… near the port of Marseille, France’s second-largest city. On a bright and sunny day, our tour bus took us quickly into the countryside, toward the Luberon mountain range. Our first destination was the charming village of L’Isle-sur-Sorgue, dubbed the “Venice of Provence” because of its many canals. Surrounded by the Sorgue River, the village’s bustling economy used to depend on its many mill wheels operating in the canals. The mills powered different types of mechanized operations, from grinding grain into flour, to powering leather processing equipment. Although no longer in use, several wheels remain, adding to the ambiance of the place.
L’Occitane products are manufactured just a few miles away; their creator is a local man. Today the village is filled with craft and antique shops, as well as restaurants. After exploring the narrow winding alleys, we had an excellent Provencal lunch of local wine, quiche, salad, beef steak and French fries, finished with a masterful crème brulee.
After lunch and a little more shopping, the bus headed for Lourmarin. On the way we stopped briefly at Pont Julien, a stone triple-arch Roman bridge built between 27 BC and 14 AD, one of the only surviving bridges of its time. Until the 1990s the bridge was still used by traffic; it has now been converted into a footbridge only. The visible construction techniques are amazing, and the bridge looks pretty good for being 2000 years old!
The direct road to Lourmarin was closed for some reason, so we had to meander through the mountains on twisty narrow roads for what seemed like hours to get to the village. Lourmarin dates its origin to the Neolithic-era; however, it is now dominated by its Renaissance Castle. It boasts famous resident Peter Mayle, the author of “A Year in Provence,” and is considered to be among the most beautiful villages in France. We arrived in the late afternoon so most of the shops were already closed, but even at that hour the place was so inviting it practically demanded a return visit in the future.
We returned to the port in rush hour traffic, a sharp contrast to our otherwise relaxing day in Provence.
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