Sault | LisaLarry.com

Today we returned to Sault to get a closer look at the lavender fields. The fields are so numerous that if you roll down the window of the car, lavender-scented air blows in. It’s heavenly. We had a great time climbing in and out of the car to get some great shots, along with picking some straggling lavender blooms from a field that had already been harvested.

On the road above Sault. Several of the lavender fields had already been harvested - and they still had all of this.

Once lavender has been harvested, it needs to dry for a few days before going to the distillery.

My favorite shot of our entire trip so far, Lavender Kiss, was taken with the aid of our tripod and some well-timed wind.

We stopped in town to grab some sandwiches and buy lavender products from the local farmers’ cooperative. Our whole car smells like lavender now.

Stocking up on lavender products at the local farmers' cooperative

We pushed on for a quick stop in Aix to visit an English bookstore there, and then on to the port city of Marseilles. We went with some hesitation as Marseilles has a reputation for lots of thieves and petty crime and we’re still a bit scarred from our Barcelona visit, but didn’t want to miss out on seeing it. It is the unofficial capital of the South of France and has a character completely separate from the mother country. It’s unique.

We spent some time touring the old port, climbing up onto an old fort that guarded the harbor and provided great views out to sea and to the Chateau d’If, made most famous by Alexander Dumas (the Count of Monte Cristo was held at the prison at Chateau d’If).

The Old Port and Basillica of Notre Dame de la Garde

We then climbed up above the city to the stunning Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde for one spectacular sunset before stopping in Aix for dinner along the Cours Mirabeau on the way home.

Looking down from the church on the other side. I called those tall plants in the foreground the Dr. Seuss trees. They stunk!

The Chateau d'If in the middle of the picture — The Chateau d'If out in the harbor

You can see the oldest part of the Basilica from this angle — You can see the oldest part of the Basilica (a 16th century fortification built for Francois I) from this angle

Last shot of the tower. Notre Dame de la Garde (Our Lady of the Watch) is the traditional guardian of seafarers — Last shot of the tower overlooking the Old Port. Notre Dame de la Garde (Our Lady of the Watch) is the traditional guardian of seafarers

The day after the tour we decided to drive up in the car just to see it for ourselves. It was a long and painful climb for our poor little Pierre, I can’t imagine doing it on a bike! Maybe someday when I’m tougher.

Along our way we drove through one of the towns on the tour route and had fun looking at all of the encouraging words and phrases painted onto the pavement.

We then took the scenic route to the area surrounding the town of Sault because we had read that it was a large lavender-producing region. That doesn’t even begin to cover it. Fields upon fields of purple flowers. We vowed to go back when we had more time to explore.

Driving past the lavender fields of Sault

Cute little nekkid' sheep — Cute little nekkid sheep

We arrived at the summit of Mont Ventoux just in time to catch the last of the sunset. Tons of other Tour fans and bikers who had just completed the climb were there as well, to see the finish line for themselves.

Almost to the summit! Imagine how happy the Tour riders were with this sight.

Lavender Air and Salty Air

Climbing Mont Ventoux (in the car)