Catching up on the blog today. We didn't have internet at Chateau La Barben. Bertrand told us it was there but none of the guests could access it. So I've been keeping my notes in Word and copied everything to the blog once we got to our B&B in Dordogne. Updating several days today.
We awoke early. Full moon last night and the sun is coming up earlier. We were the only ones at breakfast this morning – everyone else was sleeping in. Time for a few more pictures of La Chateau La Barben:
We awoke early. Full moon last night and the sun is coming up earlier. We were the only ones at breakfast this morning – everyone else was sleeping in. Time for a few more pictures of La Chateau La Barben:
The old kitchen set up for breakfast
The old wood burning fireplace - we understand that this was the "Pastry Kitchen" for the chateau!
The chateau's dining room
The small chapel for Chateau La Barben - no longer used
We left about 9:30 and headed through the countryside to Eygalieres. The drive there was beautiful through the Alpilles Mountains. We parked and walked to the top. Met a couple of women from California on the way and they were in language school in Aix for 3 weeks. We told them about Emilie and France Just For You.
Beautiful views. We went by Café de la Place on Place Marcel Bonein but neither of us was hungry or thirsty so we continued on.
Church in Eygalieres - there was a service going on here and singing
Views of the countryside from the top at Eygalieres
Ruins at the top of Eygalieres
Steep climb to the top at Eygalieres - bell tower with a wrought iron belfry
I think Tim is trying to kill me! This was the EASY part of the climb but lots of loose gravel that caused me to loose my balance when climbing
We drove to Mausanne and it was “church time” – somewhat crowded, but we found a good parking spot near the cathedral and walked around. We went to a boulangerie and had sandwiches made – ham and cheese on a baguette - and bought a tarte aux pommes. We took those with us for a picnic later.
The church in Mausanne
The large town fountain in the square by the cathedral in Mausanne
We then drove a short way to Les Baux de Provence – and the traffic was something. We paid the 5 euros to drive up the hill to a parking spot almost at the top. We walked all around the city and decided to forego the chateau tour and just walk around. I went into the “Santons Musee” and that was interesting since I have 2 santons from Montpelier.
Entry into Les Baux de Provence
Lookout point at the entry in Les Baux de Provence
Typical winding steep cobblestone streets in Les Baux de Provence
Display in the Musee Santon in Les Baux de Provence
Old church in Les Baux de Provence
We headed back to our car and sat in the shade on rocks for a picnic with a view. Fabulous. This is so wonderful.
View from our picnic site of the Chateau Les Baux de Provence
Tim preparing our picnic on the rocks in Les Baux de Provence
Enjoying our sandwiches in the shade at Les Baux de Provence
Tim climbed up the rocks to look through a hole in the wall
Beautiful valley view through that hole in the rock - is these walls could talk!
Then we decided to leave our car where it was and walk to the Les Carrieres de Lumieres. This is a music and video show in an old quarry. It was FANTASIQUE!!!! Marvelous. We enjoyed that a lot. The sight and sound was spectacular. It was amazing the classical music put to the various masters works of art throughout the quarry – it was hard knowing where to look. Wonderful.
Pictures of masters paintings on the quarry walls and floors with classical music - Fantastique!
The floors were turned into oriental carpets, cobble stones, rivers, unusual patterns - wonderful.
Paintings projected onto the many walls inside the old marble quarry
This was the quarry outside the exhibit area - they started with something like this and turned it into a fabulous sound and light show
Tim walked back to Les Baux de Provence and retrieved the car from the carpark up the hill – bless his heart! He came and picked me up – my feet are killing me today from all of the uphill walking! Then we headed to Glanum which is an archaeological site outside of St. Remy de Provence. It was built and inhabited between 600-200 BC – yes, BC. It was abandoned in 200 BC and the people moved to the site of St Remy. Fascinating.
Glanum archaeological site outside of St Remy de Provence
The old thermes or baths in Glanum
Remains of the small chapel at Glanum
Tributes placed near the well at Glanum
The well at Glanum
Their own Arc de Triomphe at Glanum
A monument at Glanum
We drove on to St. Remy de Provence and found a place to park. We went through the southern gate, then to several squares. Then we walked to the northern “Hole Gate”, rue Nostradamus and finally the Nostradamus Fountain. This is the birthplace of Nostradamus. We stopped for a crepe, carafe of rose wine, and coffee. We stopped in an art gallery that had interesting paintings and then back to the car.
Beautiful city chateaus in St Remy de Provence
The southern gate to St Remy de Provence
Typical street scene in St Remy de Provence
Beautiful pastries in France - yum!
We stopped for a crepe Grand Marnier and coffee at this square.
The fountain was curious as the water came out of a spigot and then flowed into a trough all around the square and then down a street to a city drain. The trough is in the middle of the picture at the bottom.
The trough continues on through the city streets for several blocks
The Hole Gate on rue Nostradamus in St Remy de Provence
The Nostradamus Fountain in St Remy de Provence - Nostradamus was born here.
We headed east from St Remy to the Cave de Romanin. This was another time that we "headed into the fields" with our car. At the end of a long dusty dirt road we found the Caves du Romanin. We didn’t have a reservation but a very nice young man took us into the “cathedral cave” for a look. Fascinating. We bought 2 bottles of wine – a rose that was chilled for tonight when we get home and a 2006 red for our cocktail time in Dorgogne.
Entrance to the Caves du Romanin
The "cathedral" room in the caves - interesting and beautiful
We headed back to La Barben. Tim got frustrated at the peage booth as the machine couldn’t read the card. “Illegible Card – Please push the Help button”. Boy, was he frustrated – but hey, this happens. He finally pushed the “Help” button and a woman came on, I told her where we started, she told us we owed 2 euros, we paid it and were on our way. Problem solved without too much drama!
We arrived back at Chateau La Barben and took pictures from the road to the west of the castle – it is really magical. Can you imagine having your own castle like the Pillivuyts do?
View of Chateau La Barben from the road leading from town
A closer view of the towers of Chateau La Barben where we stayed in southern Provence
We went to the patio and opened our rose wine from Romanin, relaxed, and enjoyed the scenery. Good wine. The chateau is apparently full again tonight. Gislaine came up the stairs with one of her granddaughters and we greeted her. Nice family.
Our afternoon wine - today a rose from Provence - on the upper courtyard at Chateau La Barben
We changed for dinner and went to Toumandre (?) in the town
of La Barben, about 2 km from the chateau. Bertrand had told us it was a “gourmet”
restaurant – and his daughter (the cook for our table d’hote) had also
recommended it. Dinner was
fabulous. I had moule that were baked
with a fabulous sauce. Tim had lamb 2
ways and I had chicken in fillo.
Yum. The owner of the restaurant
was very accommodating and spoke excellent English. She knew we were Americans from “the accent”! Of well, so much for trying to act like a
Frenchman. I should have worn my beret!
We had dessert and coffee and headed back to the
castle. The other guests were still in
the kitchen having their dinner – so we went up to the Auguste Suite and
relaxed and eventually went to bed. Tim
is reading ahead about our trip from here to Dordogne. Provence has been so wonderful. We have experienced so many things we never knew anything about. Great experiences. Thanks Emilie.
Tomorrow on to Dordogne – about a 4 hour drive ahead of us.
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