Le Castellet

     After our little excursion to the boulangerie the other day, Fatiha and I decided to visit Le Castellet. It is a typical Provencal village filled with lavender, soaps and pottery shops perched on top of a hill overlooking many vineyards and the Mediterranean Sea. We find it is a great place to take out of town guests since it is so conveniently located near us (about 15 minutes) and irresistibly charming due to the cobblestone streets and sections of the ramparts still remaining. Being so close to the sea, the views are amazing and on clear days you can see the mountains in the opposite direction. Typically, we spend no more than a few hours there since it is pretty small but each time we go, we discover some little hidden treasure we had never seen before. This time, we strolled through the streets pausing to take pictures, purchased some bath soaps at one of the little boutiques and contemplated buying a crepe from a man who was making/selling them by the meter (FYI, a meter is over 3 feet). Just a suggestion though if you go, bring cash since there are many little shops in the village but not a bank to be seen. And from personal experience, I can tell you pan handling for coins to pay your parking (they only just started accepting cards) is a quick way to put a damper on an otherwise great afternoon. I even offered American money in exchange for some euros when we were in a bind last year, and you know what?? People took it in a blink of an eye. Oh and little fun fact, Le Castellet is the location for the 1938 french film La Femme du Boulanger (The Baker's Wife)...kind of found that coincidental considering we had just gone to La Fille du Boulanger earlier in the day to ask questions and take pictures.

{View of vineyards below}

{Little boutique store front}

{Cobblestone streets winding through the village}

{Some of the ramparts still standing}

{View from outside the ramparts}

{The many local products sold}

{Lavender galore}

{Even ran into our friend Marie as we were heading out}