Le Baux de Provence

I read that if you want to go to Le Baux de Provence you need to get there early before the rest of the world shows up, and it was good advice. After walking through the village, we were among the first to enter the Chateau Des Baux de Provence, a thousand-year-old fortress with spectacular views over the Provence countryside.

There was a catapult, ruins of the fortress and even some old fashioned rope making skills for Debbie and Phyllicia.

From there we climbed to the top where there is a view of the Les Baux valley, or Vale of Hell, its white sandstone cliffs getting their name from Dante’s description of Hell in the Divine Comedy, which was inspired by this valley.

As the crowds arrived and the rain began to fall, we escaped for the five-hour drive to St. Emilion where we watched the sunset. Not a bad day.