©Santons 2023 exhibition at Sainte-Marie de l'Assomption cathedral|Dorian VENZI

The Soul of Christmas

A story we can share

Under the skies of Vaison Ventoux Provence, Christmas has a unique flavour.
Here, traditions are passed on, villages are lit up and stories are told by the fireside. With the laughter of children, the sparkle of light and the warmth of the cots, a whole region comes together to celebrate the beauty ofsharing. Enter the magic of Christmas, where emotions are rooted in stone, heart and memory…

©2025 Expo Santons|Office de tourisme Vaison Ventoux Provence

A Christmas of emotions and traditions

This year, the Vaison Ventoux Provence Tourist Office is inaugurating L’Âme de Noël, an event dedicated entirely to Christmas traditions.

For the first time, local santon makers, a Provençal storyteller and local partners are joining forces to bring the magic of Christmas to life in the heart of the Office. It’s an event designed to pay tribute to the skills, shared emotions andidentity of Provence.

Under the skies of Vaison Ventoux Provence, Christmas is a festival of connections: villages lit up, stories told, crafts rediscovered. L’Âme de Noël invites the public to rediscover these authentic sensations by exploring three major highlights: a santon cot, two guided encounters and a competition open to all.

The santon cot

An art, an emotion, a transmission

At the heart of the Vaison Ventoux Provence Tourist Office, the Provençal cot is revealed as a living work of art. Local santon-makers come together to showcase their skills. Each santon, patiently crafted, tells a fragment of history: the shepherd, the delighted man, the olive picker, the miller… Between hills and small stone farmhouses, a whole landscape of our beloved Provence is (re)born before your eyes.

This cot is much more than a tradition: it’s an act of remembrance, a tribute to our land and to those who bring it to life. Come and discover it, contemplate it, and perhaps recognise a familiar face or a childhood memory.

The Soul of Christmas" leaflet2MB

From 24 November 2025 to 2 February 2026.

Free admission Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5pm. (Closed on the mornings of 11/12, 25 December and 1 January).

The competition

It's up to you!

Because Christmas is all about taking part and dreaming a little, the Tourist Office is inviting you to try your luck with its “The Soul of Christmas” competition, running from 24 November 2025 to 6 January 2026.

Go to the Vaison Ventoux Provence Tourist Office, fill in your paper form and test your knowledge of Provençal traditions. There’s also a special mini-game for youngsters, so you can share in the enchantment as a family.

There are6 great prizes to be won! Books on calendar traditions, Santons, a miniature fountain from Séguret, Christmas olive oil, or a gift voucher from a local shop. It’s sure to bring the magic home!
There will be 6 prize draws throughout the year (two on each date):
9 December, 23 December 2025 and 7 January 2026.
Winners will be contacted by telephone and can collect their prize directly from the Tourist Office.
The competition is free and no purchase is necessary.
The rules are available from the Vaison Ventoux Provence Tourist Office reception desk.

Competition rules97KB

©Christmas in Vaison Ventoux Provence - Buisson|Dorian VENZI

Christmas tales

©2024 11 09 Md Automnales St Marcellin 42|Mathilde DANDO

Stories to listen to, dream about and share

When words take over from lights, the magic of Christmas becomes a tale. Mélanie Bienfait ‘s voice takes you into a gentle, poetic world of Provençal Christmas, where figures come to life, desserts are served and traditions are passed on.

These stories, to be enjoyed with the whole family, are an invitation to slow down, to marvel, to reconnect with what unites us. Because Christmas here isn’t just about telling stories… it’s about celebrating together.

“When Santons come to life… Saturday 13 December at 11am

“The Magic of Christmas Sweets”… Saturday 27 December at 3pm

Venue: Vaison Ventoux Provence Tourist Office. Free admission.

Find out more about "Pas d'Histoires" Mélanie Bienfait, guide and storyteller in Provence

The partners of The Soul of Christmas

Atelier Bonillo

Hubert creates monuments and fountains inspired by the heritage of the Vaucluse region. Faithful to the heritage of Provence, his pieces reflect his passion for old stones and invite you on a sensory journey between earth, light and memory… His work in warm colours awakens the memory and the heart.

“I started making cot monuments in 1995 when I arrived in Pernes-les-Fontaines, reproducing the village’s fountains, so this story has been going on for over twenty years.

Hubert Bonillo

Les 3 Souquets

Denis has a deep attachment to Provençal traditions, and discovered the art of santon-making thanks to a Christmas present. Trained by master santon-maker Robert Canut, he created his first santon in the image of his grandfather. At the foot of Séguret, Denis hand-moulds his clay santons, inspired by his encounters, to bring Provencal santons to life.

“Provençal traditions are passed down from generation to generation in my family, and we take part in the famous ‘Li Bergie’ living cot in Séguret, for example. I enjoy making all these little objects, from the inspiration to the colours, including making the moulds and firing them… My workshop and my life resonate with Provence, between santons and olives.

Denis Voeux

La Farandole

Immerse yourself in the art of Provençal living! La Farandole, a warm and welcoming shop in Vaison-la-Romaine, where every object tells you a story. Lovers of Provence: santons, scents, authentic treasures… all come together for a gentle journey. Traditions that give meaning and colour to your celebrations!

“What a delight it was when I was a child, accompanying my mother to the workshops of the santon makers in Marseille, Aubagne and Aix-en-Provence! Tender memories of the scent of clay, the alignment of these little figures and the agility of the ladies who brought them to life by applying multiple colours with a tiny brush. Today, I’m delighted (like the santon) to be able to perpetuate this Provençal tradition through my work, and to be part of its development.

Camille Leydier

©Veronique Dornier Credit Photo Lenny Vidal 46

Les Santons Bleus

Passionate about santons, Véronique creates contemporary and original santons. Based in the charming village of Brantes, her pieces are carefully hand-crafted. There are three collections in the shop: the blue collection, the multicoloured collection and an earthenware collection.

“After studying at the Beaux-Arts in Avignon, I didn’t know exactly what my job would be… It was while I was looking for a present for my grandmother that I came across Marseille’s famous santon fair on the Canebière! My eyes filled with wonder, I said “that must be a fun job, that’s what I want to do! And it’s been going on for nearly forty years now… “

Véronique Dornier

Mélanie — ©2023 01 05 Dv Portrait Equipe Bd 48

No Stories

“I also have the pleasure of being part of the team setting up the exhibition on calendar traditions in the church of the medieval town of Vaison-la-Romaine during the Christmas holidays.

Mélanie Bienfait

Atelier Bonillo

Les 3 Souquets

La Farandole

The blue santons

No Stories

To extend magic...

To continue this enchanted interlude, let yourself be guided towards other moments to share, between traditions, delicacies and enchantment. Other lights, other encounters, other emotions await you in Vaison Ventoux Provence: Vaison-la-Romaine and the surrounding villages, guardians of Provençal traditions, welcome you to experience an authentic Christmas, filled with know-how, sharing and wonder.

Around Christmas

The Christmas Fairy Tale

©Table Gros Souper Rotated|Mélanie Bienfait

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