Lourmarin

Rousillon

Oppede Le Vieux

Le coquelicot (the corn poppy)

Monet first brought this lovely red flower to my conscious attention in his famous painting, "Les Coquelicots." Can you imagine my delight in finding field after field of these in bloom?

Gordes

Because Gordes sits so majestically above the plain, it has been called, "The Parthenon of Provence." Coming around a winding turn on the narrow mountain roads, the first sight of this small city growing out of rock leaves one breathless.

After parking just above the main square, the walk down delights with the narrow streets, tight alleyways, suddenly available vistas. This place is a feast for the senses and full of surprises. The regional crop is lavender, so the local market is a dazzling array of scents and sites. The town church is a suprise on its own with a startling combination of medieval, renaissance and baroque. Clearly, one of my favorite places in Provence.

Bonnieux

Driving down the hill from Lacoste, across the Vaucluse plateau, and through the orchards, one finds Bonnieux, a bustling village of shops, cafés, restaurants, lodgings, and artists.

It is a remarkably short walk up to the now abandoned 12th century Roman/Gothic church that caps the town. From its altitude of 425 metres (1,394 ft), the views are stunning, including the Monts de Vaucluse, Mont Ventoux, and also Lacoste, Gordes and Roussillon.

In July the church evidently becomes a richly atmospheric setting for classical music concerts. Strangely, the town seems more proud to have its own bank than this glorious old building.

Nearby is the lovely little town on Menerbes. I was so taken with how the sky and the paint color match!

Lacoste

This exquisitely preserved medieval village, nestled in the Luberon region of Provence, France, has changed remarkably little since the 1400s. With 1 small restaurant and 2 cafés, all of which cater to locals, 1 new shop (open for less than a year) that sells products of the region, and a single small bakery, Lacoste is not a favored stop for tourists. Thank goodness!

In 1970, American artist Bernard Pfriem founded the Lacoste School of the Arts in this little village. He worked carefully with the town so as to grow the project without intruding upon the special character of the place. The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has since bought the school, and now occupies almost half of the properties in the town. However, it is all done so well, you might not even know it was here. As SCAD purchases and renovates a building, a brass nameplate commemorates the original owners. Naturally, doors and shutters continue to sport that unique color of blue that typifies the region. The town is so determined to preserve its quiet character that it has a legal ordinance that makes 10pm to 10pm "quiet time."

I am here with 21 remarkable High School students from the Lovett School of Atlanta, Georgia. They are studying photography and painting with Lovett faculty members, Karey Walter and Amy Story. My role: chaperone. I drive a van, escort students, announce curfew, and work to enforce the no alcohol policy. Let's just say, my biggest challenges are keeping things quiet and the temptations of fine French wine. These kids have both energy and enormous "curiosity!"

Some sites around town.