Page 189 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Provence & The Côte d'Azur

ALPES-DE-HA UTE-PROVENCE  187

The sweeping fields of the Plateau de Valensole, one of the largest lavender-growing areas of Provence
A restored castle ruin of the was born here in 1763. Signs for was the original site of the
Templars is on a high spot locally made lavender honey are town where the Roman colony,
and an open-air theatre is in everywhere and just outside the Reia Apollinaris, lived. On the
the grounds. Le Musée des town is the Musée Vivant de other side of the river is a
Miniatures, poupées et jouets l’Abeille. This is an interactive rare example of Merovingian
du Monde is a museum with museum explaining the intriguing architecture, a small baptistry
148 miniatures from 1832 to life of the honey bee, with infor- dating from the 5th century.
the present, including dolls, mative demonstrations, photo- The village has a number
costumes and toy trains. graphs and videos. In the summer, of fountains: Fontaine Benoîte,
you can visit the beehives and see opposite Porte Sanson, dates
P Le Musée des Miniatures, the beekeepers at work. to 1819, although a fountain
poupées et jouets du Monde has existed on this spot since
16 ave des Alpes. Tel 06 84 62 71 23. E Musée Vivant de l’Abeille the 15th century; the 17th-
Open mid-Apr–Oct: Mon, Wed & Fri Rte de Manosque. Tel 04 92 74 85 28. century Fontaine de Blanchon
pm only. Closed public hols. & 7 Open Tue–Sat. Closed public hols. is fed by an underground
8 for groups. 7 = spring – its use was reserved
for washing the clothes of the
infirm in the days before anti-
eRiez biotics and vaccines; and the
soft waters of the spring-fed
Road map D3. * 1,850. @ n Pl de Fontaine de Saint-Maxime
la Mairie (04 92 77 99 09). ( Wed & were believed to possess
Sat. ∑ ville-riez.fr
healing qualities for the eyes.
At the edge of the sweeping
Valensole plateau is this
unspoiled village, filled with
small shops selling ceramics
Corinthian columns front the Gallo-Roman and traditional santons, honey
baths in Gréoux-les-Bains and lavender. Its grander past
is reflected in the Renaissance
façades of the houses and
wValensole mansions in the old town. This
is entered through the late-
Road map D3. * 3,330. n Pl des
Héros de la Résistance (04 92 74 90 02). 13th-century Porte Aiguyère,
( Sat. ∑ valensole.fr which leads on to the peaceful,
tree-lined Grand Rue, with fine
This is the centre of France’s most examples of Renaissance archi-
important lavender-growing tecture at numbers 27 and 29.
area. It sits on the edge of the The most unusual site is the
Valensole plains with a sturdy- remains of the 1st-century AD
towered Gothic church at its Roman temple dedicated to
height. Admiral Villeneuve, the Apollo. It stands out of time
unsuccessful adversary of Admiral and place, in the middle of a Ruins of the Roman temple in Riez, built
Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, field by the river Colostre; this in 1st century AD