Everyday we managed to pull ourselves away from the beautiful house we were staying at in Cereste. Provence is made up of some truly jaw-droppingly beautiful towns, and it would have been a shame to miss out on experiencing at least some of them. While we didn't visit any of the more well-known cities of Provence (Avignon, Orange, Arles, etc) we did visit some of the smaller ones:
Apt
Bonnieux
St. Martin
Lourmarin
Gargas
Verdon Gorges (a site, not a town)
All of these towns were amazing in their own way, but what connects all of them is the Provencal way of being. There is just a constant, quite, still in the air. All of the villages engulfed you in colors, yet kept you grounded in the history of each site.  |
| Cathedral in Roussillon |
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| The Red Cliffs of Ochre |
Each village offered it's own unique "schtick" but being a tourist in these small villages is remarkably different from being a tourist in a large city like Paris. There is plenty to see and do, but there's a noticeable lack in your "must-do"list, which leaves plenty of time to manger du fromage et boire du vin!
Of course everyone should visit Paris, and stand under La Tour Eiffel, and gaze at the Mona Lisa-BUT- if you want a taste of the culture without the hustle bustle- head toward Provence. Put a check next to your Paris bucket list items, then go breath in some mountainous, lavender-filled, dopey-smile-inducing, Provencal air.
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| Came across this shepherd whilst hiking Le Grand Luberon |
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| L'eau vive |
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| Le Gorges du Verdon |
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