There's a Provencal market every Friday in Pertuis so we went to check it out this morning. It consists of a huge number of clothes stalls in which we had no interest at all. The produce section is much bigger than the one in St. Martin de la Brasque and a bit more intimidating. However, we managed to get the wherewithal to feed ourselves tonight and tomorrow night. So our first seafood of the stay tonight with lovely fresh salad and tomatoes!
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| The fish stall at Pertuis market. |
We were a bit later than planned heading for our tour of the day as we had to return home to put the seafood in the fridge. We set off for Menerbes, a village considered one of the finest in France.
The road most travelled - over the Luberon towards Apt.
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| Lunch in Le Fournil, Bonnieux. |
Having stopped for lunch in Bonnieux, we decided to do a quick detour to see Pont Julien, a Roman stone arch bridge over the river Calavon. It is dated 3 BC. It was used for car traffic until 2005 when a replacement bridge was built to protect Pont Julien from wear and tear.
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| The Calavon river bed - dry except for some to the upper left. |
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| Calavon river bed on other side - dry! |
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| Pont Julien after 2000 years of uninterrupted use! |
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| Sous le pont Julien. |
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Sur le pont Julien.
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Just before coming into Menerbes, we saw a sign for Abbaye Saint Hilaire so another detour was called for. This Abbey is a former Carmelite convent developed around 1250 on a pre-existing religious site, partly built into the rock. It is in a most beautiful rural setting, facing the Luberon.
I loved this church. The plain glass in the windows makes it look as if it is totally open. There is a 15th century mural fresco of the crucifixion in the side chapel, too faded to photo but still clear enough.
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| The cloisters |
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| The refectory |
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| The view! |
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| The grapevine arbour with ripe grapes! |
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| Partially built into the rocks. |
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| More view. |
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| Incongruous? |
We finally made it to Menerbes. It is built on a hill and surrounded by magnificent countryside which can be seen from lots of points in the village.
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| Local Laundry - Le lavoir. |
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| Mes sentiments exactement! |
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| View from Menerbes |
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| Mont Ventoux - not snow, bare limestone. |
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| More view. |
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| Belfry, Menerbes. |
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| Great view through arch at top square of Menerbes. |
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According to Jim, he's a shadow of his former self!
Not how I see it! |
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| Castle wall, Menerbes. |
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Dolmen of La Pichone de Memerbes, 2km from the village on the side
of the road. Evidence of habitation since neolithic times.
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Next stop - Oppede, Le Vieux Village. This is a tourist site. It is a truly ancient village with the ruins of the old fortified castle perched on top and surrounded by the rocky cliffs of the Luberon. Visitors park for 3 euro just below the village. Below is the map which shows the route from the car park to the Notre-Dame-d'Alydon Church, just below the castle. I know the photo is not very clear but you should get the idea that the walk to the castle is all uphill. Jim has his own way of pronouncing French words and places and, for once, his version of Oppede - Uppidy - seems to fit! It was Uppidy to the top and Downidy back down!
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On our way uppidy - view from l'Aire de Battage, where the threshing
took place after the harvest. |
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| Uppidy - view of the castle from below. |
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| View of Church on the way uppidy. |
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| Still uppidy but closer. |
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| And closer. |
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| La Place de la Croix, halfway uppidy. |
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| Sustenance (for more uppidy) can be availed of in Place de la Croix. |
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| Through the arch and more uppidy - very precarious underfoot! |
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| Ruins on the way uppidy |
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| Built into the rock as we go uppidy. |
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| La Chapelle des Penitents Blancs (White Penitents Chapel). Almost uppidy! |
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| The last flight of steps uppidy to Notre-Dame-d'Alidon. |
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| Main altar in Notre-Dame-d'Alidon. |
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| Bishop in the naughty corner, I presume. |
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| Very Russian Orthodox looking. |
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| Baptistry. |
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| View from besdide the ruins of the castle. |
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| The Church from up at the castle. |
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| The ruins of the castle. |
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| What goes uppidy must come downidy! |
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| View on the way downidy |
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| Back downidy in the square. |
From then on we stopped taking photos and concentrated on getting downidy safely. Going downidy is much more difficult than going uppidy!
We enjoyed the day and got lots of exercise!
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