I am trying to visit the synagogue in Carpentras. I have tried some websites but have not received a reply as to whether the synagogue is open to visitors. Tried the areas website but the reply came back in French which I did not understand.
Has anyone any information?
If you got a reply in French, copy and paste it onto google translate. It's not perfect, but good enough to get the gist. If it is a website, fire up google translate to read it.
Go to: Visite Guidee: La Synagogue de Carpentras
There is a Union Jack (British flag, that is) button at the top right to click on for the English language version. It seems there are guided visits (visites guidées) . The Ventoux is in "la France Profonde", as they say, so it is not surprising if they replied to you in French.
We stayed in Carpentras in 2007 and my friend did a guided tour of the synagogue and said it was very worthwhile. There was a sign at the location which provided information.
Be warned .... the guided visit will probably be in French, if that matters to you.
My Cadogan Guide for Provence gives the synagogue open times as Mon. - Thur. 10 - 12 and 3 - 5, Fri. and hols. 10 - 12 and 3 - 4. I have no clear recollection of whether the tour was in English; however, my French is pretty rudimentary. My lasting impression is that I understood everything, so don't worry about that issue. If you are interested, there is also a small synagogue and museum in Cavaillon, not too far from Carpentras.