Wednesday, 21 March 2012

Saignon to Rustrel

Yesterday's updating expedition began with a 3km climb by bike to the perched village of Saignon, wheeling my out-of-shape legs up a steep road. The village itself is huddled below the ruins of its castle, a few rows of majestic stone houses perched some 300m above the town of Apt, below in the valley.




The Belfry in Saignon:




An old, stone fountain in the centre of the village:




The walk took me from Saignon to the village of Rustrel, on the opposite side of the Calavon valley.




Rustrel is set by what the locals call the "Colorado Provençal": an ochre deposit of red, orange, and yellow sands, a veritable playground of walking paths and sandy pinnacles:



A path through the sands:



The almond trees in full bloom, and the sweet scent of honey in the air: