymology of the name Piolenc comes from "Podiolanum" in Latin, which means "Odilon's summit". Odilon de Mercoeur was a former abbot of Cluny.
Where is Piolenc in the 84? Far from Avignon?
The village of Piolenc is in the Massif d'Uchaux in the west of the Vaucluse département. Avignon is a 30-minute drive south of Piolenc. Piolenc is therefore a good holiday destination if you want to discover the Avignon area, as well as the Luberon, which is not far away.
NEIGHBOURING TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Mornas (4 km), Sérignan du Comtat (7 km) and Uchaux (7 km).