Les Baux de Provence In Photos + Some Words

I've been to Les Baux de Provence three times now and each time I'm awed by the views and a bit creeped out by the history there.

The first time was on our honeymoon and we just happened upon its ruins of a medieval village and chateau perched high above it all. There were tourist buses parked down below and as we sped by in our rented Renault we couldn't help but stop.

{me in 1998 with a ghostly figure behind}

I went again last summer when K visited and we were on our mission to see all the Old Stuff in Provence. If you don't remember it you can read all about it here.
 

{me in 2012 with a Golden girl}

I've always wanted to take the kids because I knew they would think it was super cool and so it was on my list of day trips during the winter break. It was off season and therefore quiet, like it was in 1998 and not like it's become during the summer months.

{the real village busy in the summer}

There weren't any knights or peasants with microphones telling the story of the fortress while encouraging audience members to throw rocks with the catapult and other ancient weapons of war.

{ancient timeout}

I'm sure my guys would get a kick out of that too, but I have to say I prefer it a bit more old school and less manufactured fun. We were the only ones there for the first hour or so.

{directing the search for clues}

We brought our walkie-talkies and so the big kids were able to head off a bit ahead of us, checking in with a location update every couple of minutes. We could see them the whole time but it sure did make them feel like they were explorers.

{explorers}

They were given a booklet with a riddle to solve using clues placed around the site and they scampered along the rocks searching and calling out to each other.

{searching for clues with P-Daddy}

The Littlest hung out with us and we all caught up to each other for a picnic and some photos in the ruins of the chateau. 

{Littlest and one of the old windmills}

There are square boxes and holes cut out in the rocks which once served to hold beams and as medieval cabinetry. And arches from the walls of dining rooms and fireplaces are still there, all these years later.

There's also a wall of pigeon keeps that looks like a medieval mail sorting station, which I guess it kind of is.

{K's photo of the chateau, pigeon keeps to the left}

And the view.

Every vantage point offers something breathtaking.

To one side you have olive groves and row after row of carefully tended grapevines.

From another, you see the Valley of Hell with its monstrous rocks and hidden caves.

And if you look really hard, the Camargue area of our region leading to the Mediterranean Sea out in the horizon.

{horizon beyond}

You can climb a narrow staircase with centuries' worn holes deep in the steps up to the highest edge of the ruins.

{Explorers at the highest point}

The Littlest, Clementine and I stayed behind while P-Daddy and the Explorers checked it out. They were rewarded with more beautiful views.
 

{down to the village and surrounding Alpilles}

It's a must see in my opinion, obviously. I'll happily take anyone else who visits and wants to see it. A's family is coming this summer. I'll bet we'll have another happy day exploring the old chateau. I can't wait.