Provence :: Roussillon

I'm so glad that nobody has asked me to pick my favourite part of my week away, it would honestly have been an impossible task. The tour was packed chocka-full of great things to see, do and experience so that every day seemed like a dream. However, there was one particular place that really earnt itself a place in my heart, and that place was the village of Roussillon.

Like many of the other villages we visited in the region, Roussillon is perched high up on a hill. But the thing that made this place different was the abundance of colours . Oh, the colour of every single bit of Roussillon was just sublime!

The town is built upon a ridge which is rich in ochre deposits, and up until the 1930's there were big quarries here which mined the ochres for use in the textile and art industries.

I hadn't really known much about any of this before I arrived, I only had a vague idea that the buildings would be a slightly reddish colour. I hadn't anticipated the stunning array of colours to be found within the earth itself....isn't it beeeeeeautiful?

Even though natural pigments are no longer mined from the ground here, we came across a fabulous art and gift shop on the edge of the village which still sells them. Hundreds of jars full of powdered paints, an incredible variety of colour all taken from the surrounding landscape. I was absolutely mesmerised by it all.

But then.....the landscape was nothing compared to the beauty of the village itself.

Oh My.

Come on, I'll take you through the streets of Roussillon and you'll see what I mean....

This incredible door is at the very bottom of the main street. It takes your breath away with surprise as you kind of come across it around a corner and there it is.

This is the main street up through the village. It is full of beautiful little gift shops and art galleries.

The colours everywhere in this small place are intoxicating.....

....the hues in the old walls and buildings seem to glow in the morning sun.

The little streets and alley ways wind upwards, quite steep at times.

And everywhere you look there is beautiful old stone work in mellow colours....

....and cute little vistas around every corner.

There is an ancient, rambling feel to everything here....

....yet it also feels loved and cared for somehow.

So funny! I've just had a flash back to myself walking around these beautiful little streets, you should have heard me! I was sooooooo excited by all the colours that I sort of went into verbal hyperdrive. I exclaimed a lot!! I also had some really cute design ideas pop into my head as if from nowhere, I really got inspired here you know!

We wandered around Roussillon at a very leisurely pace and there were hardly any people at this end of the village. It was sooooo quiet and tranquil (except for my exclamations and rabbiting over excitement). We were very fortunate visiting in October as I imagine it gets terribly busy here in high season. I appreciated the tranquility and the lack of other people very,  very much.

You can see how high up we were, we are right at the end of the village here, looking out over the wooded valley and cultivated fields down below.

As the morning edged towards midday, the haze lifted and the most amazing blue sky was revealed. It made the colours of everything look even more incredible, especially this glorious pyracantha bush with it's bright orange berries.

These morning glory flowers were so lovely, they were rambling up over a gateway to a small perched house right on the edge of the rocky ochre cliffs.

By now, I had kind of talked myself into a frenzy and was suddenly in dire need of a good coffee and a calm down. So we turned and began to walk back down towards the village square.

Awwwwww!

We walked past this window on the way up to the top of the village, but I hadn't really taken in the detail then. On the way back down, I suddenly noticed how pretty the curtain was....

....isn't it delightful? I may have swooned a little right here.

I just love love loved these windy little narrow streets. The weeny thin views of the buildings ahead were so charming, it was a real pleasure to just put one foot in front of the other and Stroll About here.

Almost there....you can just see the central square and the town hall there which is at the heart of the village. I can smell the coffee!

Ahhhh, what a beautiful, happy and atmospheric place to stop for morning coffee, I totally loved sitting my bottom on those lime green chairs and passing some time chatting over a drink....

....speaking of which, my café au lait was completely divine. Mmmm-mmmm.

Such an amazing, stunning place. Oh, the colours!!!! Still in raptures over the colours.

Roussillon, you stole a little bit of my heart, and I feel sure I will come back to revisit you again one day. I can't wait.

♥

So......I think my friends, that might possibly bring us neatly to the end of my Provence Travels. I hope you've enjoyed sharing my memories with me, it's been such fun reliving it all. Excepting of course, we've still got some hooky to come, oh yeah, I've not forgotten, of course not! I've simply saved the best till last. So do please come back tomorrow for a little bit of a colourful Ta-dah moment, I can't wait to show you what we got up to under those sunny blue skies. See you then.......

