View Across the Valley

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No matter where you look, you will see scenic views and there will be at least one vineyard somewhere as there is in the upper right of this picture.  In the towns, you will see a sea of tile roofs.  This picture is of the Luberon Valley in Provence.

The Village Fountain

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Often, the village fountain was the sole source of water for some of the dwellings.  There was also a central place to wash clothes from the water in the fountain. It is called a lavoir.  In the arch underneath is the lavoir chamber where the village housewives would do their laundry.

Provencal Bedroom

This is a look inside a Provencal bedroom.  The bed is a lovely ironworks piece in the Provencal style (there are ferroniers or iron workers all through Provence).  Note the ever present flowers and the ladder being whimsically used as a bookshelf.

Farm Outbuildings Converted to Guest House Gite

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Many farms that are no longer active are sold to entrepreneurs cashing in on the tourist buildings in Provence.  They convert the farm buildings into gites or guest houses such as the one pictured above.  It is a very bucolic way to vacation in Provence.

Cat in a Farmhouse Window

A cat reposes in the sunlight of a rustic farm house.  With the shutter open, this provides a perfect place to grab a cat nap.

Stone Fence and Lavender Fields Coming Into Bloom

Just over the stone fence is a lavender field.  It is late spring and the lavender is just coming into bloom.  Soon it will totally color the field and perfume the air.

View From Bonnieux II

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I must have about 30 pictures of this view.  It is from the second level of the village of Bonnieux across the Luberon Valley.  This is one of my favourite places on earth.

Half Level of Hilltop Village

I have been showing the laneways and levels of the houses in a Provencal hilltop village.  This is an interesting situation where this laneway is at the half level.  The laneway services some houses on the second story of these buildings and some on the ground story of this village.  The French carved out villages out of steep hillsides and the villages are virtual mazes of levels, laneways, houses and walls.

The Maze That is The Village

A lone lamp hangs to light the way in the dark when the village becomes a maze of lanes, pathways, and charming stone houses.  I think at this point, one cannot bring a vehicle into the lane.

Climbing to the top tier of a hilltop village

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The laneway becomes steeper and steeper as you climb your way to the top tier of hilltop village.  Note the plants still growing almost everywhere that they can.

Fallen Flower Petals on the Cobblestones

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I couldn't resist firing this shot.  It is of the cobblestones beneath my feet, just strewn with purple petals that just fell off the tree.  It is either a Forsythia tree or a Judas Tree, but walking on the petals made me feel special.

Flowers Growing in the Most Improbable Places

Here, against a stone wall, atop a stone pillar, we have flowers growing.  In keeping with the comment in the last posting, flowers are definitely part of Life in Provence.  Note the flowering Judas Tree in the background.

Flower Pot in the Window

This is quite a common sight -- flower pots in the window of most houses, even though there is no room for a garden.  Flowers are a part of life in Provence.

Stone out of a village house

I mentioned in a previous blog entry that the interior of some village houses are quite convoluted due to the walls of the village, adjoining buildings, accretion of nearby buildings, etc.  These were really interesting to me.  Why are the huge stone blocks protruding above this village house door?  Charming and interesting.

Patio Table Outside Village House Door

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A patio table is outside a village house door. Among the flowers and vines, the occupants can share an al fresco meal or drink in their peaceful outdoor surroundings.

Village Lane Way

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The laneway through the village houses narrows at the end of the village.  At high noon, there is no sign of the residents that live in the houses on the hilltop village.  A wheel that was used to raise water is visible in the lower center right.  This village also has a fountain in spite of it being on a hilltop.

Worn Stone Steps In Village House

These worn stone steps lead to a village house doorway.  The houses are all built together, and you get some real weird interior and exterior configurations.  You could have the interior space of one house actually encroach the space of another house or the areas between them. They can be a maze of staircases and odd dimension rooms that do nothing but add charm.

Sleepy Village Street in the Afternoon

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A sleepy village street reposes in the afternoon sun.  The roadway narrows down into a laneway.  Flowers perfume the air and the beauty of Provence is everywhere you look.

Spring Flowers in Bonnieux

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This clump of flowers was found growing in the beautiful hill-top village of Bonnieux.  There is nothing like Springtime in Provence and the bursting out of flowers all over.

Houses on Hilltop Village Lane

The houses on the hilltop village are built of local stone and are quite picturesque, if not neatly square and planned.  This adds to the charm of the village houses.  Note, in spite of being built on stone, there is greenery where ever there can be some.

In A Cherry Orchard

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This bucolic lane winds through a cherry orchard in the Luberon valley.  Irises line the laneway and an almond tree is on the extreme right.  Peaceful countryside at its best in Provence.