Today I visited one of the most beautiful villages in France… and I know I’m always saying that, but it is true. And it is actually a thing.

‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’- or ‘the most beautiful villages of France’ is actually an independent association created in 1982 for the promotion of the tourist appeal of small rural villages with a rich cultural heritage. As of September 2016, it numbers 156 member villages (independent communes or part of a communauté de communes). So… it’s actually official… and todays visit was to my number 7 on this list… Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

I joined a tour as it was impossible for me to get to see what I wanted to see without a car. Anne decided to go on a local wine tour… to get a start on me for the day and make some new friends… and I would catch up with her for dinner as I would be gone all day.

Our first stop was on the Valensole plateau… which a couple of months ago I have no doubt would have been giving me heart palpitations! Valensole takes its name from the Latin words ‘Vallis’ and ‘Solis’, which mean valley of the sun. Sounds already so romantic… but just add purple rows of lavender as far as you can see rolling over hills and into the sunset.

Sadly two months is a long time in lavenders life and they had long since been harvested… so that one will have to stay in my bucket list.

But we still visited one of the many lavender farms, known for producing the highest quality lavender in the world. Most farms in this area produce a seasonal crop every 3 months… lavender, olive oil, almonds and grapes/wine. We did an olive oil tasting among other delicious products and I surprisingly left with a little bag of goodies to take home. Briefly onto the town of Valensole which is actually a really beautiful little Provençal town but generally only visited because of its proximity to the lavender fields. From there to the pretty little town of Riez which has preserved much heritage from its rich past in its historic centre including the remains of a Roman temple dedicated to Apollo and an early Christian baptistery.

And finally headed to one of the stars of today’s show… once again, it is built into a rock…however, this time it is built into the side of the rock. Moustiers Sainte Marie is a charming village located on a narrow notch at the foot of towering, rocky limestone cliffs of the Verdon Natural Regional Park

… with a breathtaking waterfall cascading down from the mountain.

The village is thoroughly charming and brimming with historical features. It has all of the elements of a Provencal village- narrow alleys, cobble streets, elaborate fountains, little squares, faience workshops (ceramics)…

… and pretty houses. The church, the old village walls, the chapels, the aqueduct, the fountains represent an alliance of water and stone.

And with stunning views every way you look…

The Lombard Romanesque bell tower is an imposing figure on the village.

Overlooking the village, tucked into the folds of the mountain, you can see the Notre Dame de Beauvoir Chapel perched.

So obviously I had to climb the ancient pathway to reach the chapel via the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross, decorated with earthenware tiles…

… even though we had limited time here and our guide had recommended against it saying it was quite dangerous particularly on your descent. I’m sure you all know by now how I love these high places and I was well rewarded for my work with breathtaking views over the village and Valensole plateau…

… and it was kind of scary coming down with the very well worn stones underfoot highly polished and slippery from many years of pilgrimage. I held tightly all the way down and besides a few little slips managed to get to the bottom uninjured.

Looking up you can also spot the Star of Moustiers suspended between cliffs. The meaning of the star is unknown, but its presence is surrounded by mystery and intrigue. It has been replaced several times throughout history and today this is the 11th star to hang on a 135 m long chain between two rocks. The size of the star, which originally had five points, has changed over time from 30 to 1.80m. Today it measures 1.25m, together with the chain weighs 150kg.

So I was quite rushed trying to get up and down the mountain, wander around the beautiful town and somehow fit in some kind of lunch… and be back at the meeting point at the specified time. And I thought I was going well… but I had not taken into account my atrocious sense of direction. Inevitably I got lost and was really unsure of what to do. I tried ringing the office of the tour company… no answer. But as I wandered bewildered… my phone rang and it was the office with my tour guide in the other line, wondering where I was. All was well and we set off, be it a little late, for our final destination for the day.

When I first saw a photo of these beautiful Gorges du Verdon and it’s turquoise green water on Instagram, I never would have thought that this place was in France! And I assumed that the image must have been majorly enhanced. It wasn’t!

This iconic spot is a dramatic line of limestone cliffs that make up biggest canyon in Europe. The starting point of the Gorge is located at the Lac du Saint Croix…

… and winds over 25 kilometres inland with canyons that are 700m high.

The actual Gorge is natural, but the Lake that is connected to it is man-made.The place got its name from the gorgeous turquoise water that flows through the gorge. “Gorges du Verdon” means “gorges of green” in French. The water that flows through the canyon looks stunningly beautiful from above the cliffs that look down on the gorge- it is really that clear and turquoise (glacial runoff)! Stunning and unique! You can go swimming in the lake, paddle boarding, kayaking, or on small boat…

… but we didn’t have time for any of that but we were privileged to view it from several different parts of the gorge and I did manage to briefly get down to the ‘beach’.

It was all just so spectacular… and my very favourite colour in the world. Feel very blessed to have witnessed such beauty… as usual just wish there was more time.