Saturday, April 29, 2017

Chapter 11even: Images from the Vaucluse

Images from the Vaucluse

this is a pre-season cafe terrace on the river Sorgue River at Fontaine de Vaucluse
The Vaucluse is the region of France that is north of Provence. This region includes Orange and Châteauneuf du Pape to the west, Vaison-la-Romaine, Carpentras and Mont Ventoux to the east ...




Think about Côtes du Rhône wine, le lavendre, le Tour de France, great weather, and more of France's really nice people, and you will want to come to the Vaucluse in the Luberon - again, and again, and again.






Châteauneuf du Pape, was, of course, the big castle retreat for the French Popes from Avignon. This, during the schism, when  Rome lost the papacy to France.  The photo shows the ruins of the Château today. 




View of the Rasteau vineyards (last week of March) from the top of the old city.
Mount Ventoux is hiding in haze, top left.

A vigneron we had come to know in Rasteau, the premier wine producing area of the Vaucluse, was unequivocal about the wine from his region being of no lesser quality than the highly marketed wines of the neighbouring Châteauneuf region.



During the last 2 weeks of March, leaves on the vines began to sprout. Daily, we could see the green shoot out and unfold in the warming sun.








windblown again, following an after-lunch climb to the top of the city








The Provençal market in Vaison is noted to be one of the best in France. We have shopped here often during several sojourns in the city.






The paella man was a winner at our table, partly because he did the cooking, but mostly, because of the riot of tastes.







Which way do we go?

The road up Mount Ventoux was closed for the season. 



It always looks like there is snow on the peak of Mount Ventoux, but it is really the  limestone. However, in mid-March this most definitely was snow.



Now, my secret is out.
small van for big clothes
In Isle sur le Sorgue, I finally started the business I have been longing to launch. 

Q: Why "confidential clothes", one might ask?
A: Maybe because it is still a secret.



launching soon in Paris





my signature brand


le slip does not mean a woman's slip in French
















For more travel and other photography visit my website 
at










2 comments:

  1. Vaucluse....Still beautiful! Still having the time of your lives by the look of things!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Colleen, remembered you and Colin while in F. de V.

    ReplyDelete