Provence :: landscape

The village of Mormoiron where we stayed last week with Provence Temptations was small, ancient, picturesque and peaceful. It kind of nestled itself so beautifully into the surrounding landscape that it seemed as if it had been there forever. That's it in the picture above, taken from a local vineyard where we had an exclusive tour of the winery. It was really interesting to learn about the whole wine making process from the grape vine to the labelled bottle, and even more interesting to sample the various wines made there. Although I am blissfully ignorant when it comes to wine I did try really hard to recognise the hidden flavours that the knowledgeable wine lady was talking about. They all tasted scrummy to me.

I love these tall skinny trees and we saw them a lot as we travelled around Provence. I forget what they are called now, is it Cypress? Like much of this landscape, they made me feel a bit like I was walking inside a Van Gogh painting.

We went to many High Up Places when we travelled around and about. Sometimes the sheer height of where we found ourselves was really mind blowing. This rocky place is at the very top of Les Baux-de-Provence, a most picturesque and ancient hilltop village.

The views of the surrounding countryside were stunning...

 

....and I loved the green patchwork of fertile fields and olive groves spread out below.

The driving around and about between all the High Up Places was simultaneously spectacular and terrifying. Ooooooo those hair pin bends! Eeeeeek those sheer drops! But it was all worth while when we came to somewhere like this......

WOW!!!! Check that out! This is a famous piece of road which runs through the Gorges de la Nesque. It's famous due to lots of bicycles, ie the Tour de France, which comes this way.

Simply stunning scenery.

Breathtaking. You have to go look at this picture which shows the road we drove on. This one too. It was a little bit of white knuckle combined with a whole lot of ooooooo-eeeeeek.

Ahh, we are back on two feet now, the car has been left down by the river and we've walked up here to take in the view. This is another beautiful High Up Place, the old medieval part of a town called Vaison-la-Romaine.

More patchwork fields of grape vines, so lush and beautiful to look at. Incidentally, I took lots of pictures in the old town which I'll show you tomorrow, it was wonderfully atmospheric.

One of the things I was a little sad about was that October isn't lavender time. I would really, really have loved to be in this area in the summer months just to see the landscape wearing it's purple haze. The dried out greeny-brown version wasn't quite as pretty.

These particular lavender fields are famous in the region as they are tended to by Cistercian monks who live and work at Sénanque Abbey.

It was so serene and peaceful here, even though I kept wishing I could see and smell the lavender.

This incredible bridge was the last scenic tour we made during our week in Provence. It's an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge called the Pont du Gard, and is one of the most incredible, humongous structures I have ever set eyes on. It's hard to convey the scale of it, it's seriously massive I'm telling you.

Look, see? See how teeny-tiny those people look? It was an amazing place to be, both on the bridge itself, and down along the riverside looking up at the bridge. It was awe-some. And then some.

I love this last picture, it looks like it could be a painting don't you think?

In fact, the whole of Provence was impossibly picturesque and scenic. I adored feeling like I was somehow a part of it, that I could stroll about, gaze at the views, take it all in and feel like I was living inside a painting. It was a wonderful sensation.

Tomorrow I'm taking you through some really pretty little Provence villages, see you then....  

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Comments

[St Augustine School Of Medical Assistants]

I like your pic

[St Augustine School Of Medical Assistants]

Thanks

[lafayette pavers]

One of the best place I'd ever been. I would love to go back here again if I have the time.

[Landscape Design Brisbane]

Wow! all the design of this landscaping process is very beautiful.

[Mark Santos]

Amazing landscapes! Great photos.

[idiosyncratic eye]

Ooh, it's stunning! :)

[Carol]

Yes Lucy, the tall skinny trees are cypress pines. They grow well here in Australia too. Your photos are gorgeous and I felt like I was there with you. I would like to visit Provence one day and wander through these beautiful villages.

[WendyBee]

So many pretty pictures.. it will take me several visits to get through them all.

