Aubignan - once more in 2011?

Once more the same destination in 2011? This would be the first time that we repeat our holiday destination. The cause is: it was nice in the recent year in Aubignan. And - our hiking guide "Provence" has still a lot of tours we have to do!

Stopover with stay is after 830 km Besançon. An inexpensive hotel is located at the western outskirts. The hospital and the university are our neighbours. It's too late for a stroll through the city. So we do a walk through the appartment blocks where predominantly North Africans live.

The so smart satnav heads us over this narrow bridge. But behind the bridge is is a blind alley.

The next morning we head off early, after we had programmed the GPS to "toll free". We want to have breakfast on the way in one of the many Super Markets. The city limit of Besançon is reached quickly. We are crossing the Doubs, a picturesque river with many turns, on a very narrow bridge and land in the village Avenay, always according to the instructions of the navigation. Suddenly the road is closed. The road should actually be the connection to the N 83, which we would have continued to the south. Now what? We make a U turn and go back to the bridge. Just before the bridge, we get the command turning to the left and again we land on the blocked road.

Indeed: the road is closed. We must turn back.

Our road map is not detailed enough to make the right decision. So we decide to go in the direction of Dole. We have not only hunger, but our car was also thirsty. So we drive on a scenic road along the Doubs always looking for Dole. There on the edge of Dole is an Intermarché, where we refuel and have breakfast.

Then it goes quickly to the south via Lons, Bourg-en-Bresse, past Lyon eastward until we reach Valence in Provence. For many small roads, uphill and downhill, through small villages leads us into the Navi-known realms.

Shortly before 16 pm we pass Aubignan. We still hold on Carrefour Supermarché and get a wineskin with local red wine. In the evening we taste the wine on the terrace of our little cottage opposite the swimming pool. The weather is - as we had hoped - sunny and warm.

Under the umbrella to the Sorgue River

After the first days offered beautiful early summer weather (as you would have expected from this area), it starts to rain on 30 May. To say it in advance : So it will remain in the coming days, almost to the end of our holiday.

In the previous year we have already visited the source of the Sorgue (see here). This year we want to do a circular walk around the source, then at the end of the times yet to experience the natural spectacle.

Our trailhead is the parking lot at the Sorgue, where we could leave our car for 3 €. Just across the road goes uphill to a hostel. We walk now about 1 km, past the cemetery and the youth hostel. At the sign that points to Lauzas, we turn left into the Valley of the Oule. It goes steadily uphill, and it slowly gets wet. - From above -. It begins to rain. Good to have along the umbrellas.
. A first stop is the source of Oule, a hollowed-out rock with a small pond in it. The brook himself is not to see. A German couple joins us. We see that they have the same guide as we do. They are not very sociable and long march before us to get rid of. We are approximately at an altitude of 330 m (at 77 m we left).

La Fontaine de l'Oule

Now a long, sloping path starts up to a height of 670 m. After 3.5 km we have finally achieved a high level, La Pleine. The rain has stopped on the way up, and sometimes even look out the sun. By the way, here we again meet the German couple. Strangely, they are now far behind us. They had lost the way, and when they saw us from afar, they were sure to be on the right track, because we have the same guide.

Ferme de Valenture, an old farm above Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

We enjoy beautiful views of the foothills in west flat. We read that you can look to Cavaillon in fine weather. Today it is somewhat hazy. Now we hike down to a small valley. Even from afar, we see a farm, but that turns out to be empty and decay. As we know now, this farm, the Ferme de Valenture, will be renovated gradually. He is well protected.

Well, we soon reach the outskirts of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. We have covered about 13 km. But we make the trip to the source yet. And are extremely disappointed. We thought, after the snowy winter and wet spring, the source must also be rich in water. But the surface of the water source pond was barely visible. Nevertheless, the Sorgue has sufficient water by the many secondary sources. The weather had also kept very well, so that we could go in the same place as last year, and eat and drink something.

Ascension in Orange

Of course the city of Orange is meant, about 25 miles from our cottage. And Ascension Day is late this year, on 2 June. Soon we reach the old Roman town.
At Cours Pourtoules we see a garage in which we drive our car. Too hasty, as we note later. But here we are in the middle of the city.

Although today is a holiday in France,almost the entire city is a huge marketplace. Most impressive are the stalls with fruit and vegetables. Melons, cherries, eggplants, zucchinis (they are called courgettes here), cucumbers and tomatoes, but also many varieties of onions dominate the tables of the farmers from the surrounding area.



Just outside the city center is one of the testimonies of the Roman past: the Arc de Triomphe d'Orange. But it's not really correct:
It is not a triumphal arch but a city's founding arch, we read in the guidebook. No matter, it's always impressive. It is the largest, best preserved arch from the Roman period and was built in the 1st century BC.

The triumphal arch is remarkable even for drivers: here is the "Parking gratuit" the free parking. Too late!

The absolute highlight of any visit to Orange is the Ancient Theatre in the heart of the city. Built in the 1st century A.D., it is still always in operation with 7000 seats and excellent acoustics. Every year an Opera Festival held here, as many posters and pictures to show us. The acoustics, we can enjoy, as a small choir was formed and sang. The rising rows of seats are laid out at the slope of a hill, whose rocky ground was partially penetrated even to make room for passages.

Total view of the stage	Emperor Augustus is a permanent guest in all performances	Detail view

In the Middle Ages, the theater was used as a quarry. These barbarians! Later used it as a prison. Not much better. And since 1869 (when the theater was restored) here again theater and concert performances.

A nice thing about the tour is that every visitor receives an audio guide. So you can find information in German on the spot.


Just across the theater is a nice cafe. Here we allow ourselves a fresh rosé, the "national drink" of the Provençals.

A votre santé!