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Semigrants in the Provence - Text and images by Indra Van Regemorter

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Sep 28, 2015

Roussillon, a photogenic ocher village !

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View from top of the village towards the cemetery and the ‘ocher trail’

This village is soooooooooo stunning that I don’t even know where to begin with words…so why not kick off with a few pictures…and hopefully some phrases will come to my mind but I doubt whether I can truly describe what our eyes saw and our hearts felt. It is simply BREATHTAKING ! Do click on each picture to enlarge !

A Luberon day

It was the second week of September, a beautiful sunny and crisp Thursday morning, THE perfect day to take our American friends to the Luberon. With Gordes, Bonnieux and Roussillon on the agenda, we decided to start in impressively splendid Roussillon, right on time for lunch and…market day ! The US gals looooove to shop so this worked out perfect for them…and then some !

Lovely vibrant market !
‘At the Taste of the Day’
Lunchplace with a View !

You can read more info about the Luberon in one of my previous articles ‘At the movie set of ‘A Good Year’.

Cool cellar wineshop !
100% Provencal shop !
Ocher gallery !
Inside the gallery !

50 shades of ocher

Roussillon is located on the southern side of the ‘Plateau de Vaucluse’, above one of the world’s largest known ocher deposits where many different shades of ocher were once mined. Ocher is a natural earth pigment containing hydrated iron oxide, which ranges in color from yellow to deep orange or brown. It is also the name of the colors produced by this pigment, especially a light brownish-yellow.

Close-up of an ocher cliff
Close-up of an ocher cliff

Ocher trail

Just a few minutes walk from the village is the beginning of the ‘Sentier des Ocres’ (Ocher trail). Two different trails take you through the ocher lands.  Along the way information signs inform you more about the geology, flora and history of the ocher deposits in the Luberon. The trails take you past multi-colored ocher formations set against a background of deep green pine trees.

Ocher cliff, a bit further away…

Belfry

The belfry was the ancient entrance into the fortified area called the Castrum and was renovated in the 19th century as a bell tower adjoining the church. It is hard to miss this place and I truly suggest you walk up there because from this point, there are sublime views of the village and surrounding area.

Fun in the sun

As you walk through Roussillon, you will pass 17th and 18th century houses painted in all the local ocher shades from soft gold to deep, rich red. Sooooooo pretty, especially on a blue-sky-day as we had ! We and our US friends were simply impressed ! And even started acting silly from time to time 🙂 DO click to enlarge !

Conclusion

Roussillon, classified as ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’ is simply another MUST-VISIT ! I leave you all with some more beautiful impressions and I truly hope they encourage you to visit this awesome village when in Provence !

And…last but not least…don’t forget that camera honey !

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Tagged: 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France', Luberon, ocher trail, Provence, Roussillon

Comments

  1. caroline says

    September 28, 2015 at 16:36

    Zo’n prachtige foto’s, vergezeld van leuke commentaren. Het doet mensen watertanden!

    Reply
    • Indra says

      September 28, 2015 at 16:46

      Dank voor je mooie reactie Caroline en euh…binnenkort zijn jullie aan de beurt hé 🙂

      Reply
  2. Larry T. says

    September 28, 2015 at 17:15

    A Geologist would wonder and probably know what and when that white strata of earth in the ocher cliffs would mean. It is a beautiful place! Thanks for sharing. Love the green wooden slat doors too!

    Reply
    • Indra says

      September 28, 2015 at 17:23

      Thanks for your reaction Larry! Interesting note you write there. If you like to read a bit more about the ocher and the white strata…just click on the joined link : http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/luberon/ochre-roussillon/#.VglbAPntlBc. Good luck!

      Reply
      • Larry T. says

        September 29, 2015 at 04:10

        Crazy good writing! Thanks for the tip! “Shaped by the will and wind and Rain”. So good!

        Reply
        • Indra says

          September 29, 2015 at 09:23

          Nature and its ‘miracles’… 🙂

          Reply

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