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Paul Ansell]

I stayed near Roussillon with my family about 15 years ago. I immediately recognised it as the village depicted in a painting in Rugby council's art collection (I work for Rugby Council). Here's the link to it:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/village-in-provence-france-54821

I think it's a lovely painting and it really captures the atmosphere of the place.

[costa brava]

Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures of your holiday. It can be an amazing holiday destination where you can relax in the nature...

[jeannette]

wylie, sorry.

http://www.amazon.com/Village-Vaucluse-Edition-Laurence-William/dp/0674939360

[jeannette]

just ducking in to add i have discovered a really wonderful book written about rousillon in the 1950s, just before france became industrialized. laurence wyle, a village in the vaucluse. awesome, and thanks so much.

http://www.amazon.com/Village-Vaucluse-Edition-Laurence-William/dp/0674939360

[mahek]

Love your photos..
looking at them makes me want to visit the place but its very expensive when we travel from India , so I do not know if I will ever be able to make a trip there but thanks for your virtual tour it was a pleasure...

[Wetland Plants]

This place looks heaven and calm! The colors are truly magnificent! Thanks for discussing all the charming images youve shots.

[Ellen Brugmans]

Love your stories about your week in the Provence. And oh, the beautiful pictures. Wish I could have wandered around the lovely village of Roussillon too!
Rushing off to see the hooky stuff now....

[Lilou pour L.]

Coucou,
Après m'être fait "taguer" par dame la Lune... à moi de jouer... et tu es Taguée!!!!
la marche à suivre pour répondre??? Sur mon blog, le mode d'emploi!!!
Biz
Lilou

[Harriet]

Well, we are certainly being kept in suspense, aren't we....

[Stefania]

In Italy that is Umbria!!

[An (bengelapen)]

Wow, great photos and indeed it looks wonderful out there!
Makes me want to get in the motorhome and take off immediately :)
I'm putting roussillion on my list of places to go to for next time we go to france.
Thx for sharing this
Grtz
An

[Pj]

Wow! Such a beautiful place - no wonder you felt inspired. Looking forward to seeing your work. Thank yo for some amazing posts. Best wishes, Pj x

[Deborah]

What a delightful vacation for you. Thank you for sharing some of the beauty with us.

[Sam]

Hi Lucy,
Was wondering if you are allowed to mention the accommodation you had in Mormoiron. Would like some info. for if we ever get to that part of the world. Thanks, Sam.

[Judy]

Amazing photos Lucy - you are one lucky woman. Judy.

[JoZarty]

Your photos are stunning and I love your "seeing eye". Your natural ability to take photos of what others would overlook. I look forward to the finale!
Jozarty

[M. Isabel]

Thanks for sharing so beautiful pictures. From now I will dream to go there some day...
See you tomorrow..., I´m curious about your crochet project.
Bye,
M. Isabel (Germany)

[Siegi]

So glad that you enjoy my country ;-)))
In fact I do actually love this part of it. It colors and light. You're totally right.
If you come once more, than try the Village og Gordes, and it's marvellous "ocre" colors.

I hope you'll be inspired for new amazin crochet projets ;-)))

[Marlene marl on the move blogspot]

Your trip must really have been terrific! I have always loved that part of France and it is still a dream that I hope will come true one day. The colours and brickwork of those buildings are truly alive. You are a very lucky girl to have been there!

[Yvonne]

I've really enjoyed your holiday snaps. They reminded me of happy holidays spent in the area several years ago, I REALLY must go back!
thanks again
Yvonne

[Debra Jewell]

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures!!! I am just amazed that there is not lots and lots of people strolling around, it almost looked deserted!! I would truly love to visit there some day!!

[Barbara]

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful photos and your impressions of France. I haven't traveled in so long and it was wonderful to travel vicariously through your blog. Simply delightful!

[Maria]

Hi,

I am interested in knowing if you do allow guest posts on your blog. Please share if there is any guidelines link to follow.

Thanks

Maria

[rosie jones]

Thank you Lucy for another group of wonderful, evocative, warm, beautiful photos x x x

[Aubrey C-S]

That spelling of my name above is Aubrey!! I didn't notice when I published, trying to be too quick!! Love Aubrey