History Of Isle De La Sourge

Twenty five miles east of Avignon, between Carpentras and Cavillion in deepest Provence is the must see town of Isle De La Sorgue.  Provenc al  villages are almost without exception pretty places steeped in history going as far back as Roman times and sometimes further and Isle De la Sorgue is no exception.  The locals call it an island city, but island town is nearer  the mark, nestling in the plains of Comtat Venaissin at the foot of the plains of Vaucluse, It is quite a large entity by Provencal standards and is busy all year around. 

The several canals that run through the village are what really define its island character. There are a number of quiet and small streets running  through the village, many with small rivers or streams running through them, it is a delightful  place to walk around with almost every where that soothing sound of running water to calm the senses. There are a number of moss covered wheels which hark back to an earlier time when the power of the river was used in the local industries which were the creating of silk and the manufacture of paper from the verdant forests of the area. This is now no longer the case.

Isle De La Sourge was once a famous cray fishing centre, with a reputed 35,000 crayfish caught each day at its height, but now adays the tourist is king and the shops tend to have local produce, especially olive oil and the local rose wine in abundance, although some crayfish can be found for sale.

Art galleries now abound in the village including the famous Maison  Hotel Donadel de Campredon built in the 18th century, now converted into a museum showing such great artists as Miro, Mauguinand Dufy and a display area dedicated to René Char. Isle De La Sorgue is also a renowned centre for antiques with a reputed 300 shops or dealers located in the town.  

The highlight of the antiques season is both the Easter break and 15th August when antiques fairs are held with up to 500 dealers descending on the town.But back to the history, the Collegiate Church of Notre Dame des Angeshas an exceptionally fine Baroque interior and the old pharmacy has an interesting  collection of Moustier faience, whatever that is, I asked some locals but none could explain it, but as it is displayed in a pharmacy it must have some medical application.

Many other pretty village abound in the area, Cavillion is worth a visit as is Carpentras, in fact there are dozens of relatively unknown places to explore in the area.

Getting to the area requires a car.  Public transport is not very well developed and it would otherwise be very difficult to visit the other villages in the area.  The nearest airport is Marseilles which has some international flights and is about 70 kms distant. A little further away is Nice International Airport, which has flights to many UK airports including all 4 London airports, and offers flights daily to New York and Montreal, plus you can fly direct to Moscow and Dubai as well as most provincial French towns and Paris.

Lovely villa in Maussane, Provence, confirmed for rentals for Summer 2012

This recently converted mas is located in the centre of the very pretty village of Maussane, which lies in the heart of Les Alpilles and a close drive to both St Remy-de-Provence and Arles. This very attractive property, is just a few short steps from the wonderful sun drenched village square with shops, bars, a wonderful weekly market and some very fine restaurants, all very close at hand. The house lies behind a quiet and secluded courtyard and has a pretty, partly lawned garden, an enclosed 8 x 3m alarmed step pool with decking surround and independent studio.

The house has been decorated and furnished in a fresh modern style, mixing traditional stone walls and original stone tiles with contemporary furniture. It has a very fresh, spacious and welcoming feel throughout.
For more photos & information go to our website - www.cdvillas.com 

Cote d'Azur Villa Rentals: Villa Riveloup, Le Bar-sur-Loup

Cote d'Azur Villa Rentals: Villa Riveloup, Le Bar-sur-Loup

Villa Riveloup, Le Bar-sur-Loup

Villa Riveloup   11/2011 & 08/2012

We had an excellent holiday and would be keen to book the same villa, Riveloup, again next year.

It was ideal for our large extended family, and safe and secure even for young children.

Thanks for your helpful advice whenever we’ve phoned. The efficient way any minor problems at the villa were dealt with was much appreciated.

Best wishes,

Keith Dodd

November 2011 & August 2012 

Stylish Luxury Holiday Villas in Lourmarine

Lourmarine is a small village deep in the Luberon about 50 km's easy of Avignon and is surrounded by olive groves, almond trees and vineyards, and epitomizes what we all love about Provence.It is officially designated one of the prettiest villages in France.A busy village in summer, it has those lovely leafy terraces and cafe's dotted around the village, some great medieval houses, a castle with some most peculiar Renaissance stairs and loads of winding streets, archways and nooks and crannies to explore.

In the summer there is a range of activities on offer for the visitor, the vineyards offer tastings, there are a number of pretty walks through the forested valley, fishing 4 km's away in the Durrance, horse riding, even mini golf.There is horse riding available and swimming plus you can even have a go at Archery but watch where you point those arrows!  For me though, it is the typical Provencal existence that attracts me, a glass of the local rose or a pasts in the late afternoon sunshine or lunch, the magical word in Provence when most things stop for 2 hours.

Lourmarine has also a famous inhabitant, sadly now deceased, Albert Camus lived and worked here and won the Nobel Prize for literature.He is buried in the Lourmarine grave yard, and tribute is paid to him all over the village.

