Among the department of Vaucluse and Alpes de Haute Provence is the Luberon region, the third and final mountain of Vaucluse. Provence is more rural, rugged beauty and ocher-stained woods, medieval villages perched on steep limestone hills, castles, in dim light and quiet landscapes. Its capital is Apt, which holds a large weekly market and a good starting point for exploring the Luberon Regional Nature Park , although each small towns have a special charm: Manosque, Bonnieux, Menerbes, or Lacoste Lourmarin, where lie the ruins of the castle of the Marquis de Sade (if walls could talk ...) who lived in the village from 1774 until his arrest in 1778. Outside the time of peak tourist season, life in these towns is quiet and conversation at a cafe with a glass of pastis, are part of the routine.
About three kilometers from Gordes, taking a detour to the left before entering the village, is " le village des Bories " or the people of the bories . The bories constructions are a type of relatives of Menorca talaiots cloche or Irish.
These huts are built with layers of dry limestone are usually one or two floors. Its origin dates back to the Bronze Age and looks be that the original purpose was only to shelter for shepherds. You can see some bories isolated in different parts of Provence, but in the village are grouped a good sample of them. You reach there through a beautiful way of oaks and olive trees that share the limelight with the stone.
To enter the campus must pay 6 € per person and high walls built by the same method of dry stone, forced to go through the box office if want to see any thing. The word borie of Provencal origin, from the Latin "boario" meaning oxen barn. The town, declared Historical Monument in 1977, consists of different groups of huts, about twenty in total, dating back to the eighteenth century. Each has a specific function of the field store supplies, housing, mill, bakery, animal pen ...
mostly square in plan, sometimes circular, and conical domes. These ceilings were stabilized placing each plate of limestone with a nod toward the inside with respect to the base. It was not necessary to use mortar and grass or material placed between the joints was used to isolate the air currents and insects.
For bories Provencal towns, these communities were not independent. Although the houses were clustered in groups, these villages had no church or cemetery and used to to be located near major population centers.
The ride will perform in absolute solitude, accompanied by a warm light of dusk and we could fully enjoy this tribute to the simplicity and complicity from the countryside to the elements of nature.
Another place with magic, also outside Gordes, is the Abbey Sénanque, a twelfth-century Cistercian abbey. The image of the monastery surrounded by fields of lavender in bloom is repeated on postcards, covers of guides and promotional brochures Provence. Although we are not in time of flowering of lavender, it's worth visiting Senanque following the curves tracing the scenic road. The last monks left in 1969 and is now a cultural center that hosts summer concerts and exhibitions.
A corner of Provence indicated for those who want to breathe pure tranquility and enjoy nature at its purest.
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