Roussillon et Gordes (10 October 2024)

 

Gordes from the stone platform

It was our last day riding.  I had requested an e-bike which duly arrived.  I had come to the conclusion a couple of days ago that I would have problems climbing some of the hills especially as we were riding about 50kms.  For some reason the exercise was catching up on me. 

 

It was fine and clear when we took off.  There was no wind but when we joined the bike trail the clouds arrived as did some wind.  The cloud subsequently came and went making for a pleasant day cycling. 

The tombs beside the church
 We went through a small village with a church where tombs had hewn out rocks beside it.  The route took us through vineyards and fields on little country lanes which meant next to no traffic.  There was a fairly gentle climb up to Roussillon.  It is another pretty village sited near what were once ochre diggings.  The ochre was very valuable in the past as a base for dyes.  The village buildings are painted in a shade of pink or apricot close to the colour of the ochre.  We had a galette at one of the many restaurants for such a small place before wandering the streets.  We were going to go to the area mined but it seemed that it was closed due to recent rain.



Roussillon

 

Then it was onto Gordes.  To some extent we retraced our route in parallel then began a long slow climb to Gordes.  Gordes is one of the most visited villages in Provence which I assume is because of its location and it is also very pretty. 

Teetering on the stone platform - note no guardrails
 

Near the top is a stone platform (no guard rails) which provides the opportunity to take a fabulous photo of the village.  It was quite busy, however, relative calm and co-operation ended when a young Japanese woman began taking up all the space posing for numerous shots, preventing others having access.  I asked politely if she and her boyfriend would give other people an opportunity for a picture.  She ignored me completely (although the boyfriend acknowledged my request) however she was determined to continue her narcissistic performance. She was still posing when we left to continue cycling to the village.  After half an hour or so we headed back down the hill calling into a supermarket in Coustellet for supplies on the way back to the villa.   


We were very lucky when we got to Gordes and Roussillon as the clouds seemed to disappear for our time there. 

 

We were very sad to be finishing our six nights there as the villa was very comfortable (apart from the odd mosquito that bothered Bev and Graham) and was convenient to both supermarkets and a restaurant. 

Roussillon

Gordes

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse at the base of the cliffs



 

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