Alpes de Haute Provence...

This past Easter weekend I hiked for three days in the region just east of the Luberon mountains, near the town of Forcalquier. Technically speaking, this is the "Alpes de Haute Provence" region, though these aren't truly the Alps, but rather a set of never-ending and rolling foothills, laden in lavender fields and oak forest, much more Provençal than Alpine. The tourists rarely make it here: the villages are are more humble and authentic, devoid of kitschy shops or waiters that entice would-be petrons from out on the streets.

A busy bee contemplating almond flowers, while a hilltop windmill proudly fills the backdrop, just outside the village of St. Michel l'Observatoire:


Forcalquier is just over an hour's drive from Avignon. Think about it: from Mediterranean Avignon, just over an hour gets you here: a glimpse of the Southern Alps, still covered by their wintry blanket:



The hiking in this particular region, I have to admit, doesn't compare to mountain ranges closer to home, such as Ventoux, Luberon, or Alpilles. Here the hills are tamer, cut in such a way that you can see the hike's end from its start, not offering a great deal of variety in scenery, and certainly less jaw-dropping-majesty. But something can be said for having the Alps as a backdrop while you head along a peaceful path, and so peaceful that I had it all to myself. Literally. 3 days, 45 km, not one person crossed my path...


I saw this shrine along the way, built in the early 19th century.


Below is the town of Reillane, one of my stops. It was Easter Sunday when I arrived here, and so this sleepy village seemed all the more tired. On a normal day there are some quaint bars and cafés open, set on the disproportionately huge village square, where you can watch the world go by...