SENIORS TRAVEL THROUGH PROVENCE



Seniors Tour Tourtour

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This senior has been to France over two dozen trips and many of those to Provence. However I have never heard of Tourtour, a member of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The most beautiful villages of France).

The village, population 500, is a commune in southeast France. I just read about it in my Condé Nast Traveler (May 2014, p. 62). Now I want to go there.  I have told my wife many times…”If ever you can’t find me…look for me in Provence.”

I totally adore Paris, but I’ll always be in love with Provence.  That started as a college graduate, 21 years old when I spent three weeks in Aix-en-Provence.  There is no place in the world that can compare to Provence.

I’ve always admired Peter Mayle who wrote A Year in Provence. Incidentally, I met Mayle in a bakery in Cavaillon. He was gathering information for his new book, Our Daily Bread.

 Seniors Find Another Very Old ‘Old Town’

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Tourtour is called “Le village dans le ciel de Provence” (the village in the sky of Provence“). It is just to the east of Le Mont Sainte-Victoire, a favorite subject of Cézanne. The town is north of the famed Côtes de Provence, a wine growing region that stretches south-east to the coast.

As with so many tiny French villages in Provence, the old town dates from the middle ages and it is the most interesting part of a visit to Tourtour. Tiny narrow streets are lined with picturesque Provencal houses. Nearby is the old oil mill (still in operation), the clock tower and the remains of two old castles.

The most pleasure for senior visitors comes from simply strolling along the streets. I recall meeting three ladies who were spending a full day in a different village in Provence for one week. What fun.

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There are two parts to the old town, the earlier dating from the 11th century, and the latter, around the square, from the 14th century. The beautiful old olive trees in the central square were imported from Italy to replace the elms that long stood there but died.

The town hall, the post office (housed in an old chateau) and the Chapel of Saint Trinity are later additions, dating from the 17th century.

Lavender Fields, Vineyards and Medieval Castle Draw Seniors

View for yourself the stone houses topped with round tiles, Place des Ormeaux and its fountain, the arched passageways and narrow streets bathed in sunlight amid a countryside of vineyards, lavender and pine trees! The walls of the medieval castle tell tales of the village’s past.

A dominant feature on the outskirts of Tourtour is the 11th century Romanesque church of Saint Denis. On a clear day, you can enjoy breathtaking views from up high down to Fréjus on the coast.

Enjoy one of the most beautiful villages of France.  jeb

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