The winds subsided on Saturday, so we could hike Saint-Rémy-de-Provence to Les Baux-de-Provence — about 10 km, 6.2 miles. It was very, very hot, but we made it. We left around 9. We did a detour to an outlook that was incredibly worthwhile as we got a fantastic view of Les Baux. Then a stop at Carrières des Lumières before entering Les Baux. The details:

The route, mostly on the GR6 (grand randonnée), follows a rolling trail along a ridge and continues as the path gently undulates to Les Baux. The route heads south then west then southwest.

We headed down the main road from our B&B for a little more than 1 km, and turned right long before Saint Paul de Mausole. We quickly passed a walled Jewish cemetery from the Middle Ages, open once a year in September. About 3 km from our start, we reached the southern end of Lac du Peirou. Once there, we picked up the red-and-white stripes of the wide track GR for about 6 km continuing south and then west. Before turning left (south) off the GR to the 1 km path to the paved road to Carrières des Lumières, we did a detour 500 meter to and 500m back from a rocky outcrop for an amazing view of Les Baux.

Jewish cemetery.

Classic signpost. We hiked the GR6 route, blazed with red and white stripes.

Eileen against a beautiful backdrop.

The wide track is visible above the brush.

Most of the trip was on this wide track.

Another view as we walked.

We took a detour for a primo view of Les Baux-de-Provence.

Larry #samberging.

We got to Carrières des Lumières about 1 pm. We had a snack and entered the enormous space at 1:30 for a 30-40 minute very creative show of scenes in Venice.

The projections changed and moved.

An enormous cavern.

Then we walked the 1 km to Les Baux. We headed up (I mean up) to the top of Les Baux, got a good view of the Castle ruins (we did not go in), took in the view, stopped for some drinks.

Cobbled streets.

Castle ruins.

Looking east.

We headed down a little after 4 pm through the original gate – the Water Gate – to a road to catch our ride (a very funny guy) to Gordes. He has lived in the Luberon all his life.

Our route.

When we got to Gordes, we checked in to a high end Bed and Breakfast, Domaine de l’Enclos for a two night stay. We walked into town to have a magnificent dinner at L’Artégal. Below is my duck starter.