We fell in love with Provence immediately and yearning to go back. I did a blog post on Provence awhile back but it is such a special place that it deserves another one. We were in Provence in early October of 2008. We took the train from Paris to Avignon then picked up our rental car at the train station and drove to a little village called Eyragues where we stayed in a lovely chambre d’hotes. Going in October which is considered off season is great as you get a good feel of the villages without the hordes of tourists. Though, we did get terrential rain for a full day while we were there, but for the rest of the days, the weather was like Spring which made it perfect for walking & exploring the different villages.
With a good GPS, it’s amazing how easy it is to drive around. But we couldn’t get used to the narrow roads which are considered as 2 lanes. Scary especially when you see a truck coming and you somehow have to share the road with it as it passes by. But we managed and it just became part of the adventure.
We didn’t see fields of lavender as it was off season but amazingly, the smell somehow just stays in the air and on the ground and felt like we were surrounded by it. It’s the most beautiful scent.
On that one rainy day we were there, we discovered Cathedrale D’Images in the village of Le Baux. It is an abandoned Roman quarry with multimedia experience of images and music showcasing the works of different artists. The show varies every year and we were lucky enough to be there to experience the work of Van Gogh in this magical setting. But sadly, it seems like they have closed the place down due to a court ruling.
UPDATE: Thanks to one of our readers who left a comment, Cathedrale D’Images is open again and is now called Les Carriéres des Lumiéres. Exhibits for 2013 will feature Monet, Renoir, and Chagall.
There’s so much to explore in Provence and hoping to go back again sooner than later. Though, I know Provence will always be there.
The quarry at Les Baux is open. It is now called Les Carrières des Lumières and will be featuring a Monet, Renoir, and Chagall exhibit in 2013.
Their website is
http://www.carrieres-lumieres.getaticket.com/Information.aspx
Don’t miss the wonderful Roman sites and musées in Arles! We stayed in Arles for a month last May and will be returning this fall. Provence gets in to one’s heart for sure!
oh wow, that’s good to know! thank you.