France
This year we return to a France visit in the spring, and Italy in the Fall.
We flew with Air France from Vancouver to Paris. The non-stop flight is a great way to start the holiday. The significant increase in airfares was a little hard to take. Our Premium Economy seats made the flight a bit better. We arrived early in the morning and made our way to the Passy area of Paris where our apartment is located. This is in the 16th arrondissement and this is the first time we have stayed in this area of Paris. It was not hard to adjustment to not being in the centre of Paris, travel by Metro was easy. There were two stops with two Metro lines serving our area. More information on the Paris Page.
We were concerned about the possibility of cancelled flights due to fuel shortages. The US war with Iran had created fuel shortages and in France, a number of short-haul flights were being cancelled. We took a TGV train from Paris to Nice where we would pick up our car. Luckily the heat wave had not hit the country as later, in June, it was trains that were being cancelled due to the high temperature.
We arrived at the Nice train station and took a cab to the Nice Airport to pick up our car, and Renault TT lease. This is the best car arrangement you can get. It was supposed to be relatively straightforward drive from Nice to the town of Villelaure near Aix-en-Provence. But I seem to have gotten totally lost, following the GPS and the two-hour drive showed up as a six-hour drive. We eventually gave up on the GPS, found our way to the Autostrada and drive to Aix-en-Provence and then made our way to Villelaure. More information on the Villelaure Page.
From Villelaure we travel to the town of Vèdene to return to a house we have rented two times before. A beautiful small one-bedroom house with the best kitchen view you can have - right out to the pool which is three feet from the door. More information on the Vèdene Page.
Our next base was in the town of Lorgues. We have not been to this area of Provence before and I enjoyed the area very much. More information on the Lorgues Page.
Our time in the interior of Provence ended, we drove to Nice and dropped off the car at the aiport. Then we took a cab to Nice were we would stay one night. We both concluded that Nice has the absolute best cab we ever have had. The phrase: leave your bags, that is my job -- was music to our ears. We conclude our time in the south of France with a few days in Nice. We spend some time in the afternoon in the centre of Nice, and in the evening exploring Old Nice was very enjoyable. The nest morning I spend time along the sea and then we flew up to Paris on an afternoon flight.
Because we had a morning flight to Vancouver from CDG, we were concerned we may be caught in line-ups for the new Entry Exit System (EES) so we stayed in the Sheraton Hotel at the CDG Terminal 2. I will never forget the silence of the halls at the hotel when we left at 6:00 am --- we walked out the door of the hotel into the hectic pace of the airport. How could that many people we all travelling at 6:00 am!
EES was closed, there was basically not much of a line-up. We boarded our plane for the flight back to Vancouver.
Located between Nîmes (20 km south) and Uzès (10 km north). Originally built in the 12th century around a castle and surrounded by ramparts, Sanilhac was protected by three towers. Of these structures, only one defensive tower, the "Tourasse," and the castle keep remain. Today a 17th Château de Sagriès stands in the town.
Located near the Pont du Gard. When you cross the current 1994 bridge, the remains of the first bridge built in 1830 are visible on the left-bank. It is an old medieval village with ramparts, towers.
Behind the ramparts the town has a maze of narrow streets and small square. There are three castles.
Medieval village built of orange limestone. Three ancient washouses.There is no maze of narrows streets, but the main street is reported to be interesting. 1 km south of town there is a ruined section of the Uzès-Nimes acqueduct. The trail to it begins at the Misserand Lavoir.
Ancient fortified town between Avignon and Arles. 15th C chateau, 12th C church, medieval river bridge. The 15th C churches has Cordeliers Cloisters. Market day is Tuesday. Tarascon is joined to the town of Beauclair by a bridge. Beauclair is said to be more scenic.
Train to Montpellier is starts with a small regional train at Saint-Genies-de-Malgoires. There is a connection in Nimes.
Small medievl town about 80 km (1 1/2 hrs) from Saint-Bauzély. Abbaye of Gellone, interesting streets, small waterfall in the town. Warning, some reports this town is over-run with tourists. The Abbaye has cloisters but a large part of the cloisters were sold and removed during the French Revolution and shipped to New York where it is now the "Cloisters, a museum in New York.
A perched medieval village, a village of character. A town of small medieval streets, two castles, a clock tower that still rings out the hours. The Sabran Gate, under the clock tower, is the only one of the five doors from the medieval walls that has been preserved.
The 12th C Castle of Fay-Perault, also known as Montanègre, at the top of the hill. Destroyed in 1628 with thirty-meter high wall remaining.
