Observations:
- You need a functioning GPS in Provence
- Newly created roundabouts totally mess up GPS as "recalculating"
- Almost everything is 45 minutes away regardless of the distance
- Pretty much as many fruit stands in this part of Provence as our Okanagan
It was recommended to get to Les Baux de Provence. As we approach this medieval village on the top of a rocky crag it is stunning. Huge chunky rocks with ancient castle on top. Tons of cars all trying to find parking. Parking area on top is completely full and we decide to reverse direction a family was packing up. This was free parking very close to the entry! Yeh! We needed to wait about 10 minutes for the family to leave, we got lots of beeping horns from other cars behind us.
Extremely windy this morning. The mistral wind from the north is famous in Provence. Tickets are 16 Euros each for both the Chateaux des Baux-de-Provence and Vers Carriéres de Lumieres. Many tourists as you enter the narrow medieval streets as all the shops are focused on tourist income. This is the town's only source of income. Fortunately, we purchased our dual entry tickets down below and avoided the huge lineup at the actual physical entrance. Got a free map and free media guides in english that you play at each number. Our first entertainment was a medieval weaponry demonstration using a couple of guys dressed in period clothes and some child volunteers. About 7-8 types of medieval weapons and they made it fun. Super windy though the entire time.
Useful plaque and good picture of the site
Another good picture of the site although with none of the surroundings
Castle ruins are interesting and could be described as a fortress citadel that was an important to the history of Provence. Baux means "windblown spur" and that is certainly correct! All info plaques are in French and English - kinda like Canada. Fantastic views from the very top of the two highest points of the castle lookouts. You walk at your own pace and stop and listen using your audio guides. Very steep stairs on a couple of climbs which keeps tourists to a minimum in getting to the very top. Fear of heights for some people comes into play.
Example of steep stairs
We got to see Le Trébuchet hurl a large ball high into the air and crash. There were signs that said dangerous shooting zone and now we know why. Great visit; interesting, informative and fun. Picked up a sandwich in a local shop and continue to be amazed at French bread - crispy and hard crust, but soft and tasty on the inside.
This is Le Trébuchet
View of the village of Les Baux from the top
Ancient entrance to the original castle
Lana was a bad girl
About a ten minute walk downhill to Carrière de Lumières and a surreal experience. Interesting and unique experience. To set this up, you walk into a giant ancient quarry where bauxite and limestone were mined and used to build the Chateaux (Castle) and the village of Les Baux. As you walk in it is dark and coolish and the 'floor' is uneven. Classical and blues/jazz music is synchronized with the projectors displaying art and movies and some animated art images against the huge walls and the floor. Brilliant art work from such artists as Monet, Renoir and Chagall. Impressionist to Fauism and up to contemporary art works. Totally unexpected, but such a fantastic experience. You walk around as there are many walls and open spaces that can alter your perspective. Not too chilly. Multi-media presentation. The syncing of music to art/imagery was very impressive.
The walls when a show is not being run.
In addition, you can walk to another section and see movies made by Jean Cocteau that are as avant-garde as they get and artsy. It even has carved 'seats' and benches from the limestone.
Outdoor part.
Walking up in the bright and hot sun to our parked car and appreciated our luck in getting that spot. Other cars were parked along the road quite a distance away. We have a long drive to Aix-en-Provence which was recommended by our Belgian friends. We find the city, but don't have an address for the old town area. Need to stop at the city and program for a hotel located in the old town area. We find parking near this hotel, but no small change for the meter. Lana buys some stuff at Sephora and now we have change. We don't have a lot of time as we are about one hour from our home base. Sunny and hot in Aix-en-Provence. We decide to do a self-guided walk that is listed in our trusty guide book. Aix-en-Provence is the current and historical administrative capital of Provence. Very rich city of around 140,000 people. Evident very quickly we are in a large city. Stylish people, beautiful buildings and wealth everywhere. Different than the much smaller casual and rural villages of Provence.
We start at La Rotonde built in 1860 as a fountain to give the citizens water and shade. Cours Rabeau is a beautiful street that was supposed to rival Paris' Champs Elysées. Took a pic of a mossy fountain.
Lots of tourists and even a Petit Train taking tourists around the sites. We get lost once as Lana sees detour for macaroons and that is it. Picture of Place d'Albertas little square where one of the sides was not touched up as the owners were too cheap.
Finish at the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour (Saint Sauveur) which is what I could describe as architecturally 'schizoid' that comprises a Romanesque section, a Gothic section and a Baroque section built on top of an old Roman forum. Quite dramatic inside given the differences in architecture and styles. Found our way to our car about 15 minutes after ticket expired and no problem.
Freeway driving for the first part and more tolls to pay. About 4 Euros each way. We return about 7:20 pm so have had a long day. Lana gets down early to hold a good table. Another awesome dinner and dessert was served early so we were finished by 9:50 pm. That is a record. We finally reached Renée and Georgia for some FaceTime until our wifi stopped working.
Smoked duck breast on lentils
Salmon with ratatouille
Apricot pie!
Our last full day in Provence as tomorrow we need to catch a plane to Frankfurt. :-(
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