Below Bonnieux... looking toward the Petit Luberon and Lacoste
We're housesitting for our friends who have a beautiful home just outside Bonnieux, a family we met when we lived here for six months in 2004-2005. This is the second year that we've had this opportunity, and we're thrilled to be back. We planned our visit so we had a couple of days of overlap... a chance to visit a little and also get up to speed on anything we need to know about the house. While our friends are still here, our family is staying in a rustic guest annex. We're trying to be very sensitive that they're getting ready to go on a six week trip and we don't want to be in the way. So just as we did last year on the day after we arrived, we headed out today on a lavender drive. We just had a general plan to drive up to Lagarde d'Apt and then over to Sault and then we'd see where we went from there.
It was hot today, and just a little overcast. We ended up driving about 160 kilometers (about 100 miles) and making a big circle of Mont Ventoux, the largest mountain in this area at 6,263 feet. Mont Ventoux is very distinctive-- first, because it stands alone... not really part of a group of mountains. And second because the top is barren, without vegetation, and is covered with a white limestone. Mont Ventoux actually seems to be covered with snow year-round.
I'll let the photos tell the story of our day in the lavender around Mont Ventoux...
Near Lagarde d'Apt, the highest village in the Vaucluse (3609 feet)
A melange of colors
I love the combination of lavender and poppies
And now a close-up
A glimpse of Mont Ventoux
We took an alternate route to Sault on the Brouville road
Now Mont Ventoux from another perspective
Approaching Sault
From the big terrace at Sault... overlooking the valley
On the road to the Vallee de Toulourenc
Lavender and wildflowers near Montbrun-les-Bains
On the backside of Ventoux near Brantes
This isn't lavender but we saw several fields of this beautiful plant and thought it was just lovely
Comments (6)
Wow - those are some amazing pictures!
Posted by kimmer99![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/wood/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 10, 2007 6:57 PM
Posted on July 10, 2007 18:57
Kathy, I stumbled on your site and have had a wonderful time reading about your adventures. We have a lot in common -- I lived in Provence, took French lessons at a local language school and adore exploring/picnicking in that area! I read that your family rolled their eyes when you would point out Mourre Negre ... my family would roll their eyes when I pointed out Mt. Ventoux, so I had to comment on this post! Beautiful photos, beautiful family and I love the way you honor them. I'm sure they do you too. Have fun together! I look forward to reading more!
Posted by BonnieP![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/wood/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 10, 2007 7:33 PM
Posted on July 10, 2007 19:33
Ooooh. Ahhhhh. Kathy the photos are spectacular and you've so whetted my desire to see Provence during lavender season. It must be truly amazing.
Enjoy your reunion and your time in Bonnieux. I'll be watching your blog.
Kelly and Charley look great...so do you!
Posted by teaberry![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/wood/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 10, 2007 8:02 PM
Posted on July 10, 2007 20:02
WOW! Fabulous photos! I've got one from this spring from the terrace at Sault almost the same as yours, except little gray stubs for the lavender.l
Posted by chris![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/wood/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 10, 2007 8:32 PM
Posted on July 10, 2007 20:32
Ah, Mont Ventoux... are you planning on watching le Tour when it comes through? No Mont Ventoux this year, but you'll be pretty close for stages 10 and 11 on the 18 and 19th.
Posted by Toby![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/wood/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 10, 2007 10:21 PM
Posted on July 10, 2007 22:21
These are gorgeous photos! I just found this post, and now I need to get out a map and figure out your route. We'll be in Provence late June/early July next summer and I'd love to see some of that lovely lavender again. I always thought the poppies came earlier but now I am proven wrong.
Posted by Jennifer![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.slowtrav.com/blog/wood/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 17, 2007 12:25 PM
Posted on August 17, 2007 12:25