Gargas is in an area known as the Luberon Regional National park. It is a large area in Provence, which encompasses many of the picturesque, so called perched villages and also vast expanses of vines and woodlands. It has also historically been mined for stone and ochre.
So whilst here we have been testing the local wines, of which there are many! Browsing the shelves in the supermarket it’s not just whether you want red, white or rose, it’s do you want a Ventoux, a Luberon, a Gigondas, a Vaquiras or a Cote de Rhone!
We have also been exploring the local landscape on foot and by bike. Cliff has discovered to his delight that there are loads of exciting VTT (mountain bike) trails as well as quiet country roads for Ann to traverse.
Fortunately we found out, quite by chance from our nephew, that there are areas of the park that are off limits, all day or in the afternoons when the wind is high. The wooded areas of the Massifs are very dry and a fire risk, especially when it is windy, when it can spread literally like wild fire! Luckily we found out about it before we were caught and fined. There is more information here: http://massifs.dpfm.fr/maps/84/
