Today we walked with one of the boys along an old track that led north out of the village of Gordes to the Abbey of Senanque 2.3 k away. Notre-Dame de Senanque was founded in 1148 by Cistercian monks who originally came from Mazan Abbey in the Ardeche.
Today many people visit the abbey not least to see the lavender fields surrounding the abbey buildings. We caught a faint hint of purple as the field nearest the front of the abbey came into view. Much of the communities income comes from growing lavender and selling the honey from their bees.
The church is simple in design with modernist windows set in a warm, light coloured stone. The day was busy with visitors but for a short while I had the church to myself. It’s open spaciousness made we want to dance.