PROVENCE - Apt

Years ago, we stopped off for lunch in Apt on the way back from a visit to the Gorges du Verdun, but it was November, so we didn’t spend long exploring. This time it was different.



First stop was an interesting looking shop filled with all sorts of typical Provençal bits and bobs such as bundles of heavenly smelling dried lavender, scents, local delicacies and singing cicadas.





OK, so the singing cicadas lost their charm after the first few minutes and if I’d had a spade in my handbag (scarily, that’s not outside the realms of possibility!), I probably would have smashed them to bits if I’d worked there!



The beautiful church was attached to the old walled area of the town where we noticed that unusually the bell tower was no enclosed, and so the bells were open to elements, protected only by some ornate iron framework. As our tour continues, we realised that actually this is peculiar to this region.



Eventually we found ourselves in the People’s museum in one of the side streets. I have to confess that this was mainly due to the need of a loo rather than any real curiosity on our part, but I was intrigued by the dyes and colourants.





Apt has been known for its basket- and wicker-work and hat industries since the 17th century, but the area was, and is, very important for the ochre industry, and many of the colours are naturally produced in the surrounding villages such as Roussillon and Rustrel.