Europe 2014

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Part 2

		On the Tuesday, we went to Gigondas, a little village we had visited briefly in 2011 when staying at Sablet. *
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		We ate under the trees in the main square, but probably chose the wrong restaurant. *
		But, as always, the Provençal Rosé went down well. *
		On Wednesday, we went first to the "Parting of the Waters", one of a number of places where the Sorgue splits in two. *
		Weirs had been built to ensure that the river kept flowing down both channels. *
		Then on to Fontaine de Vaucluse, where the Sorgue comes out of the ground in a series of springs. There was plenty of water near the village.
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		But when we got to the top of the path by the river, where previously there had been a big spring gushing water, it was totally dry. *
		The light mark above the cave is where the water level was when we visited in 2011.
		The castle at Fontaine de Vaucluse, growing out of the rock.
		We drove past Gordes, perched on its hill. *
		Then, to Lynn's delight, we came across a few fields of flowering lavender (actually lavendin). *
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		We went into the village of Rousillon for a late lunch. *
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		Rousillon is noted for its ochre cliffs, which used to be mined for pigments. *
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		The church bell tower. *
		Font inside the church. *
		On the Thursday, we visited some little villages. First was Saumane-de-Vaucluse, which was pretty, but the church was locked and the castle was being repaired. This house caught Lynn's eye. *
		Driving along, we could see Mont Ventoux creating its own weather. *
		Next stop was St Didier, with this interesting church tower over a roadway. *
		Fountain in a courtyard in St Didier. *
		Then to Venasque, which had this really interesting old church.
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		Venasque war memorial.
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		We had lunch here ... *
		under the shade of vines ... *
		and with a view out over the Provençal countryside. *
		Walking back to our car, this café was hoping that someone would sit in the full sun to have refreshments. *

Our week in L'Isle being finished, it was onto the autoroute to head for Lyon.