The light in Provence - inspiring artists and amateurs for generations

Sunset/moon rise at the village of Cucuron

CUCURON- What is it about the light in this part of the world that makes the already awe-inspiring, jaw dropping scenery that much more picturesque? It quickly becomes obvious to anyone who passes through Provence why the world's greatest painters have flocked here for generations to try and capture the sheer glow of the place. Even my amateurish Blackberry photos, while certainly not doing any kind of justice to the the true beauty here, show the type of effect the natural light can have at certain times of the day. It's almost surreal.

We had a chance to visit Curcuron and Vaugines this past weekend, thanks to a stop-by from Turks and Caicos friends Sam and Camille, who were staying in Vaugines. Both are tiny little Provencal villages nestled in at the base of the Luberon region, and neither are very touristy. Our visit came right toward the end of the day when the sun was just starting its descent over the quiet hillside towns. After getting Sam and Camile and their college bound daughter Morgan (and her friend) settled in the fabulous house they were using, we set out to explore. We immediately stumbled across a church in Vaugines that had been started in the year 1099. A few clicks down the road, Cucuron had similar historical features, highlighted by the remains of a hilltop fort/castle that afforded us unbelievable views across the valley that descends toward Aix.

Our day trip ended with an excellent dinner at the aptly named L'etang (the pond) Restaurant on the town square in Cucuron. A fantastic fish tagine-type dish and local lamb were among the highlights, not to mention Savannah's fondue dessert.

Village church in Vaugines. Started construction in 1099

Toni tries to capture Lindsey in the awe-inspiring light

At the etang (pond) in Cucuron centre ville