A Provence base in Reillanne, France
On the way back from a holiday trip in Pays basque, France, my family and I decided to break up the long drive back to Rome with a short stay in Provence.
We made the little town of Reillanne our base to explore the region for a few days and stayed in a pretty gite, Domaine de Pradaous.
It was a pleasant place to return after a hectic day of exploring under the hot summer sun, and we all liked to cool down with a swim in the pool.
Breakfasts on the terrace were very good, and dinner was available at the hotel. The owners were very friendly and helpful with local tips.
When we returned, my kids also worked at perfecting their non-existent pétanque skills… although they did get better after a few days of ‘training’.
I’ve already written about many of the nearby attractions, such as hiking in the Oppedette Gorge, visiting the pretty town of Banon and shopping in medieval Forcalquier on market day.
The town of Reillanne itself made for a nice wander, with its old 12th century church and belltower at the top of the town providing pleasant views over the valley. The streets are picturesque and winding, so it was nice for a short wander.
Sunday is active, bringing this little town to life with a bustling market on the main square just beside the 12th century Romanesque Église Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption, with its double bell tower and sundial.
The tourist office, just off the town square, was very helpful and we received a lot of local information about what was happening in the area.
All in all, Reillanne served as a very comfortable base to explore this corner of Provence.
Lucky you 🙂
Great place!