staycation {part.6}

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Some people think the name, Les-Baux-de-Provence, means the beautiful of Provence, and it's very easy to understand why they would think that, Les Baux is indeed beautiful (FYI: Baux means rocky spur in the old Provençal dialect). Set atop the Alpille mountains, medieval Les-Baux-de-Provence is beautifully nestled deep into the hills.

Like Gordes, Les Baux has also been named one of the plus beaux villages de France, and deservedly so. Les Baux has been perfectly preserved, and walking around there, one would think they had stepped back in time, if not for the numerous brightly colored tourist shops selling t-shirts and wooden swords for your inner Knight, which kind of makes you feel like you're in a staged village like it's, Provence; brought to you by The Walt Disney Company. But, it's a real village with real people living there (aye yai yai... and I thought we had it bad during tourist season in The LPV).

Interesting fact about Les Baux... in the 17th century, it was given to the Grimaldis of Monaco, and even though it is very much part of France, Prince Albert carries the title, Marquis des Baux. How very special for you Prince.
And I'm just going to throw this out there, from now on, I may start referring to myself as Marquise de Le Petit Village, because, why not.

Les Baux was the next stop on the Staycation 2012 tour after a quick stop in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where I ate the most delicious meal of Taureau with chorizo mashed potatoes as part of the nationwide event,  Tous au Restaurant, toured the ancient city of Glanum...

And then we popped into the Saint-Paul de Mausolée Asylum to visit some crazy guy named Vincent.

And by Vincent, I mean Van Gogh.

bisou