John and Marcia's "Walk Inn" Provence...

I'm really excited about posting the following blog entry: I didn't write it, not did I take the pictures. The following is an excerpt of John's photos and captions, taken from his Picassa albums. He and Marcia embarked on our full-week Luberon holiday in April 2011, and they were very generous in sharing their photos with us:
 Luberon: Medieval villages and Hidden Trails
At the bottom of the blog entry I've included links to the full Picassa albums, which are very enjoyable...  

The next day we taxi to the nearby village of Fontaine de Vaucluse to begin our walk. At about noon we start on our walk. We're headed to the "perched village" of Gordes, about 4.5 hours away.

We climb and climb, but seem to get nowhere. Despite perfectly clear instructions, I have stupidly led us up the wrong trail! (nice trail, though).

 ... straight to our B and B, just beyond town!

But the next morning is lovely and we happily hit the trail! Our goal is the ancient Abbey of Senanque, hidden somewhere in this dry, stony landscape. After several hours of pleasant walking we reach the abbey, famously set in fields of lavender (not yet in bloom). Founded in 1148, it still houses a community of Cistercian monks.

 We loop back to Gordes via a more dramatic route ...

We explore medieval Gordes ..

Today we walk from Gordes to Goult ...

...mostly along quiet lanes bordered by stone walls and bories, olive groves, and the odd cliff dwelling. It's an easy 4-hour walk, and we meet almost no one ...

Soon we enter the charming village of Goult. 

We also get good views of Mt. Ventoux, the highest mountain in Provence.

At lunchtime we reach the village of Lacoste, dominated by the Marquis de Sade's ruined castle. After lunch at the Cafe Sade, we climb to the castle. This deserted stone village is perhaps slightly sinister? Or is it just my imagination? At the castle, the door is shut (fine with me). Let's move on.

Leaving Lacoste, we head for Bonnieux. 

Looking north, Mt Ventoux  ...

After the long relaxing lunch we saunter on ... reaching, quite unexpectedly ...

... an astonishing precipice! Our inn lies below. A rocky descent into the Aiguebrun Gorge brings us to L'Auberge des Seguins, our refuge for the night.

We start our last day walking in the gorge by the Aiguebrun River. The trail is completely ours, as usual.

.. and enter Sivergues, a hamlet far off the beaten track.

... all the way to Saignon, our final destination. We find La Pyramide, our delightful B & B.

... We climb to the top for a fine view of Saignon. Goodbye, France. Tomorrow we go to Spain.
(the end)

John's Albums: 

View Album

View Album

View Album

View Album

Hi Stuart,

We had a wonderful time on your "Medieval Villages and Hidden Trails" walk last spring and I'm now really itching to do the new one from the Alps to the Sea. Unfortunately, we live far far away, so it will be some time before we are in France again. Meanwhile, I'm sending you separately my four detailed photo albums of the Luberon walk. Feel free to post the links or use any or all of the material.

Thanks so much for the wonderful service you provide. 

John, Hawaii