Sainte Cécile les Vignes

Sainte Cécile les Vignes is a small village located 15 kms northwest of Sablet on the border of the Vaucluse and the Department of the Drôme. As the name suggests (les "vignes" means the vines), Sainte Cécile les Vignes is an agricultural village devoted to making wine.

Sainte Cécile les Vignes is one of 95 communes in the Côtes du Rhône Villages area making red, white and rosé wine. Red and rosé wines must be at least 50% Grenache along with at least 20% Syrah and/or Mourvèdre with a minimum 12% alcohol. White wines must be made of 80% Grenache, Clairette, Marsanne, Roussanne, Bourboulenc or Viognier with a minimum of 12% alcohol.

We knew Sainte Cécile les Vignes as a village with two very good restaurants (more about the restaurants in future posts), but didn't know anything else as we had never explored the village. So one day after lunch at one of the aforementioned restaurants, I decided to take a walk around the village.

As you wander the streets around the village, you will find the clock tower topped by its wrought iron campanile with a small bell.

The Mairie festooned with flags.

In olden times (from 1370 onwards) the village was surrounded by ramparts, traces of which can be seen to this day. There are pretty old mansions throughout Sainte Cécile les Vignes.

The Sainte Cécile church.

Memorial in front of the Sainte Cécile church honoring the Ceciliens who have died for France in wars.

The Sainte Cécile chapel which was built in the 12th century and restored in the 17th century.

On the road at the entrance to Sainte Cécile les Vignes sits this pretty, old church, surrounded by the vineyards for which the village is known.

Enjoy your visit to Sainte Cécile les Vignes. Bonne journée et à bientot.

Puyméras, a Pretty Village in the Northern Vaucluse

I have tried to reserve a table at Le Girocèdre restaurant in Puyméras several times but it never worked out because they were complet - all tables were reserved, the restaurant was on fermeture annuelle - annual vacation or it was fermeture hebdomadaire - the day the restaurant closes during the week.

Because we had not been able to reserve a table, we had never visited Puyméras. Our perseverence was finally rewarded and we got a table for lunch one Tuesday a few weeks ago. After spending the morning wandering through the various stalls at the market in Vaison la Romaine, we headed up the road to Puyméras.

Puyméras is located just a few km northeast of Vaison-la-Romaine, so it is a convenient spot for lunch after the Tuesday morning market or from our home in Sablet. It turns out that Puyméras is a pretty village at the northern tip of the Vaucluse near the border of the Department of the Drôme.

The village was built on a rocky outcrop surrounded by beautiful countryside dotted with homes, vineyards and lavender fields. The appearance of a few olive trees and fruit trees among the vineyards is what remains of what used to be a diversified farming area which suffered a devastating frost in 1956 so only the vineyards remain.

One of the pretty views from Puyméras.



As I said, it is a small village with a little over 600 Puymérassiens - the people who live in Puyméras.



The Romanesque church of Saint-Michel et Saint-Barthélemy with its distinctive belfry in Puyméras.



A pretty water spout we spotted as we walked around Puyméras.



As you walk around the village, you will spot beautiful old homes.



Even the post office is pretty.



Another view of the belfry of the Saint-Michel et Saint-Barthélemy church.



If you climb to the very top of the village like wife Shirley, you will get to the clock tower.



The front side of the clock tower.



The mairie - town hall of Puyméras.



Me standing near the church looking out over the surrounding countryside.



Shirley standing near the fountain and lavoir - wash house.



I will tell you about our wonderful lunch at Le Girocèdre restaurant in my next post. Regardless of whether or not you eat at Le Girocèdre restaurant, it is worth the drive to come and take a leisurely stroll through Puyméras.

Another reason to come to Puyméras are the red wines which are classified as Côtes du Rhône Villages. These wines which are a base of Grenache and Syrah and/or Mouvedre grapes are grown on stony terraces spread out over 5 hilly communities in the Drôme and northern Vaucluse.

Enjoy your visit.