Mayor's talk

Provencemotion : How do you see the future for Montbrun-les-Bains ?

Gilet : ‘As tourism is very important for Montbrun-les-Bains, as a mayor I want to make sure the quality given to the tourists today will remain for the future. On the other hand I would like to see a longer summer period. Most people come massively in July and August to spend their holidays in Montbrun-les-Bains. The Provence is without any doubt very beautiful during the months of July and August when the lavender flowers but also during the other seasons people should discover this various region. In spring when the flowers start to bloom and the blossom appear on the trees, the Provence is a fantastic region to spend holidays, but also during fall when the warm autumn colors give the landscape a stunning look. The temperature can be still very pleasant. In Montbrun-les-Bains and surroundings numerous of activities are held to enjoy your holidays also in these periods of the year. Provence is beautiful in all seasons.'

Provencemotion : You were talking about the necessary investments to improve the quality of tourism: what kind of investments are made?

Gilet: ‘Recently we realized some outdoor sporting facilities just outside the centre and we renovated holiday houses from the town as well as the swimming pool. We know that without a swimming pool you don’t attract enough tourists and therefore it was certainly worth the investment. We also needed to improve the capacity of the public sanitation for the growing number of tourists which of course is very important for the environment. Yearly we make a budget available for the tourist office and the feasts and activities organized by the village.’

Provencemotion : Which three spots in Montbrun-les-Bains and three spots in the direct surroundings of Montbrun-les-Bains are, according to you, worth visiting ?

Gilet : ‘In Montbrun-les-Bains people should definitely visit ‘la Place de l’Eglise’ (church square), as well as ‘la Place du Beffroi’ and the thermal baths. In the direct surroundings of Montbrun-les-Bains I would suggest the people to visit the castle of Aulan (Château d’Aulan), the lovely village of Barret de Lioure 7 kilometers southern from our village and of course Brantes, loved by many tourists because of its artisans who make beautiful pottery and the real provencal santons (statues) and with its old stoney houses and typical provencal calades (steep provencal stoney streets) dominated by the Mont Ventoux which leaves you an unforgettable impression.’

Mr. Gilet, mayor of Montbrun-les-Bains is passionate about his village in Drome provencale. That’s easy to understand. Montbrun-les-Bains is classified as one of the most beautiful villages of France because of its beauty and several monuments and is also known for its thermal station with thousands of tourists coming every year to enjoy the thermal baths. He shares his passion with Provencemotion and tells what tourism means for his village and its inhabitants.

Provencemotion : How would you describe your village and its touristic attractions?

Gilet : ‘Montbrun-les-Bains is a village surrounded by lavender- and cornfields, in the Drôme provençale at the border of the Vaucluse and Alpes-de-Hautes-Provence, and has still kept its medieval character with its beautiful castle ruins that dominates the village. Montbrun, due to its beauty and the two historical monuments – the Beffroi tower and the 12^th century church – has been classified as one of the 100 most beautiful villages of France. Every six years an audit takes place to verify if the village can be kept classified on this renowned list. Montbrun-les-Bains was one of the first villages to be classified and we are very proud to be listed as tourism brings a lot to the village. Lots of investments are necessary to keep this classification but we want to make everything possible to remain attractive to the tourists and to give them a pleasant stay.

Montbrun-les-Bains is also known for its thermal sources and it is the only village in the Provence where people can enjoy thermal baths.’

Provencemotion : What kind of touristic activities are being organized by Montbrun-les-Bains?

Gilet: ‘Every Saturday a traditional Provencal market is held in the centre and every second Sunday in September the village organizes a ‘Fete votive’, a real village fair with music, pétanque contests and fireworks launched from the old town. Since 2007, on the first Sunday of September people can enjoy ‘la Journée Bien-etre au Naturel’; a day of health and well being. During the year numerous expositions and hiking trips are organized by the tourist office of Montbrun-les-Bains as well.’

Provencemotion : What kind of tourists come to Montbrun-les-Bains?

Gilet: ‘Actually all kinds of tourists come to visit our village; from sportive ones such as biking amateurs who of course try to climb up to the top of the Mont Ventoux, the spot for cyclists in the Provence, and hiking tourists who want to discover the various landscape by walking, up to couples who come especially for the lavender. Montbrun-les-Bains attracts thousands of tourists per year, also because of the thermal resort that opens from March until November.‘