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Don’t visit this town, there is nothing much to see!

This is what I often read in travel guide books when I look up “Carpentras”, located in Provence in the south of France.

Carpentras is a town 35 minutes’ drive to the north east of Avignon. It has an enormous market on Friday morning which is worth visiting, with 100s of colourful stalls spread through the town. But I don’t know whether I’m becoming a little middle aged or something but I love going to this town on a non-market day – everything is so much quieter, where you can see where you are walking, you can hear and see the water fountains, and you have the shops to yourself!

Carpentras is a local town without the normal tourist shops. It has some wonderful sights, and I was especially taken by a visit to the local Jewish synagogue – the oldest in France. This town has a richness of history that will astound, especially with its unique links to the Vatican from the end of the 13^th century.

I’ve just been exploring in Carpentras and I came across a shop which astounded both my wife and me! Every now and then you stumble on something that truly surprises you, that makes you feel good about life, that makes you smile. JOUVAUD is such a shop, such a place!

If you are travelling in Provence then add this shop to your itinerary. Go to Carpentras, have lunch in the centre square overlooking the fountains, then go to Jouvaud for a coffee and dessert, and even to do some shopping to finish off a perfect day!! Perfection!