Yves, Jackie and I by the fountain
Us next to the fresh water spring in the center of the town square
This young fellow was happily drinking from the spring until we pointed out the sign "non potable".
Yesterday our friends Yves and Jackie invited us for an afternoon drive in the countryside just north of us. Yves was the chauffuer in his aging mercedes on winding roads up over the low mountains. From the summit we could see all the way to the Mediterranean overlooking the vineyards that go all the way to the sea. This is country we'd never been through although we've skirted all around it on other drives. Our first stop was the tiny village of Villeneuvette which I'd never heard of - what a charming out of the way place. It is the most beautiful village I've seen here.
The village was founded in 1671 as a textile factory to serve Louis XIV. The buildings housed the workers and the textile mill. It remained in operation until 1955 and since then all the buildings except for a hotel and a couple restaurants must be used as private housing. There are under 100 residents and it looks like most of them are artists. It is preserved beautifully with the stone buildings and wood trimming in a muted moss green. Even the wood piles are stacked artistically. The plane trees are thick around the tiny village so it is nicely shaded and there is always a cooling breeze.
There are a number of small shops selling wares by the owners - jewelry, potteries, sculptures, and paintings. One painter's works I fell in love with, hers were very much in the old style. I particularly liked one of a seated man who was apparently a fisherman in northern France. I expressed an interest in purchasing it but she showed no interest in negotiating - perhaps we will return.
This village is probably much like it has been for hundreds of years. There are no cars inside its walls, they park outside and you enter through gates that can be locked from the inside. It really isn't advertised, no one I've talked to has ever heard of it so there are only a few tourists. The result is that it is very tranquil, a soft breeze, bird chirps, and a feeling that you've returned to a time gone by.
The village was founded in 1671 as a textile factory to serve Louis XIV. The buildings housed the workers and the textile mill. It remained in operation until 1955 and since then all the buildings except for a hotel and a couple restaurants must be used as private housing. There are under 100 residents and it looks like most of them are artists. It is preserved beautifully with the stone buildings and wood trimming in a muted moss green. Even the wood piles are stacked artistically. The plane trees are thick around the tiny village so it is nicely shaded and there is always a cooling breeze.
There are a number of small shops selling wares by the owners - jewelry, potteries, sculptures, and paintings. One painter's works I fell in love with, hers were very much in the old style. I particularly liked one of a seated man who was apparently a fisherman in northern France. I expressed an interest in purchasing it but she showed no interest in negotiating - perhaps we will return.
This village is probably much like it has been for hundreds of years. There are no cars inside its walls, they park outside and you enter through gates that can be locked from the inside. It really isn't advertised, no one I've talked to has ever heard of it so there are only a few tourists. The result is that it is very tranquil, a soft breeze, bird chirps, and a feeling that you've returned to a time gone by.
This sign is over the main gateway to the village. Honor of Work.
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