Several other villages in the surrounding area are also worth a visit.The unfortunately named Puyvert is a small hamlet just 2 km's away and Cadenet has a really interesting classified feudal site with views over the Durrance River, the Alpilles Mountains, and the St-Victoire.There is a chateau which has been turned into a gallery and an outdoor theatre which stages shows from time to time.There are some troglodyte cave dwellings which you should go and see and there is also a basketwork museum, dedicated to a sadly dying art as the growing of willow trees has reduced a great deal since 1978.There is a Monday morning Provencal market all year around and a summer market on Saturdays. Bikes for mountain biking can be hired and there is walking, hiking and swimming available, plus a man-made lake which is only open in summer.

There is a 12th century Romanaesque church at Vaugines, plus a couple of other buildings to view, the Renaissance style Capitanerie and the 13th century Commanderie.In Cucuron there are a number of attractions;The Mark Deydiere Museum, the countryside of Saint Victoire, so loved by Cezanne, and an oilmill built into the 13th century village ramparts.The village is busy all the year around, especially in November and December when the picking and the pressing of the olives starts.

There is the odd hotel in the area, and odd is the operative word!The hotels here, if you can find one, are slightly quirky and pretty but do not always adhere to what might be expected by a discerning traveler.For the best comfort and ease of exploration, it is far better to consider renting a private villa as there are a number to choose from, often with great views, many with swimming pools and other attractions, such as their own boule courts.A number of companies are dedicated to find that perfect villa rental for you and many speak English or indeed in some cases are English and that can be important if anything goes wrong!

Getting to the area is not that difficult but you will need a car, Avignon is the biggest town and that's 50 km's away, but the drive is so pretty it will be over before you know it.The nearest airport is Marseilles but allow up to 2 hours to get there.Marseilles airport has a number of destinations on offer, London and several European destinations benefit from daily flights.

Stylish Luxury Holiday Villas Cottages in Maussane Les Alpilles

Maussane les Alpilles is a lovely Provencal village that is situated on the old Roman Aix to Arles road, but there is very little left in the village otherwise to connect it with the Roman occupation.  It is thought that the Romans began the tradition of collecting olives and this tradition has multiplied to the point where at one stage there were 12 oil mills in the village, and although there are fewer nowadays, Maussane together with its neighbor Mouries, are at the heart of the most important olive oil producing region in France.  You will not be surprised to learn about the beautiful landscape being dominated by olive trees!  These trees are particularly attractive to us Brits, as we love the gnarled features of the oldest ones and I think we love the sense of history as some olive trees can be over 1000 years old.

Maussane is the first step on "the Olive Trail" and if you want a suggestion as to how to taste the oil, you can make a "peche mignon" simply by drizzling some olive oil on some bread or even some goats  cheese and add a slice of tomato, delicious!

It has 4 historic monuments the you should check out, the 18th century chapel of St Croix, the 15th century chapel de Monblan, the 18th century chapel of St Roman and the 14th century château Querry.  There are also ancient communal washing areas, the Quatre Saisons fountain, the oratories and the Santon Museum.  Santons are rather gaudy ceramic figurines made in the area and much loved by the French.

Maussane can also offer walking, hiking, a swimming pool, and even has its own bullfighting ring that is used for more than just bullfighting nowadays.  However, they do still stage the odd bull-fight, which many Brits feel a little strange about, the deliberate baiting of an animal for sport and spectacle is not necessarily my idea of holiday entertainment, however I guess you must respect the traditions, which are more entrenched to the south in the Camargue area than this area.  There is also fishing, the inevitable petanque also known in the rest of France as boule, arts and crafts festivals from time to time, and even a horse show.

About 6 km's away is the charming village of Le Baux De Provence.  It has the most fantastic views from the top of the village, commanding the high ground as it does, and the village is busy with craft shops, santon makers, olive oil producers and all sorts of surprises to find through exploration. It boasts of over 20 historical monuments and also claims to host over 1.5 million visitors each year, so don't expect it to be tranquil!

There are a couple of interesting hotels in Maussane, but they are interesting rather than conforming to most international standards.  Far better to seek to rent a private villa in or around the area, as there are many to be found and several agencies dedicated to finding you the right one for your needs.  Views are offered almost without exception, many have pools and the cost can be surprisingly reasonable for the features offered compared with a hotel. There is also a campsite in the village.

Getting to Maussane is a little tricky. You will need a car because the idea of public transport does not seem to have occurred to the people of deepest Provence. The nearest airport if Marseilles about 70 km's distant with a number of regular services into London, many of the bigger French towns and cities, such as Paris, and some flights to many centers in Europe.  Nimes also has an airport serviced by Ryan air but with only Liverpool, London and Brussels to choose from as a destination it is a bit limited.