Explorer and Explorason – Lavender Fields of France
Limousin to Avignon France
Today is a huge drive.
Call me crazy as the song goes, but I detest driving on boring motorways.
Apart from the toll cost on the French ones, they are – well BORING! I love the little towns. The freedom to stop.
The drive obviously takes a little longer, but there are no great roads in the area anyway, so we have been told, so we didn’t mind.
We are surprised by how cold it is. I have a jacket on and Explorason and Explorafriend both fall asleep with jackets over them.
Then I see sunflower fields, so out we pop and take a few happy snaps.
Exploramum and Explorason – Sunflower fields
It seems to be a really varied drive.
There is a lot of fog and low cloud, and through the mountains, we have 2 hours of twisting roads, with light misty rain, and poor visibility. It feels like it is about to snow. How bizarre!
We stop and find stones with traces of copper. Explorason loves rock collecting, so we go for a little walk and I stretch my driver’s legs. The pine forest is lovely to walk through.
Next, we come across vineyards, and almost a Tuscan feel to the little mountain towns.
Here there are small stone cottages next to the vineyards that I daresay are full of work tools or used for breaks for the workers.
Exploramum and Explorason – French vineyards
I hop out and walk along the rows of vines along the roadside.
The mountains are in the distance and quite blue.
Exploramum and Explorason – more French vineyards
The grapes are not yet ready, but some are sun-kissed.
Exploramum and Explorason – eyeing off the grapes
Ardéche is the next town and is a UNESCO site.
Exploramum and Explorason – Ardéche is gorgeous
If I wasn’t driving I would have done some wine tasting. It has cute little boutique places to stop. Eat, drink and be merry, even though it is a quiet town.
Exploramum and Explorason – Ardéche village – running through the streets
The winding streets are more for walking than driving, so out we pop for a wander.
Exploramum and Explorason – Ardéche – so quaint
There is a lovely old church, and we head towards it, and there is suddenly a ring of the bell that makes us jump. These streets are otherwise silent.
Exploramum and Explorason – Ardéche church outside
Inside I love the domed ceiling. It is very cool and very peaceful. I feel like I am invading, so I gently close the door and leave.
Exploramum and Explorason – Ardéche inside the church
As I sit on the wall outside the church, I feel I could stop and stay here for a few days in the serenity of the hills, but we must travel on as we have a flight to catch tomorrow!
Exploramum and Explorason – Ardéche – taking it all in!
So we head back to the car and it is not a good day to discover the air-conditioning is not functioning. We have gone from very cold to very hot in a matter of a few hours.
Exploramum and Explorason – Ardéche laneways
The next area feels like we are driving through the Arizona desert.
And suddenly we are in lavender fields.
I so wanted to see the French Lavender fields, so I am excited.
Today, we really have seen so much.
Exploramum and Explorason – French Lavender fields
We end up at a budget hotel outside Avignon. It is a pretty boxy room, but we are heading out anyway, so it is just to sleep.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon hotel
We head into Avignon.
There is free parking by the large Ferris wheel, so we find a park and walk over to the road edge.
There is a tunnel to go under.
It is really windy and I have a headache.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon Museum
We emerge to enter the walled city of Avignon.
We have a bit of fun as we go exploring.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon church outside
It is steeped in history and we enjoy the church.
There is beautiful tapestry inside.
We talk to a cleaner, in a mix between hand gestures, a bit of English, French, and Spanish all rolled into one.
He explains how we can fill in a prayer request form and leave it which is in the form of a pretty postcard.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon church tapestry
We learn about how during the French Revolution that most of the church organs are destroyed.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon church inside – fire damage
We see fire damage and the beauty they have tried so hard to save.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon church inside
Gorgeous carved doors are at the entrance, but I only see the workmanship as I exit.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon church doors
After dinner, we hear a street pianist sing French love songs. I could have sat there all night. It was just a moment I will always remember. Music really does fill the soul.
When we arrived, we had no idea that the Avignon Festival was on. Daily performances (A lot like Adelaide Fringe Festival). Hundreds of performers take to the streets to try to entice people to their shows.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon magician
We sit and enjoy a street performer – from Argentina. He was great. Travelling often allows you theatre at a small donation of a price and is way better than TV.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon Street performers
We head back to the walled city. The wind has died down. My headache is a little less. We check out the detail of the stonework and the erosion of time.
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon Walled City
Time to return to our budget hotel. We drive off and realize tomorrow we will be in another continent!
Exploramum and Explorason – Avignon Walled City – Good-bye
This is the end of our 29th country – for now.
Questions and Comments
- What fascinates you about France?
- Have you been in a Limousin?
- How was the experience?
- Do share your comments with us below.
