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.......

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Comments

[Lynne Gill]

I think you may be asked to write the regional tourist brochure, Lucy! Your photos are fabulous, have really brightened up this dreary morning for me! Now, just bring on that hooky stuff you've been keeping the lid on!

[Anna]

Incredible village! Indeed, the colors you are talking about, are just stunning.Thanks for sharing this beauty and a piece of Europe with me! Looking forward to see your crochet creations! Anna

[Tina]

Thanks so much for taking the time to upload all those glorious photos for us all to enjoy. :) What a lovely place, I can understand how much you loved it there. Looking forward to seeing your crochet tomorrow! :) xxx

[Jenny]

Some fantastic photos, looks like another to do for my bucket list.

[Val]

Your images really are divine!

[Havok]

Swoon! Oh so muchly! So much in such a condensed place, seems hard to take it all in from your pictures, let alone in person!

[Jude.x]

Oh! My! I've loved sharing your holiday, but Rousillon....... Oh! My! Those little pots... Oh! My! The colours of the houses.... Oh! My! The colour of the sky.... Oh! My!:-D
Jude.x

[Laura Miller]

Hi Lucy - thanks for another great post! Why don't you try growing morning glory over the back wall of your little garden/courtyard? I'm sure it would do very well if you grew it in a large pot and trained it over the wall. It would look stunning from your kitchen window!!! Another good one would be the Chilean Potato Plant/Vine - most good garden centres would stock it. xxx

[Claire]

Hello Lucy, what a wonderfull pics!! It feels like holliday watching them!! We go there for summerholliday's allmost every year. This year we went to Sweden en now I see your pics I realise I have missed it!! I come back tomorrow, can't wait to see your lovely work!! Have a nice day! X Claire

[Eugenia]

What a great week you had! These places are so lovely! :)

[Bonnie]

Hi Lucy. It's no wonder it stole your heart-it's lovely! So full of charm and character! Thank you for sharing-i am looking forward to your crochet reveal!

[Rosanne (California USA)]

As I sit here in my home in the middle of a busy city, listening to all the noises of the night - cars driving by, horns honking etc - I long to live in a quiet place. Alas, I am here and have to make the best of it - but, just for a few moments you have managed to take me away to a most beautiful place all serene and quiet. Thank you so much for the "cyber" trip. Most enjoyable and such gorgeous photos.

[Rani]

Just incredible. I am so tickled that you're sharing all of these pictures. I'm earth bound here in Minnesota - just longing to travel. What beauty - those winding little streets are just waiting to be explored!

[Alessandra]

L-O-V-E-L-Y!!!!
Thank you soooo much Lucy for this amusing tour!!!
See you tomorrow, xxxx Alessandra

[krista - Poppyprint]

Lucy, I stayed in Menerbes for a week at the end of March under warm, sunny skies and Rousillon was one of our fav visits as well. Sadly we arrived at 5:00 p.m. and they would not let us into the Ochre Park which closed at 6:00. The French are not aware of how quickly us Canadians can hoof it around an exhibit. So, instead we went for a walk on the trekking trail just outside of town and got some beautiful views. It is lovely to see your photos of the fields all green. Everything was still woody and brown when we were there! I've thoroughly enjoyed reliving my wonderful family holiday through your photos!

[carolee carpenter jandreau]

Dear Lucy
Thank you so very, very much for the pictures that you post on your blog. I am a 67 year old disabled artist and I am traveling vicariously through your wonderful pictures. I love seeing all the places in England, your caravan adventures, yarn excursions and now France, no less! Your pictures are so vibrant and I wonder if you might share your camera settings. I have a little canon camera and I would love to be able to learn to get pictures with the bold and beautiful look that you are right there that you achieve. Thank you, again, for your blog and I am eager for the hooky Ta-Dah tomorrow. May you and you family be mightily blessed!!

[Shannon]

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

[diana]

Thanks again for this lovely photo tour of your travels. I wish I wasn't on the other side of the Pond right now. ;-)

[Margaret]

Oooh I think I am in love with this beautiful town. Looks exactly like something in a dream. Thanks for sharing - looks like a wonderful trip!
Margaret

[Patti in Pa]

thank you for taking me places I will never get to! What an experience for you! The pictures are beautiful, I always love how your enthusiasum comes through when you are explaining the pictures! :)

[Val Johnson]

Loved every minute of sharing your trip via photo's.....thanks so much for brightening my day with your adventures....and can't wait to see the project you have been working on....tah dah....until tomorrow with anticipation....

[Shirley Flavell]

I don't want the journey to end.Such beautiful countryside and your photos are terrific.Each nook and cranny you walked around must have been so exciting and like you Lucy I would've been squeeling and rabbiting on with enthusiasm and excitement as well.Now I look forward to you "hooky" stuff. Shirley

[Kate]

Those colours are pretty special- that art materials shop, well, I want a jar of each please!

[Marilyn]

Sigh!! Beautiful! Oh the memories of the time I walked these streets. Thanks for the memories and reminding me of it's beauty.

[Atie Holmes]

Loved your posts about Provence so much, I visited there more than 60 years ago and it still as beautiful as ever. I am too old now to travel that far, so thank you for taking me back. Love your blog, it is always the first one I look at.Atie