Explore Sainte-Cécile-Les-Vignes through three specific interests: heritage, wine and routes through the vineyards. The Collection Louis Gauthier and the chapels offer different cultural highlights; wine tastings and two routes round out the options. This can help you decide whether culture, wine or outdoor activity will shape your stay.
Heritage between the collection and the chapels
The Collection Louis Gauthier has been open to the public since 2009. It includes school materials, archaeological objects and an extensive collection devoted to natural science. If a visit is part of your plans, check the current opening arrangements before you travel.
The Chapelle Sainte Cécile Sainte Croix is the oldest building in the commune. Its founding is dated to the 7th century; the first written mention dates from 1177. These two dates represent different historical milestones: the estimated founding date and the first written reference.
The parish church also contains a detail of art-historical interest: the Chapelle Saint-Roch houses the 17th-century painting Saint Antoine de Padoue caressant l’Enfant Jésus entre saint Sébastien et saint Roch. The surviving gate of the former fortifications is another part of the architectural heritage, overlooked by the Tour de l’Horloge. Its wrought-iron campanile dates from 1742.
The Chapelle Notre Dame de Consolation was rebuilt in 1858. The chapel contains a walnut door and religious artworks, including a terracotta statue of the Virgin Mary. Its building history and furnishings offer different points of reference for exploring the area’s religious heritage.
Winegrowing, architectural history and tastings
Winegrowing in Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes dates back to antiquity. In 1985, an ancient workshop for making wine amphorae was discovered in the Quartier du Peyron. The wine tradition is therefore linked not only to today’s tastings but also to a specific archaeological find.
The Cave des Vignerons Réunis on the Route de Valréas has a much more recent building history: it was built in 1936 and expanded in 1949, 1952, 1955 and 1961. This sequence of construction dates clearly sets the building apart in time from the ancient amphora-making workshop.
At Domaine de la Présidente, visitors can taste wines made from vines that are fifty years old in the tasting cellar. At Domaine Moun Pantaï, wines from the Côtes-du-Rhône, Côtes-du-Rhône Villages and Cru Cairanne appellations are offered for tasting on site. The age of the vines provides one point of comparison, and the wines’ appellations another. Check the opening arrangements at both places before you travel.
On foot and by bike
The 14-kilometre “Chemin de vigne” walking trail winds through the vineyards and offers a chance to discover the wildlife and plant life of the Aygues. For a family-friendly bike ride, the “Aygues Ouvèze” loop follows roads accessible to everyone. The two options therefore differ both in how you travel and in how they are described: the walking trail leads through the vineyards, while the loop is designated for cycling. Check trail conditions before setting out.
Location and getting there
Orange also helps put the location in context: Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes lies less than 15 kilometres northeast of the city and can be reached by road, including via the A7 motorway.
Discover more destinations: Beaumont-Du-Ventoux, Gigondas, Sorgues, Saint-Hippolyte-le-Graveyron, Loriol-Du-Comtat, Lioux, Lafare, Fontaine-De-Vaucluse.
For the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.
