2018 Bike Trip - Day 2

The next morning, after coffee at the hotel, we set off east in a counter-clockwise direction for our tour around Luberon.  It is possible to go either direction around the area, and both directions set out from Cavaillon on the same route, then split.  The result was that we got going in the wrong direction and had to do some map-reading and cross-country biking to get on the route we wanted.

We had a light lunch at a food truck near the viage of Merindol.

The weather was pleasant, with minimal winds – we were fortunate during the whole week – no rain while we were biking, and little of the wind that the area can have, so we still managed to reach Cucuron, our first day’s destination, without too much trouble. 

Cucuron is in the hills, so we had a bit of climbing to do.  Tom and I both did some walking, but the weather was not too hot.

We biked through the town of Lauris, and I noticed several signs of interest.  One was on a florist shop that apparently used to be a music-performance venue as witness the sign and the musical instrument on the front of the building.  Tino Rossi [1907-1983], originally from Corsica, was a very popular French singer and movie actor from the 1930’s to the 1980’s.  The sign commemorates his first public performance outside of Corsica on September 14 and 15, 1930.

Tino Rossi Sign and Building where he performed

The other sign commemorates the introduction of asparagus as a crop to the area - the French love their cultural history..

The introduction of asparagus

I reached Cucuron before the others, so had time to get a beer and alert the hotel-owner to our arrival.  The town has a very large ‘etang’ or basin instead of a central paved square that apparently had originally been constructed to provide water power for a mill.  Around the basin, now containing carp, are 200-year old sycamores that have been pruned to cause them to provide a canopy over the whole area.

Our Hotel and the pond with trees

Apparently, the area is a great place for vacation homes as there are many businesses in town, and several restaurants, including a one-star Michelin restaurant!  I have yet to eat in a Michelin-starred restaurant.  I need to put it on my list.

The town was also used in the filming of “A Good Year” starring Russell Crowe and the gorgeous French actress Marion Cotillard.

Before dinner, I spent some time exploring the town, including old town walls and gates, and an old donjon on top of the hill, the remnant of a fortified chateau.  At the top of the hill was one of the best views I have ever seen – no haze, just vineyards and hills as far as the eye can see.  Did I bring a camera – No!!  The photo here, from the web, is hazy and only vaguely shows what I could see.

Two views of an old town gate in Cucuron

Beer and wine in Cucuron

 

No Haze when I saw the view!

We had a nice dinner with a really excellent local rosé wine that was picked for us by our Serveuse..  [I always try to sample local wines on these excursions.]  We covered 58km this day.