Cherry blossoms in April...

Just outside the picturesque village of Vénasque, in the heart of Provence, the cherry orchards are in full blossom; and with the evening's last rays of sun we stop to bask in their sweet perfume...

February in Mont Ventoux

In the plains the temperature has been hovering close to 20°c for a week, the almond trees are in flower, an early spring has hit Provence. And so I decided to climb up to mont Ventoux to put the final touches on the self-guided walking holiday that Walk Inn now offers in Provence's highest mountain. What I didn't expect was about 30cm of snow, fallen just the day before...

Overlooking the Baronnies mountains to the north, on the freshly fallen snow:

A sprinkling of new snow on the mountain pines leading towards the summit:

For more information about our self-guided holiday in Mont Ventoux, check out our website: 

Ventoux: hiking on the roof of Provence

Near the roof of Provence...

A gorgeous winter's day brought me to Mont Ventoux on a reconnaissance walk, putting together a self-guided holiday on the roof of Provence. The photo below is was taken from Mont Serein, at the end of the walk, with the last rays of sun highlighting the bare summit.

There hasn't been snow here for a while, and the last of it is quickly melting away...

From Mont Serein, at 1400m, on a clear winter's day such as this one, the entire chain of the Alps is visible.

I began my walk at 700m in altitude, on a logging road through the pine forest. The pines in the photo below are Austrian black pines, planted 150 years ago during reforestation.

The mornings are crisp up in altitude. Fearing a cold day I brought not only my gore-tex jacket but also a down jacket, stuffed into my backpack. I didn't wear either, sticking with a simple polar fleece all day...

Nearing the end of the walk, approaching the "ski resort" of Mont Serein, some patches of leftover snow still carpeting the slopes:

In the beech forest, one of the very few specimens that survived the intense deforestation of Ventoux over the centuries. Only a few dozen of these "relic" trees continue to grace the slopes:

Nearing Mont Serein, cutting it close with the setting sun:

Moi!

What a wonderful walk, on a beautiful winter's day: didn't cross a soul over 5 hours of walking, crisp mountain air, gorgeous views, and the ever-present Provençal sun. And they pay me for this?

from Malaucène to Vaison la Romaine

It doesn't feel much like winter. With temperatures flirting with 20°C, a slight Mistral headwind, and a beautiful Provençal sun, I set out from the town of Malaucène for an 18km walk to Vaison la Romaine. This stage marks the final walk of Walk Inn's weeklong self-guided tour of Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles de Montmirail. Speaking of the latter, the tooth-like limestone chains of the Dentelles are clearly visible in the photo below, with the tiny village of Suzette (and its population of 99) also visible here:

From the highest point of the walk, at the Pas du Loup, in the heart of the wild garrigue (shrub land of aromatic herbs, boxwood, and sparse aleppo pines and evergreen oak). The limestone breach provided shelter from the Mistral wind as I faced south and bathed in the sun, and ate my not-so-Provençal peanut butter and jelly sandwich...

About two thirds of the way through the walk the hamlet of Le Crestet appears, a tiny cluster of limestone buildings and cobbled streets set on a high perch, overlooking the valley below. Normally the "Panoramic" bar here provides a wonderful ice cream and coffee break, complete with one of the best views in Provence, but hélas, it's winter, and the bar is closed...

Le Crestet, through the branches of a truffle oak:

Mont Ventoux looms in the distance, and only tiny dots of snow seem to grace the north face of the mountain today (the white at the top is bare limestone, not snow). Quel dommage for the ski resort up there...

Reaching Vaison from behind, the silhouette of its medieval castle protecting the town:

In the heart of Vaison, the cathedral and the setting sun:

From Buoux to Lourmarin

Today's reconnaissance walk took me into the heart of the Luberon Mountains, starting from the Seguins hotel in Buoux. The clouds remained low, sweeping through the hills, a rarity here, giving these Mediterranean mountains more of an alpine feel.

Not yet written in our arsenal of hikes through the Luberon, today's walk will be used for a custom-made walking holiday for a group that contacted us through the wabsite.  

And as usual, during my winter walks, I have the hills to myself. These past few days have been mild, temperatures in the high teens (celcius!), a real pleasure to walk.

The tracks crisscross along the crest, a mix of forestry roads and walking paths leading every which way through the Luberon. A truffle oak is in the foreground of the picture but I didn't check whether it was harbouring a winter truffle (no dog or pig at my disposal!).

The town of Lourmarin, and the fading sun above its church, weaving through the low-lying clouds...

A winter's walk (I don't care if it's still not really winter) in Ventoux

Today's walk took me from the tiny village of Le Barroux to Malaucène, through the foothills of Mont Ventoux. Walk Inn's roadbook got a bit of updating today, ensuring the paths and waymarks are a perfect match to the information provided in the written notes.

It had rained all morning, but by mid-afternoon the sun made a brief appearance. And at only 600m in altitude I was high above the clouds, staying low and carpeting the valley.




A view of the Dentelles range to the west, a set of cragged limestone teeth peAking and peEking above the cloud...

Nearing the end of the hike, the town of Malaucène comes into view, and about time: I was running out of daylight..

And the sun sets on the Rhône Valley, the cloud covering all but the 12th century castle atop the town of Le Barroux, where I began the day's hike...

To learn more about our self-guided walking trip at the foot of Ventoux: http://www.walkinnprovence.com/ang/walking-product-D0.html

Winter (not quite yet) in the Alpilles

The winter blues are somewhat soothed by the reconnaissance walks I do in the hills. The cool and crisp weather brings great lighting for photos, better visibility than any other time of year... Below are the ruins of the castle of Les Baux, a photo taken from the hotel Mas d'Aigret, Walk Inn's base in the Alpilles.

Also taken from the hotel, perched above the famed olive groves, their silvery leaves shining in the winter sun (well, not quite winter yet, but it sure feels like it).

A shot taken from the Alpilles, looking toward the plains to the north, and towards the first snowfall on the summit of Mont Ventoux...

And now looking to the south, the vast plains of the Camargue park leading to the Mediterranean Sea...

To learn more about Walk Inn's tours in the Alpilles mountains, check out the holidays below: 

walking: http://www.walkinnprovence.com/ang/walking-product-A0.html 

cycling: http://www.walkinnprovence.com/ang/cycling-product-A0B.html