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September 11, 2018 - Gordes to Senanque Abbaye

We enjoyed market day in Gordes, one of the

Plus Beaux Villages in France (most beautiful villages),

then toured Le Abbaye de Senanque, before arriving at our hotel

for the next two nights just outside of the village of Gordes.

ABOVE LEFT and MIDDLE - Our walk began on the outskirts of the village of Gordes,

along tiny lanes lined with ancient stone walls.

ABOVE RIGHT - Suddenly Gordes appeared before us.

ABOVE LEFT - Towering above the Calavon Valley, the golden-stone homes of Gordes

rise almost improbably, crowned by its renaissance castle.

ABOVE MIDDLE - Lots of steps and uphill walks to arrive in the center of Gordes

ABOVE RIGHT - We walked up through a steep labyrinth of cobblestoned streets to the

tiny village square, filled today with market stalls (Tuesday is market day in Gordes).

ABOVE LEFT - Last set of steps up to the market in Gordes

ABOVE MIDDLE - Garlic and peppers for sale at this table

ABOVE RIGHT - Spices galore

ABOVE LEFT - Colorful items for sale

ABOVE MIDDLE - Lavender bouquets. Unfortunately bloom time, June and July,

is over but products are for sale everywhere.

ABOVE RIGHT - Buying cheese for our picnic lunch

ABOVE LEFT - Roundabout at the market in Gordes

ABOVE MIDDLE - On the trail. Varied terrain today with oaks,

cypress, herbs, and rocks everywhere

ABOVE RIGHT - Sénanque Abbaye from 12th century

ABOVE LEFT - The famous Sénanque Abbaye, a collection of magnificent 850-year-old

Romanesque structures hidden in the valley among rows of lavender fields.

ABOVE MIDDLE - Dormitory for the monks in the 12th century abbey.

Our guide explained what life was like for the monks.

ABOVE RIGHT - The life of the Cistercine monks was very austere. This is their bedroom

(dormitory) exactly as it was when they lived here. Each monk's "bedroom" was marked

by the gray dividers in the floor and the reddish tile was their personal space

where they slept in their clothes with one blanket.

ABOVE - View of belltower from the cloister

ABOVE MIDDLE - Columns around the cloister’s courtyard

ABOVE RIGHT - Gardens at L' Abbaye de Senanque

ABOVE LEFT - They never run out of rocks in this area- miles of rocky paths and rock walls

ABOVE MIDDLE - Our view of Gordes from our hotel,

one of France's Plus Beaux Villages  (most beautiful villages)

ABOVE RIGHT - Gordes at sunset from the patio of our hotel

ABOVE - Dinner on our hotel patio at le Mas de Romarin.