At any turn along twisting Provençal roads, you might encounter ooh-worthy remote villages set high on rocky hilltops, poking above olive groves, vineyards and forests. We came upon exactly that type of village set into the Vaucluse hills. Le Beaucet is a tiny, serene town of 400 residents built into rocky cliffs. We were curious […]
Tag Archives | France
Moulin Coopératif de Mouriès, Mouriès, France
We spent a lot of time in Provence sampling and purchasing wine and olive oil. There’s an abundance of each at most every turn, so the key is doing research beforehand to identify those that sound most alluring. We read favorable things about olive oil cooperative Moulin Coopératif de Mouriès and wanted to check it […]
Domaine Michel et Stéphane Ogier, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
In small wine villages, we spend a fair amount of time looking for wineries down remote roads and showing up at places that are supposed to be open but are not, even though we called ahead of time. Most of the chateaux are staffed by only one or two people (in many cases, the owners) […]
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France
Since we were in the area, we had to swing by Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is considered one of the finest appellations in the world. It is one of the 16 Crus of the Rhône Valley and one of the first of France’s AOC’s (appellations d’origine controlee). Within the official area of 32 square km, 320 chateaux […]
Chartreuse du Val de Bénédiction, Villeneuve-lés-Avignon, France
But for the religious requirement and the communal living, this lovely monastery tucked away in quiet Villeneuve-lés-Avignon would have been an appealing place to call home. 13th-century village Villeneuve-lés-Avignon is overshadowed by neighboring Avignon, but its second-rate status ensures quiet streets and a slow pace. In the 14th century, Pope Innocent VI donated some land […]
Fort St-André, Villeneuve-lés-Avignon, France
This sprawling 14th-century fort sits high on a mountaintop across the river from Avignon. I was curious to check it out since its grandness is visible from many surrounding points. Up close, it’s just as massive and solid as it appears from afar. In the 13th century, Fort St-André was built on Mount Andaon on […]
Collégiale Saint Martin, St-Rémy de Provence, France
Collégiale Saint Martin’s hulking Neoclassical mass is stuffed into tiny St-Rémy’s streets. The structure, which stands on the site of a medieval church, only dates from 1821, having been constructed after the original collapsed in 1818. The 14th-century Gothic bell tower and chapel are from the original building. I’ve seen a lot of organs, and […]
Rue des Teinturiers, Avignon, France
Rue des Teinturiers is a quaint area in Avignon’s old city center (so this is like doubling up in the “charming” category). Translated, this is the street of dyers. Thanks to the man-made canals that supply pristine water from the Vaucluse River, the neighborhood was once the center of Provence’s textile industry. In the 15th […]
Hôtel des Monnaies, Avignon, France
Isn’t this magnificent? The extravagant façade of this Baroque building caught my eye. Angels, lions, eagles, fruit garlands, a papal coat of arms and dragons all get space. In the 17th century, this was Avignon’s mint. Today the building houses a music conservatory.
Musée Angladon, Avignon, France
What’s better than a house museum? A house museum that doubles as an art museum. Musée Angladon houses the art collection of couturier Jacques Doucet. Though he never occupied the building, Hôtel de Massilian (named after the family that occupied it in the 18th century), his descendent who generously donated and funded the museum did. […]
