Picture: Hillside view in the Luberon, near Roussillon.You can tell Burgundy has been settled, cultivated, and tamed for a long time. Even the woods have been replanted with all the trees perfectly aligned. Not so with the Valcuse and Luberon areas of northern Provence where we were. It’s rockier and more arid terrain has required “pocket farming.” Mountain ranges and rocky hills are interspersed with narrow valleys and vineyards climb the hillsides. The two areas were both arid but had different plant systems. Small villages cling to the cliff sides, climbing above the farmable land.
The eastern Luberon had steeper hills and some significant canyons. On our last full day in Provence we explored the Luberon area east of Avignon, our “center of operation.” After leaving the ochre colored town of Rossillion, with cliffs similar in color to Sedona, AZ, we drove through a narrow, steep walled canyon that was very similar to Oak Creek Canyon, AZ just to the north of Sedona. I was certain we would come around one of the curves and meet up with John Wayne who would say “Bon jour, Ma’am.” Then we popped out of the canyon to see a typical valley full of unharvested grape vines.
The eastern Luberon had steeper hills and some significant canyons. On our last full day in Provence we explored the Luberon area east of Avignon, our “center of operation.” After leaving the ochre colored town of Rossillion, with cliffs similar in color to Sedona, AZ, we drove through a narrow, steep walled canyon that was very similar to Oak Creek Canyon, AZ just to the north of Sedona. I was certain we would come around one of the curves and meet up with John Wayne who would say “Bon jour, Ma’am.” Then we popped out of the canyon to see a typical valley full of unharvested grape vines.
No comments:
Post a Comment