Beautiful September weather

We have had the most beautiful, peaceful sunny weather, the first really settled weather of the summer. Mark Cazalet's two weeks saw temperature's at an ideal 29 C with very little wind.  David tried a new picnic venue - Brantes which is situated in a dramatic valley behind Mont Ventoux.

The village perches above the Toulourenc river and is a labyrinth of lanes, archways and stone
built houses.

The group also painted at the Abbaye St Hilaire near Menerbes, a religious site first occupied in 1240 by a community of hermits; Carmelite monks. The abbey fell into private hands after the French revolution and is now owned by René and Anne-Marie Bride who bought it in 1961.

The Abbey became a 'monument historique' in 1975 and is in the process of being restored.  It is an intriguing mixture of gothic and romanesque buildings.  It proved a beautiful place to paint, with its peaceful garden, cloisters and chapel.

and the Abbaye St Hilaire at Menerbes.