The impressive Falaise de la Madeleine is a limestone cliff 700 meters long by 100 meters high, the result of a fault that occurred 30 million years ago. It is one of the welcome landmarks you can pick out on entering the Luberon Valley from Gordes and always signals 'home' for us.
The old village shelters in its shadow, and is renowned for its howling hunting dogs. The name Lioux is derived from the Gaul word leuca meaning light, and the village has been inhabited since 960. Hannibal passed through the village on his way to the Alps with his elephants. To mark this occasion the village coat of arms features an elephant!
Love Lioux. Spent 2 weeks there in late summer of '96 and long to go back for its quiet, simple pleasures. Favorite memories: a local lavender farmer drying stalks of cut lavender in the town place. What a sight, what a scent! And the marie's clocktower bell that didn't toll the hour, but very charmingly clanked it--the klapper would stick to the bell after striking it!
ReplyDeleteJordan Lage