Moustiers-Sainte-Marie

Our weekend trip this week was to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie high up in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence.

It was about six buses away – my new measurement of distance is how many buzzards I see on the way.

Moustiers is quite simply gorgeous. In the mountains with une cascade running through the village, it is breathtaking.

We had lunch in a small café with a balcony overlooking the river Adou.

It came with a warning.

I also had the best croque-monsieur I have ever eaten. Made with locally-sourced ingredients, it was made with pain perdu. It was worth the trip alone.

Next door was a pottery shop. The shop assistant was very chatty and explained a few bits of local history as well as general French history.

In the village there is a star hanging between the two cliffs on a 225m chain.

It was said to have been placed there by the knight Bozon de Blacas who was held prisoner during the Crusades.

According to legend, he vowed to hang a star over his village if he was able to return.

And the icing on the cake?

We saw a griffon vulture flying around the mountains as we left.