Roussillon

If you are in Sablet or other parts of the Vaucluse region of Provence, you should plan your time so you can include a visit to Roussillon which is our favorite village in the Luberon.

The Luberon region stretches some 30 miles along a ridge of rugged hills east of Avignon and hides hill towns and sensuous landscapes.

If you are like me and were enchanted by Peter Mayle's tales of life in Provence, you will love driving through the region.

Classified as one of the Plus Beaux Village de France, Roussillon is a one hour drive southeast of our home in Sablet. This village sits in the heart of one of the world’s biggest ocher deposits, where 17 shades of soil--violet, blood red, orange, yellow, and everything in between were once worked.

Roussillon is beautiful as seen from the outside; set in a deep green pine forest on bright red-ocher hills. Roussillon is even more spectacular inside the village, with the colorful old buildings and narrow medieval streets.



Roussillon has been protected since 1943 so there is absolutely no modern development.

11th century church of St. Michel.


Don't forget your camera, you will definitely want to take a lot of pictures.



Le Bistrot de Roussillon is the best place to eat lunch on the square with excellent salads and plats (main courses).

The incredible beauty draws hordes of artists and visitors. So it is best to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

The village is fairly small so it doesn't take very long to explore. It is easy to combine a visit to Roussillon with a visit to other hill towns in the Luberon.

Cassis

Cassis is a small quiet resort town in the Bouches-du-Rhone region of Provence, 1 hour and 40 minutes south of Sablet on the Mediterranean Sea.




We love Cassis and try to visit every time we are in Provence no matter what the season. With its narrow streets, pastel colored houses and Provençal street names, the town is like something straight out of a Marcel Pagnol novel.

The local author penned best sellers such as La Gloire de Mon Père, Le Château de Ma Mère and most famously, Fanny.

There are a number of beaches in and around Cassis. The main beach is Plage de la Grande Mer which is a sandy beach, and usually quite busy. There are other beaches within walking distance from the center of the village such as Plage du Corton and Plage de l'Arène.

Cassis first became famous for its limestone cliffs of calanque which were used for the base of the Statue of Liberty.


The port is lined with terrace cafés and restaurants, offering a variety of food and prices. There are even more restaurants on the many little streets of the village away from the port.

One of the places we have tried is "La Paillote" on the Quai Barthelemy

I had the Bouillabaisse, a specialty along the Mediterranean Sea.

Tuesday morning market at Vaison-la-Romaine

One of our favorite activities during our visits to our home in Sablet is the 10 km trip on Tuesday mornings to the weekly market in Vaison La Romaine. We never miss it.

The market runs year around and offerings from vendors vary based upon the season. During the summer, there can be 650 vendors. The market spreads out through the center of Vaison La Romaine.

We try to get there early so we can find parking plus it get's crowded by 10:00 am.

Provencal cooking uses a lot of garlic and you can find tables of it.

One of the many fruit and vegetable stands.

You have to have spices for your cooking. In Provence, spices are not sold in the market in little jars or packages.

A variety of saucissons sec (dried sausages) are available from artisan producers.

You can find fresh meat and poultry.

Our favorite poissonnier is Edmond Lafont of Maree du Comtat Venaison. His fish is beautiful and fresh.

He also sets up his truck in the center of Sablet on Thursday mornings. He is happy to tell you the best way to cook your fish.

Wonderful locally made jams and honey. Make sure you buy some of the lavender honey.

What would a market in Provence be without lavender?

You can find locally made pottery, linens and hand woven baskets.

Marseille soap as well as soap made of various local products is sold by multiple vendors.

You might even find some entertainment.

Make sure you plan your visit to include a trip to Vaison La Romaine for the market on Tuesday morning.

Restaurant Le Mesclun, Seguret

Two km north of where we live in Sablet, and within leisurely walking distance, is the picturesque village of Séguret. The little village stretches in a narrow band around a solitary hill above the Côte du Rhône vineyards, beside the Dentelles de Montmirail.

Classified as one of the Plus Beaux Village de France, Séguret has narrow cobblestone streets and rough stone walls typical of a medieval town.


If you drive to Séguret, you will have to park your car in the parking lot located at the entrance to the village as it is restricted to pedestrians-only. It is a short walk up the hill through the arched portail of the 14th-century defensive wall into Séguret.

The fountain at the center of Séguret.

Explore the narrow cobblestone streets. Seguret has two restaurants in the village, a hotel, an art gallery, a santon (clay figurines that depict the colorful people and traditional trades of Provence) atelier and several other small shops.

The village church.

In the village of Séguret is Restaurant Le Mesclun where we have enjoyed leisurely lunches on the shaded terrace.

Shirley Augsburger and friends.

Gazpacho soup.

Salmon over a summer minestrone broth.

And to finish, an apple tart.

La Metairie Neuve Today

I am often asked by guests at Bistro Des Copains if La Metairie Neuve, the family farm near Viane in the Tarn region in Southern France is still in the family. I am pleased to say that yes, although it is no longer a working farm, several aunts and uncles live there and a number of cousins have vacation homes on the property.

We always try to go to La Metairie Neuve during our trips to Sablet to visit the family, see the farm and relive fond memories of pleasant times as kids spent at what was for us the happiest place on earth. We have recently had the pleasure of introducing our sons-in-law to La Metairie Neuve.

The Metarie Neuve in winter.

In front of Tonton Rene and Tata Ida's house.

One of the barns as evening comes with falling snow.

The house of Mémé and Pépé where Tata Alice and Tonton Ivan now live.

Shirley Augsburger in front of fountain with cousin Jean Marc.

Tonton Rene, cousin Anne-Emmanuelle, wife Shirley, Nicolas, daughter Stephanie with son Dylan.

Chez Serge, Carpentras France

We have enjoyed several nice lunches at Chez Serge after the Friday morning market in Carpentras; dinners have been good as well.

Carpentras is located 19 km south of Sablet in the Vaucluse region of Provence France. The restaurant is conveniently located across the street from the main market on Rue Cottier.


There is a terrace in front of the restaurant for dining on sunny days. The dining rooms are very pretty and service is gracious and attentive. Unusually for Provence, Chez Serge offers good stemware for wine service.




The dining room is overseen by the restaurant's genial owner Serge Ghoukassian who is a wine expert and truffle lover. Chez Serge is known for its use of truffles in its dishes and special truffle and wine dinners occur throughout the winter season.

A great value is the 15 Euro 3 course "formule du midi" offered at lunch Monday through Friday.


The "formule du midi" includes a choice of starters or "entrées". On our last visit, the choices were a lentil soup or chèvre in a beggar's purse with greens.



Lunch continued with a choice of main courses or "plats". On our last visit, the choices were a fillet of salmon with mashed potatoes in a beurre blanc sauce or braised veal steak with noodles.



Lunch ended with a choice of desserts. We both chose the apple tart tatin.

Chez Serge is a very nice place to have a leisurely lunch after the Friday market. It takes about 25 minutes to drive to Carpentras from our home in Sablet.