PLACES WE PAINTED updated on a regular basis
Week One (Katherine, Robyn, Ronelle and Sarah)
- Hameau de Couguieux
- Mont Ventoux
- the mountain near to the "Postcard from Provence" house
- often used as training for or part of the Tours de France cycle race
- Hameau de Couguieux
- Isle sur la Sorgue
- a medieval town with a river running through it and round it;
- home of the weekend brocante market
- Abbaye de Senanque
- Cistercian abbey
- lavender fields
PLACES TO PAINT - where we might be going next
We will, of course, be looking at Julian's blog A Postcard from Provence for inspiration! Ruth has also provided us a with a list of places we can get to easily from house.
Here's a few ideas for trips away from base whivh we haven't yet got round too
The towns
- Sault
- Superb views of the countryside from the esplanade and a good market.
- Should be good for views of Lavender fields at the end of June
- the last time Katherine was here she was being filmed by the BBC's Holiday programme for an episode about painting holidays. See The first time I went painting in Provence
- Vaison la Romaine
- a Roman bridge with a single arch over the river is still being used despite being some 2000 years old
- Gordes
- classed as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France.
- Amazing sight from the road below the town. Amazing views looking out from the town.
- Katherine would like to draw and paint that fountain one more time!
- Roussillon
- another one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France - just down the road from Gordes
- it has fabulous ochre quarries nearby
- Arles
- a UNESCO world heritage site
- this is where Van Gogh lived between 20 Feb 1888 and 8 May 1889. Many of his famous paintings were painted in or near Arles. See Van Gogh and the Yellow House in Arles and Van Gogh: Drawing media and techniques
- Saint Rémy-de-Provence
- a chance to go walking in the footsteps of Van Gogh.
- Official website http://www.saintremy-de-provence.com/en
- Les-Baux-de-Provence and the Alpilles
- an old chateau fortress to look at from a distance so as to avoid the tourists!
- the Massif des Alpilles, now classified as the Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles (Alpilles Region Natural Park, has magnificent landscapes
- Dentelles de Montmirail
- short steep mountains named after the lace they are supposed to resemble
We're in the Rhone valley and have quite a choice! Here are a couple of famous places.
- Beaumes-de-Venise
- home of one of the best dessert wines Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise - is a short distance away.
- It also has an olive mill
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape
- outstanding views of vineyards.
- It's also where the Popes based in Avignon used to have their summer palace when it got too hot in Avignon.
