Welcome to my workshop in Pernes-les-Fontaines. Today, I want to open the doors to a project that is particularly close to my heart. If you live in the region or are visiting us in Provence, you know there is one absolute master here: Mont Ventoux. It’s called the Giant of Provence, and for good reason. It watches over our days, changes color with the hours, and sometimes even dictates the weather. But for me, beyond the landscape, it has become a source of creative inspiration after a very powerful human adventure. Through the concept of a Ventoux keepsake, I wanted to engrave in clay the perseverance, the passion for cycling, and the beauty of this legendary summit. In this article, I’ll tell you how a family ascent gave birth to my dessert plate collections. Through this project, I wanted to create an authentic Mont Ventoux keepsake, handcrafted, that tells the story of both a legendary place and a human adventure.
The Giant of Provence, an Ever-Present Neighbor in Pernes-les-Fontaines
Living in Pernes-les-Fontaines means living under the constant gaze of the Ventoux. Whether I’m working in my workshop, walking in the surrounding hills, or simply looking out my window at home, its silhouette is there. It’s that unchanging visual landmark that reminds us of the power of Provençal nature. For us, it’s not just a mountain on a postcard; it’s a daily companion.
We see it snow-covered in winter, pure white contrasting with the deep blue sky, or bathed in golden light on summer evenings. It’s this constant presence that eventually worked its way into my work as a ceramicist. I wanted to create an object that would be a true Ventoux keepsake, but I didn’t yet know what form it would take. I was missing a trigger, a lived experience for the design to be right and full of meaning.
Our Family Ascent of Mont Ventoux
The trigger came one September morning when we decided to take on a crazy challenge: climb Mont Ventoux as a family. My husband, my 10-year-old son, and I set out to conquer this legendary summit. When you’re at the base, you look up and wonder if you’ll make it. For a 10-year-old child, it’s a real expedition.
I remember every kilometer, the encouragement we gave each other, the moments of doubt when your legs are burning, and especially the solidarity that develops between the three of us. People we passed in our final steps under the large stones were already congratulating us, which shows it was no small feat! Reaching the summit was an incredible emotion. The photo of my son and me in front of the iconic transmitter at the top remains my most beautiful Ventoux memory. We did it! That pride in pushing ourselves together, seeing your child beaming with joy after such an effort—that exact feeling is what I brought back with me to my pottery workshop.
From Mont Ventoux to the Workshop: A Handcrafted Creation Inspired by Cycling
Once back at my wheel, the images came flooding in. I didn’t want to make a realistic or industrial reproduction. I was looking for a clean, modern rendering, somewhat “sketched,” like a drawing you scribble in a travel journal. That’s how our creations dedicated to the summit and cycling culture were born.
I chose to work with three strong symbols to offer a Ventoux keepsake that speaks to enthusiasts. First, there’s the pure silhouette of Mont Ventoux. Then, the kilometer marker, the one that indicates the altitude and serves as the rallying point for all the brave souls. Finally, the bicycle, the ultimate symbol of freedom. Each design is hand-drawn in blue pencil on light beige stoneware. The raw clay and blue line recall the mineral aspect of the summit and the azure sky of Provence.
The Tour de France and the Passion for Cycling: A Transmission of Enthusiasm
The Ventoux is inseparable from high-level cycling and the legend of the Tour de France. We also experience this fervor from the inside as residents. My son had the chance to go watch the riders pass by with a friend of his. Seeing their eyes light up in front of the champions makes you understand that cycling here is much more than a sport: it’s a cultural transmission.
This excitement surrounding the passage of the Tour de France or the exploits of climbers is part of our region’s soul, and it’s this energy I wanted to infuse into my creations. Even without being a cycling fanatic myself, I’m fascinated by what cycling generates: it’s a wonderful vehicle for sharing and transmission between generations. We gather around an achievement the way we gather around a beautiful table. My plates are there to extend these moments of togetherness, to celebrate a family outing, or simply to keep a trace of a beautiful day spent admiring the winding roads of the South.
Stoneware Plates as a Mont Ventoux Keepsake
These plates are not designed as simple decorative objects, but as a Ventoux keepsake to use daily, at the table, among loved ones. In my approach with Grandchose, I want craftsmanship to be alive. That’s why I designed these Ventoux keepsakes to adapt to your desires. Each model—the bicycle plate, the plate with the Ventoux summit kilometer marker, or the plate with the Mont Ventoux silhouette—is available individually (€25). It’s the ideal solution for a small symbolic gift.
However, because these moments are often experienced in groups, I also created a set of 3 plates at a preferential rate of €70. It’s the perfect gift idea for cyclists: complete and cohesive. Whether for a slice of cake after a long ride or for an appetizer during a dinner with friends, these plates bring lived experience to your table. Stoneware, fired at high temperature, is extremely durable and dishwasher-safe, because a handcrafted object must above all be practical for everyday use.
👉 Discover the cycling bicycle plate collection
👉 Discover the individual dessert plates
Take a Piece of the Giant Home with You
Every time I take a plate from this collection out of the kiln, I think back to our day up there, the wind blowing and my son’s smile at the summit. My creations are much more than ceramics; they are fragments of life. If you’re looking for an authentic Ventoux keepsake, far from mass-produced trinkets, I hope these pieces will find a special place in your home.
I invite you to discover our entire collection on the online store. Whether you fall for the solo model or the set of three, each shipment is carefully prepared from my workshop in Pernes-les-Fontaines.
