Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Out and about in the luberon

Yesterday in Provence was a great March day, 65F and sunny.... Lucky us.

So I decided that it was time for new gorgeous places hunting. In the morning I did the Cavaillon market and I hit the Luberon at 1pm (back home to St Remy at 6 pm). I stopped at quiet a few places, checks at tourist offices what was new, what had changed. And spent a lot of time talking to some people. You might not be interested in my private lihe but this will give an idea of how long it can take to discover the Luberon.
During the course of the afternoon, I was only able to do the the South Luberon.

Leaving from St Remy,

Take the road to Cavaillon
In cavaillon, follow the sign to Apt, Gordes
 Pass "Les Taillades"
and arrive in Robion.
Robion is not on the list of the "must see in Luberon" 
but it is a village I rather like.
Quiet, real and "Provencal like"







The outside Theatre in Robion



 

And if you feel like hiking, here the start of the 3hrs trail in the Luberon mountain


Back to the main road (still toward Apt, Gordes)
Take a right at the roundabout at the sign
"Maubec Village, Camping"
Nothing to do in Maubec
no shop, no museum, 
but such a gorgeous spot....





The view from Maubec





The 2 ways street in Maubec old village....


From Maubec follow the road to Menerbes
Menerbes was the residence place of famous writer
Peter Mayle, author of the best seller
"one year in Provence"
Smallish village nicely renovated.
Walk up on the nice street going uphill for a stunning view
Good selection of restaurants and shops
Free car park.


 Bendy curvy tiny road


 Arriving in Menerbes

 lol, but true





Out of Menerbes, 
Follow the signs to 
Bonnieux and then Lacoste
(on the way you can visit the Abbaye de St Hilaire)
Lacoste, turned into Art & Photo Gallery village
hosts the famous Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD).
The Castle was bought a few year ago by Cloth designer Pierre Cardin
 Pierre Cardin renovated the Castle of (in)famous Marquis de Sade 
and SCD a huge number of houses where students are staying or exhibiting
It is still however a very quiet village where you can walk up to the castle
walk in paved street and enjoy the view




En route to Bonnieux which you can see from Bonnieux

Arriving in Bonnieux




Bonnieux is another perched up village
several restaurants to choose from
the bakery museum
the "jardin extraordinaire de la louve" (see in garden tag)
and free parking...







My favorite restaurant
for local workmen
opens only for lunch


The view from Bonnieux onto Gordes


From Bonnieux I went on to Goult
Less knwon village again but one of my favorite
I like the café de la poste
Parking (free) is usually easier than in busier touristy village
The nice pedestrian street leads you to the chateau
Old stones again are wonderful















And then, after 507 pictures taken in the course of the day
my phone battery went dead.....

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