We started off in Aix en Provence - a chic rural city with a lively and colourful Saturday market and it was definitely a highlight of our visit for me. I do love the buzz of a good market!
We visited over half a dozen old stone hilltop villages around the Provence that I’d read so much about in Peter Mayle’s novels. Based in a lovely chambre d’hote, Le Jardinage, in Cabrieres d’Avingnon we wandered around the peaceful streets of Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Oppede-le-Vieux, Menerbes, Lourmarin and Ansouis. We saw markets, churches, local shops, and fortunately not too many tourists! We drove by vineyards, olive groves and down country roads. We drank pastis, iced tea and wine by the bottle. And we ate some yummy food too!
Mattias in Gordes
Gordes
View across the Luberon
Roussillon
Bonnieux
Menerbes
Walking through vineyards in Oppede le Vieux
From the Luberon we headed into the Gorges du Verdon (the gorge is the largest canyon in Europe), stayed in Moustiers St Marie and enjoyed some dramatic drives and views around the Gorges and Lac de St Croix.
Moustiers St Marie
To kick off the beach part of our week we drove down to the coastline starting in Nice and then to Ramatuelle just outside the glitz of St Tropez. We did a drive along the Grand Corniche (which famously took the life of Grace Kelly) stopping in at Eze along the way. We relaxed on the beach of St Tropez and enjoyed the most delicious food at our chambre d’hote in Ramatuelle which was a great end to our trip and the last of the summer weather.
Nice
View from the Grande Corniche
Eze
Picnicking above Monaco
View of Cote d'Azur from Ramatuelle
St Tropez
Plage de Pampelonne
Afternoon sun
Our chambre d'hote in Ramatuelle
Our last dinner
Our view at breakfast on Sunday
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