Next Stop: Gordes

On the evening of Thursday, July 31, 2015, we stayed at a bed and breakfast in Gordes called Domaine de l’Enclos Châteaux & Hôtels Collection. Gordes is a commune in the Vaucluse département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France. The residents are known as Gordiens.

 

View of the terrace from our room at Domaine de l’Enclos Châteaux & Hôtels Collection, Gordes. A great little nook for un café!

Relaxing in the Provençal sun.

Loved the Nespresso machine in our room!

Lavender honey bees, Provence

Late afternoon view of Gordes from the end of our street.

Entrance to our room at Domaine de l’Enclos Châteaux & Hôtels Collection, Gordes.

We ate dinner at Le Provençal restaurant, overlooking the main square in Gordes.

View of Gordes in the evening.

The sunsets seem more vibrant in Provence.

Gordes in the early evening.

Breakfast at Domaine de l’Enclos Châteaux. Croissants, café, chocolat chaud, pain au chocolat, des fruits, oh my!

Overlooking the spectacular Luberon during breakfast at Domaine De L’enclos Châteaux, Gordes.

Savouring the scent of the lavender after breakfast as Eva views The Luberon at Domaine De L’enclos Châteaux, Gordes.

So much to explore!

A snail making it’s home in the lavender fields.

Salt water pool overlooking The Luberon at Domaine De L’enclos Châteaux, Gordes.

View of The Luberon at Domaine De L’enclos Châteaux, Gordes.

One of the public areas at Domaine De L’enclos Châteaux, Gordes.

Pool anyone? – Domaine De L’enclos Châteaux, Gordes.

One of the entrances at Domaine De L’enclos Châteaux, Gordes.

Abbaye de Sénanque

Notre-Dame de Senanque is a beautiful (and still active) Cistercian abbey near the village of Gordes in the department of the Vaucluse in Provence. The Senanque Abbey was founded in 1148 under the patronage of Alfant, bishop of Cavaillon, and Raymond Berenger II, Count of Provence, by Cistercian monks who came from Mazan Abbey in the Ardeche.

Notre-Dame de Senanque Abbey is still occupied by a community of Cistercian monks.

Eva brightened the lavender fields that were past their prime season. Abbaye de Sénanque.

Journey Through Provence

Jelynne, Eva and I went on a three-day road trip through some very scenic corners of Provence. The region is situated just next to the shores of the Mediteranean.

Provence’s azure-blue skies, natural scenery, remarkable heritage, chirping cicadas, lavender fields and hilltop villages make it a holiday destination dreams are made of. – tourismpaca.com

The map below shows our overall trip:

Photo taken through the car’s window at highway speed near Allemagne-en-Provence.

Photo taken through the car’s window at highway speed near Allemagne-en-Provence.

Here is a general overview of the three-day adventure:

Day 1 (Wednesday):

• picked up the rental car from Europcar at the Promenade des Anglais location in Nice
• departed for Relais Notre Dame in Quinson
• ate lunch beside the Château d’Allemagne en Provence in Allemagne-en-Provence
• arrived at Relais Notre Dame in Quinson

Day 2 (Thursday):

• departed for Gordes
• drove to beautiful areas to view Lac de Sainte-Croix
• stopped in Céreste and ate gelato at Scaramouche – Artisan Glacier – Adventures in Ice Cream
• arrived at the beautiful Domaine De L’enclos in Gordes

Day 3 (Friday)

• ate breakfast overlooking The Pyrenees and the Luberon region
• short drive to Abbaye de Sénanque
• departed for home at 12:09 pm and arrived in Nice at about 3:30 pm

 Links to posts about our 3-day Provençal Trip:

• Céreste – Gelato, Books, and Medieval Streets