Sue Aitken is a bit of an expert on the Provence region of France, having travelled extensively in the region over a number of years.She fell in love with Provence many years ago when she was spending a year abroad as part of her French degree. A friend invited her to join her on a visit to her brother's house in Sanary sur Mer and she was absolutely blown away by the colours and vibrancy of this small fishing port and the surrounding scenery. She returned to Sanary some time later when she was looking to buy a flat in the area – and was delighted that nothing much had changed in the intervening years. She recently set up an online shop www.boutiqueprovencale.co.uk where she features a range of products from the region, sourced from small suppliers who are passionate about what they do.
Le Castellet is a beautifully quaint little medieval village, perched on a hill about a 10-15 minute scenic drive through the vineyards from Bandol. Unfortunately, it's not accessible by public transport - so you'll either need to have a hire car, or take a taxi from nearby Bandol. (If you're travelling to Le Castellet from Bandol, you'll go right past my favourite wine producer Domaine Le Galantin in Plan du Castellet! It's definitely worth stopping off and buying a half a case of their delicious rose wine.) If you're driving there, don't park in the first car park you come too - it's quite a way outside the village. There's another car park further on which is just at the base of the steep hill where Le Castellet is set.
There are fantastic views of the surrounding countryside and across the valley to its better-known rival La Cadiere d'Azur.For some reason La Cadiere seems to attract more tourists, although, in my opinion, Le Castellet is by far the prettier location. The village retains its fortified look - there are still sections of the ancient ramparts remaining, along with a couple of the old fortified "portes". The winding streets are all cobblestone and the narrow little houses often have pots of flowers hanging from the balconies. The chateau was last rebuilt in the 15th century, and has an imposing defensive feel about it. Apart from the views and the attractive atmosphere, there are a number of interesting crafty shops to browse around and numerous bars and restaurants, including a creperie if you're looking for a light lunch.
Le Castellet was the set for the cult film "La femme du boulanger" directed by the famous writer/director Marcel Pagnol. <P> <P>
Sue Aitken is the owner of Boutique Provencale which offers <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=”http://boutiqueprovencale.co.uk”>French Gifts</a> and <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href=”http://boutiqueprovencale.co.uk/shop/proven-al-lifestyle.html”>French Home Accessories</a>.
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