Roussillon: My Favorite French Detour

Roussillon is a provencal town in the Cote d'Azur that is noted for its large ochre deposits in the clay hills surrounding the village. The buildings are all made from this reddish material and it offers a striking contrast to the greenery surrounding it on all sides.

Whenever I write about any place in France, I am instantly irritated at my superior and lofty tone of voice, but I don't know how to stop it. This country just lends itself to that sort of narrative (there, I did it again).

Roussillon is a popular stopping point on several biking routes throughout Provence, and its windy, one way roads and small parking lot would certainly indicate that automobile traffic is not a large concern (at least yet).

The drive to get here was a little but of a detour, but we hardly passed any traffic and were rewarded with fields of poppies and shrub like trees that hugged the car along our route.

As we approached the city itself, the shrubbery fell away to expose the red cliff sides and there was a small parking lot a short walking distance outside the main entrance. We spent the better part of our afternoon wandering the village, getting orange crushes, stopping in the unique shops, perusing local artwork and photographing the beautiful buildings and doors. You can do a hike around the cliffside and visit a cemetery but photography is not allowed in the cemetary. If you do miss the sign prohibiting photography and get snap happy, a french lady will very quickly flag you down and chastise you in French. Or so I've been told.

So, if you happen to be driving in Provence, take the time to at least stop in this little village. It is known as one of the most beautiful French towns in the Cote d'Azur, and for good reason.