Slow Travelling in Uzès

12th September 2019

Description

Uzès is a small town and a commune in the Gard department in southern France. It lies about 25 kilometres north-northeast of Nîmes, 40 kilometres west of Avignon, and 32 kilometres south-east of Alès. Wikipedia

If it’s Thursday it must be Uzès! 

We left Saint-Remy de Provence with not much planned other than a leisurely day trip to Uzès for a wander, a visit with our favourite artist, David Jamin and some lunch in the main square Place aux Herbes. 

Monsieur Honey and I spent a week in Uzès, five years ago as part of my “changing of my front door” Birthday celebrations. 

We were lucky to find street parking within easy walking distance to the centre-ville. Of course it was just opposite a brocante/ antique store one of Monsieur Honey’s favourite things to do.

A quick look around and we were on our way.  

Uzès (oo-zehs) is another town that is circled by a ring road with the historic area in the center. 

The teddy bears were still hanging around at this shoppe.

We discovered an unique florist shop with Uzès pottery containing heart shaped succulents ...

We wondered how we could get these back to Canada.

Our entourage popped our heads in and out of various unique boutiques and shoppes as we wandered.

And before we knew it the church bells were ringing “12 bells” ... 

time for some lunch in Place aux Herbes, also a great place to people watch.

It was a seafood feast! 

Now let’s visit David and Severine’s new gallery! 

It’s down here ... 

We were warmly greeted as always. 

We toured the new addition to the gallery and had a good visit.

His work continues to be impressive.

Sadly no artwork souvenir this year. That just means we have to go back.







Are you saving a seat for us?

The Duchy of Uzès 

 A Bientôt Uzès! 

Following the Van Gogh Route

Wednesday ... Part 2 

After our much needed siesta we headed out on the Van Gogh walk which would take us to the monastery where Vincent Van Gogh spent one of his last years. 

We followed the instructions received from the tourist office which stated it was about an kilometre walk. 

Monsieur Honey and I had previously done this walk visiting the museum in 2015 on a day trip to Saint-Remy de Provence from our home base in Sarrians. 

The walk took us through the countryside that had inspired Vincent Van Gogh. 

The route was marked with panels containing reproductions of some of Van Gogh’s paintings that he completed during his time in Saint-Rémy.

The panels are placed in front of locations of what Van Gogh was painting and with excerpts from letters he wrote to family and friends. 

You can’t get lost if you follow these brass markers ... 

The walk takes you to « Le Monastère St. Paul de Mausole » ... St. Paul Monastery and Hospital where Van Gogh was treated from 1889 to 1890. The clinic still operates as a psychiatric hospital / rest home. 

A wing of the Romanesque cloister now functions as a museum which includes a reconstruction of the painter’s bedroom, there is a chapel and beautiful peaceful, gardens. While here Vincent created approximately 150 paintings and another 100 drawings. 

The chapel...

The view from the back gardens ... 

Mont Ventoux in the background ...

Some late summer flowers in the gardens ...



Now the return walk ...but first let’s check out “Les Antiques” .

Les Antiques marked the entrance to Glanum and are said to be some of the best preserved Roman architecture in Provence.

L’Arc de Triomphe /The Arch of Triumph (20 A.D.)

Le Mausolée de Julii/ The Mausoleum of Julii (30 B.C.) 

I have so much more to share about this amazing place ... but only so much space! 

I suggest you visit Saint-Remy de Provence ... follow “the landscapes of Vincent Van Gogh trail” and visit the Monastery. 

Annie Lennox Goes to Market

Wednesday, September 11th, 2019

It’s Market Day in Saint-remy de Provence! 

Market day shopping is a favourite thing for me to do while travelling in Europe. 

Markets are full of life. 

 

Unfortunately for me ... I was late out of the gate this morning. 

I sent my three travelling partners on ahead.

They arrived back home with their fresh fruit, vegetable and rotisserie chicken haul.

I was now ready to join them, we visited the dry goods, wares and anything Provençal in linens, decor, plants, etc.  

This market is impressive. 

Anything and everything lavender ... 

Shopping bags and pottery ...

Madame Susan and I could have used these last night while cooking ... 

Checking out some French linens 

Beautiful items made of Olive wood ...

A « chapeau «  for everyone ...

And cork items from Spain and Portugal not from France ...   interesting tidbit we received from the vendor, the cork in France is too thin & fragile to be used. 

Herbs for sale ... 

Fresh cut flowers 


The church bells had rung announcing that it was 12 noon ... we wandered a little longer. 

Why not here for lunch? 
We settled on L’Olivade 

The plat du jour was chosen and turned out to be a delicious dish of pork with a wine shallot sauce served atop mashed potatoes, roasted white turnips, squash, spinach & fresh herbs.

 

Plat du Jour ...

We then wandered back around the ring road heading home for a siesta ... first a stop here for an ice cream! 

Most definitely a siesta was now needed ... 

Just a Pretty courtyard around the corner from Mas D’Oscar.