Journey Through The Luberon Part 2 (Recounting our 2001 Trip)

The Beauty of Gordes

I was up early enough in the morning to see the sun come up over Gordes.  One of the advantages of the location of our hotel was that it was on the opposite side of the gorge from the village, allowing stunning views of its hilltop location above the valley, and you can see the village in all its photogenic glory.

Morning light on Gordes

It was going to be another beautiful day.  After our petite dejeuner at the hotel we donned our packs and bid goodbye to our hosts.  It was going to be a very short day, a 9 or 10 km walk across the valley to Roussillon, but we were in no hurry.  We still wanted a last look around the village on our way out and time enough to explore Rousillon when we got there.  There wasn't a cloud in the sky as we set out from our hotel.


We were following the GR6 trail, as it wound its way through the village and then down across the valley.


Leaving Gordes was visually one of the most stunning experiences we've had so far on this trip.  Every time we turned a corner we felt we had to take another picture, as we passed the medieval ruins of buildings and crumbling walls.

Leaving Gordes

Borie Village

Not far from Gordes is an ancient Borie Village.
These dry stone buildings are mortarless and can be spotted on private properties throughout the countryside around Gordes.  The village itself, consists of about 20 mortarless buildings date from no older than the 17th century and are a popular tourist attraction.

On the trail to Roussillon

Roussillon

Just before we reached Roussillon we ran into two couples from Ireland going in the opposite direction and also walking village to village, and further on a young female cyclist from Kingston, Ontario, who was using Fontaine-de-Vaucluse as a base for day rides.



Once we reached Roussillon and checked into our hotel we went out to explore the town and the distinctive ochre canyon outside the village.  Roussillon is a beautiful and unique village with its red stone buildings and red tiled roofs, all from the ochre quarries in the area.  There is a small fee to tour the ochre canyon, but it is well worth it for the unique experience.

Roussillon

Exploring the ochre canyon outside Roussillon

Debating tomorrow's route

After dinner there was some debate about tomorrow's route and which direction we should take.  The choice was east to Rustrel or south to Bonnieux and back through the Luberon villages, which seems the more likely route.