To access the village, you need good shoes and climb at least sixty steps. Be careful in summer, it gets very hot very quickly. Think well of hats, caps and especially have a water bottle.
The medieval city walls surrounding the city are well preserved. From the photos I have seen, the totally walled town is quiet the sight. Aquae Mortuae, means "dead water", or "stagnant water", this comes from the marshes and ponds that surround the village.
Located in Saint-Laurent-d'Aigouze, the Carbonnière Tower. Surrounded by salt marshes, the fortress was the only passageway into Aigues-Mortes.
About 63 km (1 Hour) from Saint-Bauzély, is the small village of Montclus. In Medieval times, the MNons Serratus Abbaye (13th C) was an impossing castle. Could be a challenge, articals indicate signage to the town is difficult.
Located just over an hour from Saint-Bauzély, this town is said to be charming. The old castle overlooks the town, the church dates back to the 12th C and there is a windmill from 1873.
Town is located North/East of the Pont-du-Gard
If making the drive to Vézénjan, the N50- goes through Bagnols-sur-Cèze (located 27 km from Orange. The photos of this large town make it look interesting. It has a large business area surrounding the Medieval Centre with pedestrian shopping streets. Place Auguste Mallet, the photo above, is the centre of the old town. Old doorways, hôtels particuliers, Rue Fernand Crémieux has the 14th C Abbey des Bernadines de Valsauce with its impressive 14th C doorway.
About 57 km | 1 hour from Saint-Bauzély, Barjac is an exceptionally well preserved medieval town. The restored 17th C chateau at the top of the hill looks good.
Located about an hour from Saint-Bauzély, is said to be a pleasant town to visit. The town is more active with a local population than tourists. Tuesday is market day.
Check out row of colorful houses along the Place de l'Esplanade with the Medieval Duges tower on the hilltop behind. Medieval feel is the narrow streets circling the base of the bhill between the town center and the old hilltop site of Duges. Narrow and dark streets.
Town is located North/East of the Pont-du-Gard
Saint-Gilles is about 45 minutes from Saint-Bauzély. The Abbaye of Saint-Gilles is a significant site.
Missed on previous trip, only 30 minutes from Saint-Bauzély, this old town held the castle the bishops ofUzes fled to during the Black Plkague. It is described as a town lost in time. It is just a quiet old town, no bakery, no shops. Lovely bell tower with an iron campanile, charming area - Place de la Dance.
Located about 30 minutes/30 km from Saint-Bauzély, and just a little North/West of Uzés. Montaren and Saint-Médiers were united in 1815 under Napoleon. Traces of the ramparts remain. Today there are medieval Saracan towers along with other defensive towers standing.
Located 32 min/34 km from Saint-Bauzély, Conqueyrac is a dessereted medieval village, a ghost town, just past the town of Sauve. There is still a municipal page and a number of vacation rentals being note. The Chapel Romane St André is reported to be a jewel. No noted sights to see, I think just a vibe of the remaining buildings.
The last visit was unsuccessful with the race event. I am going back. Watch for the "Circuit du Vieux Cavaillon" signs when in the old centre. St. Véran Cathedral has cloisters. Monday is market day.
Town dates back to 1055. It climbs a small hill facing ochre cliffs of Roussillon. Cobbled lanes, steps, old stone houses, 19th C mill, Church of St John the Baptist has walls covered in trompe l'oeil paintings, monumental sculptures of men in wood and stone.
52 km/1 hr from Cheval-Blanc is Viens - a charming village, circled with 11th & 13th C ramparts. Old stone houses, remodeled 13/14th C castle, old fountains and wash houses.
Located 12 km, 20 minutes from Cheva-Blanc, there are the remains of the castle, ramparts and Saint-Antoine chapel all from the Middle Ages. There are fountains, a wash house also. A section of the Plague Wall passes through the village and the Carpentras Canal. Maybe check out Sourmane-de-Vaucluse further down the road.
A peaceful farming village in the Luberon, suyrrounded by vneyards, orechards and market gardens. There are only a few houses around the town hall. But, only 17 km/25 minutes from Cheval-Blanc. Authentic rather than tourist stop. There is an 11th Century church. Above the village is the 1846 Badelle Mill. Web image searches shows some good scenes.
30 km/45 minutes from Cheval-Blanc. Small hill top village, no crowds, some fountains, stone-houses, remains of the ramparts, at the top of the village is the castle (private and not open). Probably a stop on the way vs a destination. It is further down the road from Lagnes and the town of Goult.
