SOUTH OF FRANCE 1995-2002
The south of France is our favorite summer holiday region. The village Aups and Lac St. Croix with its Gorges du Verdon are number one. The region around Aups is typical for Provence – a quiet place and not overrun by tourists.
I have seen some Tour de France stages in the Alpes and also one in the Pyrenees on Col de Tourmalet with a stay in the holy town of Lourdes.
Photography from excellent holidays in Provence
We have been coming to Provence since 1982 and in total there have probably been more than 30 holidays. No matter where you go, it is wonderful to be there. The landscapes are beautiful and people live with a focus on the good life. There are a few places I would like to highlight:
First of all, Aups – a village located about 25 km west of Draguinan and 20 km south of Lac St. Croix. Aups is the epitome of a Provencal town. More and more people have opened their eyes to it, but you can still walk around the streets and soak up the pure Provencal atmosphere. In the town there is a public laundry where you can still see women washing clothes by hand.
Lac St. Croix is a dammed lake. A little way from where the Verdon River leaves the Gorges du Verdon, a dam has been built that forms the lake. The water is used for irrigation and drinking water all the way to Marseille. A ride by car or by bike, if you have good legs, through the beautiful canyon is recommended. Here there are good opportunities for beautiful landscapes and photography of mountain climbers.
Europe’s largest photography festival is held in Arles in July and August. There are countless excellent exhibitions in and around the city and at the beginning of July there are photography shows in the old Roman theater. People from all over the world flock to the city to experience the festival. In addition, the charming city has an old Roman arena, where “French bullfights” are held. With French I mean the bull is surviving.
Aix en Provence is the capital of Provence. There is more of a metropolitan atmosphere here, although the impression is also Provençal. I am fascinated by the Cours Mirabeau, which is the shady main street with large plane trees and cozy sidewalk cafes. On the outskirts of Aix and visible from the highway is the Fondation Vasarely. It is a museum that the French Hungarian artist Victor Vasarely himself founded. The museum is architecturally very beautiful, and the interior is characterized by his impressive optical art, where he teases our eyes.
In southwestern France we have had a holiday in Dordogne by the river of the same name. It was really fun to swim in the river where there was a strong current. We visited the city of Bergerac, which I know from the play about the poet Cyrano de Bergerac with a big nose. A little further south and west we also stayed in Carcassonne. The inner city is surrounded by a fantastic city wall from the Middle Ages. France’s national day is July 14, and all cities with just a little respect for themselves have a big fireworks display on that day. The one on the city wall in Carcassonne is the most amazing thing I have seen, with really good opportunities for great photos.
In the Pyrenees we have visited Lourdes, where we have both experienced the strong faith of many Catholics who visit the city to be cured of illnesses and disabilities, and the city is also a wet shit show with everything they try to sell to innocent pilgrims and tourists. On my Portfolios page, I have a gallery from Lourdes. In 1995, we witnessed the Tour de France stage on the Col de Tourmalet, where Richard Virenque won, and Bjarne Riis came in third.