Issue No. 18

3 Gordes
- the heart of Provence
If there is one place on the bucket list of
most visitors to Provence, it has to be
Gordes. It’s almost like going to Paris and
seeing the Eiffel Tour, it is the iconic
Provencal village.
The best way for your first experience of
Gordes is from afar at the lookout point,
because once you are in the village, your
perspective is completely different, and you
simply can’t appreciate the grandeur upon
which you stand.
Exploring the nooks and crannies and
hidden secrets of this picturesque hill top
town will enchant you. Cobblestone streets,
a majestic 16th century chateau and mellow,
yellow stoned houses make this the town
the poster boy for Provence.
Take time to view the lower fountain where
400 shoemakers worked until the 19th
century, when an earthquake deviated the
underground water sources and ruined their
businesses. Go underground and discover
the Caves of Saint Firmin where dedication
and hard work by a local family unveiled
silos, vats and an olive mill - 7 floors under
the main house!
The environs of Gordes are truly marvellous,
such as the Cistercian architecture of the
Abbey de Senanque where the monks
harvest lavender from the fields that
surround it. Relax in the dry-stone huts,
known as bories, that pepper the landscape
and offer respite from the sun for those who
choose to hike one of the many glorious
trails.