A wisteria vine hangs over a blue doorway on an ancient stone building in Provence. This pic was snapped near the village of Saignon in the Luberon valley.
Wisteria Over a Blue Doorway
A wisteria vine hangs over a blue doorway on an ancient stone building in Provence. This pic was snapped near the village of Saignon in the Luberon valley.
A Borie Among the Forsythia
In the background you will see a quaint stone structure. It is called a borie. They were built to house both the sheep and the shepherd in inclement weather. In the tight quarters, there is usually a very small loft where the shepherd sleeps and the animals congregate in the shelter below.Built of fieldstone during the idle hours of watching sheep, bories dot the entire countryside of Provence in old alpine meadows.
Pool at a Heritage House
Most of the better houses have pools for the hot Provencal summers. This is a gorgeous pool located at a heritage house (with a gite attched) in the northern part of Provence.
More Sunflowers
This is a closer view of the sunflower field pictured below. There is nothing happier than sunflowers in the sun of Provence. I love the south of France. It was this feeling that Vincent Van Gogh captured in his paintings.
Sunflowers in Provence
Provence is Vincent Van Gogh country. He painted his famous sunflowers here. Pictured above is a field of Provencal sunflowers.
Topiaries in Provence
These topiaries are along the roadside near the mountain-top village of Gordes in Provence. Further along the way, there are conical evergreen topiaries. The countryside around Gordes is perhaps the most beautiful in Provence.
Double Rainbow Over Bonnieux
As we were walking through Bonnieux after dinner, we saw this beautiful double rainbow over the hills. It is fitting -- rainbows over Provence.
Leafy Outdoor Cafe
A very large outdoor cafe sits in a leafy shaded place. It is the same location that the market is held weekly.
Shrubbery in a Stone Wall
Shrubbery grows out of a stone wall surrounding an ocher house with a view.
Wild Flowers in the Grass
I was just about to step into our Peugeot and I noticed that these wild flowers were growing in the grass on the lawn. They are quite tiny and this is a closeup. Once again, I iterate that flowers are part of the essence of Provence.
Strange Flower and Insect
I snapped this picture of the strange flower and I didn't notice the bug to the left of it. I have no idea what kind of flower it is ... or the bug for that matter.
Irises Growing on a Stone Wall
Irises grow wild against an ancient stone wall while nearby a cherry tree shades the grass. Beautiful.
Driveway on a Hilltop Village
I mentioned that village houses in hilltop villages are kind of weird. They have interesting passageways, sometimes over other peoples dwellings, and disjointed rooms. Here a garage forms part of a house in a very tight driveway on a very narrow hilltop village street.
Growing Near a Wall
I spotted this bunch of flowers, growing untended near a stone wall. Flowers are ubiquitous and they appear as both growing decorations and crops such as lavender and saffron. They give a civilized air to the south of France.
Road Sign to Gordes
Gordes is one of the prettiest villages in Provence and this road sign points to it.
General Store
A general store nestles against the hillside. The building supplies can be seen in front of it.
Closeup of an Ocher Hill
The colours of Provence are the colours of ocher which is found in the soil Here is a closeup of how ocher deposits form the soil of Provence.
Over Hill and Dale
Looking over the vines on hill and dale, one can see across the valley into the hills beyond. To the north, outside the range of this photograph, is Mont Ventoux.
Vine Climbing Up a Tree
On this New Year's Day, I thought that I would post a symbol of hope -- a green vine climbing a tree. Happy New Year.
Abandoned Farm House in the Field
An abandoned farm house sits in the middle of a plowed field in the valley.
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