Abbaye de Sénanque

In 2004 we visisted the Abbaye de Sénanque located just outside of the town of Gordes. The Abbaye dates from the 12th Century. So many start at that time as there was a massive expansion in building monasteries across Europe. In the 12th Century over 700 were built.

A community of cistercian monks returned to the abbaye in 1988 and today live and pray in the abbaye. Tours of the abbaye are limited to specific times as this is an "active" abbaye. More information in the Cloisters Site.

The abbaye church is plain, as nothing was to detract the monks from their prayers. Cistercian Abbayes are known for their extreme simplicity in design. Only light, a symbol of God, is allowed to transform the space.

 

Antibes

One year, rather than staying in Nice, we decided to stay in Antibes, as it is only 23 km from Nice. I am not sure if I would do that again as we found ourselves driving into the Nice to see things like the flower market and other sights. But Antibes was nice. IT is located on a bay and has numerous colourful streets. It is known from its roses which are exported all around the world.

 

Arles

Arles is a very interesting town and our first visit we were drawn to see the Roman Arena and experience a bull fight.

The Roman Arena was impressive, but the bull fight, I don't think I want that experience again.

But years later we returned to see the Roman architecture of the city.

Arles was once a major Roman city now it is a great destination within Provence.

The Boulevard des Lices is a good starting point, as this is where it all happens in this town. Lined with plane trees, cafés and markets (Wednesday and Saturday mornings). At the Place de la Républic is the obelisk that originally in the Roman Circus - in Rome.

In 1981, Arles, was listed as a World Heritage site due to the number of Roman monuments outside of Italy.

The Cathédral Saint-Trophime, and its cloister are impressive.

You won't find this a sleeping town of Provence. There are bus loads of tourists in the summer.

The buildings from the Roman era include the arena, the theatre and the cryptoporticus. the baths of Constantine and the necropolis of Alyscamps.

Of course there are buildings from the Medieval times that include the Saint-Trophime and its cloister (11th and 12th centuries). The catherdral is considered one of Provence's major Romanesque monuments.

This was an important location for the Romans. They even built a floating bridge to cross the Rhône and through Arles was the land route from Italy to Spain. So established was Arles that it was the first area outside of Italy that Roman officers were given land on which to retire.

In 1888, Vincent van Gogh came to Arles to live and created over 300 paintings and drawings here -- this is where Starry Night Over the Rhône was created. Despite this, don't be looking for exhibitions of his work. You'll have to go back to Paris for that!

The Cathédrale St.Trophime with its bell tower and Romanesque doorway is stunning. The cloister is considered one of the best in Southern France. Four galleries and a courtyard.

The Roman Theater, or Théâtre Antique is a semicircle of tiers facing towards the stage house with its Roman columns with two columns remaining. The Amphi Theater - the Arènes could hold 30.000 people. Two tiers of the arches remain as during Medieval times, the upper levels were taken away to build other buildings in Arles.In fact, in medieval times, the arena was used as for with more than 200 houses built inside.

Oh yeh, about that first visit. The bull fight was not something that I would want to see again. They basically torment the bull until it runs around the arena is a state of confusion. I particularly like the shot I captured of the man jumping for his life over the wooden fence. At the point the bull tried to jump the fence and came crashing down on the wood. Enough.

Châteauneuf du Pape

After many tours through the more northern areas of France with the great vineyards around Beaune and in the Medoc the very famous wines of Châteauneuf du Pape are from nowhere near those areas. Located some 10 km south of the city of Orange, in Provence-Alpes-Côte D'Azur on the D68.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is near the remains of it's fortress castle. The appellation "Châteauneuf-du-Pape" means the wine production meets the controls of some 55 vineyards.

 

Le Cap Ferrat

We felt we had to go to Stl. Jean Cap Ferrat on one of our trips. The road to Le Cap is about 8 km north east of Nice. There are some things to see, but most of the drive is past private villas with high walls so you get to see very little in terms of homes and architecture. The bay, however, is quite scenic..

Nearby in Cap Ferrat is the Villa Ile-de-France, built by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild. The main floor of the house is included with general admittance. The grounds, however, are perhaps the most pleasant part of a tour of the villa. There are numerous gardening themes from classic Italian to oriental. Very interesting and worth a stroll.

In any event, Cap Ferrat is just a short drive from Nice so it is wasy to go into Nice in the evening for a ittle more activity.

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

Okay, we had this on our list of places to see. Afterall, it is one of the most popular tourist sites for the French, in France. Worth a detour as they say in the Michelin books. Well, I am not sure what we were expecting, but it was not what we found.

The Fontaine de Vaucluse is where a subterranean river, one that drains the water from the linestone plateaux of the Vaucluse comes out of the ground and this is the source of La Sorge River.

When we got to the source, there was little activity, in terms of the water. There it was, a pool of water before us. Okay, it is a pool of water being filled by this underground spring/water system.

How deep is the pool? We were told that in 1985 they sent a small robot submarine down 315 meters and it still did not find the bottom.

Okay.. we there is a pleasant walk down a pathway through the woods. The scene above is not the source, that is just a very still pool. This is part of the water flow as it leaves the area.

The Grande Corniche is the 31 km drive from Nice to Menton. Leave Nice on the D2564.

Although a narrow road there are some look out points.

It will take about 2 1/2 hours to drive this stretch, with some stops, but there are great views and the memory of the road and the colour of the water will stay with you for some time.

The Lower Corniche is a 35 kim drive also from Nice to Menton, it takes a little longer to drive as you have to go slow. Great views.

Gordes

We had this on a list of places to see for some time.

Perched on the edge of the Plateau de Vaucluse its stone stark buildings say Provence.

Gordes is one of Plus Beaux Villages de France ... so it is on the list to see!

There is a starkness to the town but it is on the circuit because of the famous artists and person who have lived in the town, and also, this is the area of Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence.

The buildings are made of white and gray stone. Built on the hill winding their way up to the church and castle at the top.

The castle holds the Pol Para Museum

Walking about the town take the narrow streets, explore and there are plenty of old doors, arcades and between the buildings views to look out over the Luberon.

The Abbaye de Sénanque is only 4 km from here, that that was part of our Cloisters Tour and well worth a vist.

Cistercian monks still live at the abbaye producing honey, lavender and liquers.

It is very plesant to get away from the hussel of the coast, and leave the towns and just walk around the abbaye. It will not be just you and the abbaye. This is a popular destination, and rightly so. But worth the short drive.

The abaye is located about 5 km just north of Gordes, take the D177 for the pleasant drive.