[sue]

Thanks for sharing your life with us, from your everyday family life to such special moments as visiting Provence and taking us on a tour through gorgeous villages. Glad you were able to have such a great experience and share it with us.

[Janet O'Driscoll]

Hi, lovely pictures and so glad you enjoyed your time in France.

Don't know if this information is of any use to you, in fact, it's a bit sad. As I was driving to see my daughter and baby grandson today, I passed the only 'proper' wool shop in our area, The Village Wool Shop in a small village called Crawshawbooth in Rossendale. Poor lady is selling up and has a closing down sale on. I went in as I needed buttons for baby grandson's jumper I'm knitting him and came out with a lovely ball of that fancy scarf wool (£4 as it was a bit frayed at one point) and a pattern book for jumpers. I noticed that the lovely lady (who offered me chocolate, nice!) stocks the Rowan wool that you use. We are not that far away from you, maybe this would be an ideal opportunity to stock up while the sale is on. I don't wish to profit from the misfortune of this business closing down, but times are tough in the Rossendale Valley, lots of unemployment and so on.

[Annelies]

I hope to be there very soon. I see the Mont. Ventoux and the lovely view on les Alpilles.

[Marilyn]

I have been to the Abbey, so beautiful! There was no lavender there then either. Your trip is bringing back such fond memories.

[Pomme]

Welcome back Lucy- I've missed you! It looks as if you've had a wonderful colourful time- thanks for brightening up my damp grey day! Your pictures are fabulous and I hope you are feeling positive again! can't wait to see what you've been making in sunny Provence

[M. Isabel]

Ohhhh, I want to go there someday..!! Thanks for sharing, Lucy, beautiful photos.
I send you a big Hug !!
M Isabel

[Nicky Parkin]

Lovely photos,,,,I'm really enjoying your trip through France. Im in Normandy....no sunshine what so ever. It looks utterly gorgeous and that you had a fabulous time. I missed reading your updated blog each morning. Its the first thing I do each morning whilst having my tea and toast. Keep up the blogging and crocheting...love it! xxxxx

[Viviana Franco]

Gracias!por compartir tan hermosos lugares.Feliz viaje!!
Viviana-Argentina-Bs.As

[Alison]

What gorgeous photos. Those roads do look a bit scary. Can't wait for the next instalment.
Ali x

[lori]

i love how you travel, having an appreciation for everything is so lovely.

[Verity]

I LOVE that last picture. It is so peaceful and yet it makes you wonder just what's around the bend. And the reflections! They are so clear.
You are a brave lot, going around those bends. It must have been terrifying! You make us all feel that we must go to Provence quick, but you have already given us a full tour of it. Still....................

P.S I have written other comments, but under the name of Artmaker- sorry, that blog is no more, I have redesigned it and re-made and given it a new address, which is down below.

[Simone Brazil]

Hello Lucy these skinny trees are called here in Brazil, Italian cypress. I would like you know that I love coffe with milk,mostly accompained with fubá cake. Fubá is a kind of corn flour...or cornmeal.sorry my english. kiss!

[Amanda Thornton]

These photos bring back such good memories of my trip to France. Thanks for sharing!
xo

[Angela-Southern U.S.A.]

Wonderest!...Amazing!...Glorious!..All of the above and more,wow,thanks again Lucy for sharing it with us :)

[Jane S.]

I am SO loving your holiday pics! Thank you for posting them. :)

[Rebecca]

Lucy,
Merci for all you beautiful pictures.

[Jane]

Take a look at this place that I live near, Castle Farm Shoreham.I often visit the shop and I have been on their tour.I often pass by,sometimes down the country lanes via Eynsford poppy field the views and smell are fantastic.The smell from the fields is there all year round.They grow Lavandin Grosso the plants that are grown in Provence.Another place near me is Downderry Nursery where I have purchased my various Lavender plants from. Enjoy!