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Perched Villages of Provence

Hello everybody

First of all thanks for looking at this blog, I really enjoy putting some of my paintings here and hope they will encourage you to visit some of these places, or if you already know them to remember them.

I have blogged many times about Provence and the Cote d’Azur.  It is a truly beautiful part of the world with sun, sea and mountains, not to mention it’s great food and wine!

One feature of the area, and of course many other areas around the Mediterranean, are the “perched’ villages and towns. They are always very interesting.   Some of course are much better known than others.   Over the years we have visited quite a lot and they always provide an interesting subject for my watercolours. 

I thought therefore that it was about time to collect a number of my watercolours together under this title.

I hope you will like them as a collection and feel the warmth of the Mediterranean sun!

Enjoy your travels wherever you may be.

Brian

St Paul de Vence

St Paul de Vence

The Grand Fountaine in St Paul de Vence

The Grand Fountaine in St Paul de Vence

A street in St Paul de Vence

Rue de Bresc in St Paul de Vence

St Paul de VenceSt Paul de Vence

Bourgainvillia in St Paul

Bourgainvillia in St Paul

Gourdon commands fabulous position high above the Cot dAzur

Gourdon commands fabulous position high above the Cot dAzur

Gourdon, Farmhouse on the hill above the town.

Gourdon, Farmhouse on the hill above the town.

Gourdon in the Snow

Gourdon in the Snow

the route into Gourdon in Winter

the route into Gourdon in Winter

Near Lac St Croix is the beautiful Moustiers St Marie

Near Lac St Croix is the beautiful Moustiers St Marie

Inside Moustiers St Marie

Inside Moustiers St Marie

The Chpel at Moustiers St Marie from the town

The Chapel at Moustiers St Marie from the town

Looking up towards Fayence
Looking up towards Fayence

In the heart of Fayence the Hotel de Ville is amn impressive sight.

In the heart of Fayence the Hotel de Ville is an impressive sight.

Just past Fayence is the little town of Seillans

Just past Fayence is the little town of Seillans

High op in the mountains is the town of Mons en Provence

High up in the mountains is the town of Mons en Provence

The fountain in Mons freezes in the winter

The fountain in Mons freezes in the winter

By the coast but high above it is the delightful town of Eze.

By the coast but high above it is the delightful town of Eze.

On the ridge from Vence towards Fayence lies Callian and it's castle

On the ridge from Vence towards Fayence lies Callian and it’s castle

 Callian can be seen clearly from  the Terre Blanche Golf course

Callian can be seen clearly from the Terre Blanche Golf course

Anoth view of Callian

Anoth view of Callian

A little street in Biot. Biot is famous for its Glass making.

A little street in Biot. Biot is famous for its Glass making.

A sunny day in Mougins
A sunny day in Mougins

Tourrettes sur Loup

Tourrettes sur Loup

The small streets of Tourrettes Sur loupe

The small streets of Tourrettes Sur loupe

One of my first painting,taken from a postcard photo, of Vence

One of my first painting,taken from a postcard photo, of Vence

A week in the sun!

Hi Everbody

We are very fortunate to be able to spend some time on  the Cote d Azur in the South of France.

With UK weather remaining unsettled it was so great to feel the sun and enjoy Provence and the Coast.

Just enough time to paint a few quick watercolours. Provence has great scenes around every corner, sometimes I like to combine various scenes into a painting and so that is what I have done with a couple of these. The beautiful fields, vineyards and farms seem to make the sun shine even brighter, which is fine for the watercolourist.

If you have the chance do drive from Mandelieu la Napoule via Theoule to Agay and on to St Raphael. This coast road is really spectacular with the red rocks of the Esterel mountains going down to the azure blue sea. It is one of the finest coastal drives anywhere!

Included here are a couple of older paintings of this area together with the recent ones painted last week.

I hope you will enjoy looking at them as much as I have in painting them.

Enjoy the sun if you can find it!

Farmhouses in Provence

Farmhouses in Provence

Mougins

Mougins

Vineyard in Provence

Vineyard in Provence

Callian from Tourettes

Callian from Tourettes

Agay on the Esterel

Agay on the Esterel

The bay at Theoule

The bay at Theoule

The Esterel coast at Miramar

The Esterel coast at Miramar

Escape from the snow

This January we managed to have a few days on the Cote d’Azur , escaping quite lot of snow and disruption tin the UK.

Although even there we had some rain, we also had beautiful sunshine and some welcome warmth.

We spent one day visiting friends in San Remo and Dolce Acqua, just across the border in Italy. The old towns of both are quite amazing. I have included here one painting from our last visit to San Remo in 2011, but the others I managed to do last weekend. Also there is a watercolour of the view from Villefranche across to Port Passable on Cap Ferrat. We love Villefranche where you can sit at the waters edge and enjoy both the view, and a great lunch. If you are ever there do visit the Chapelle St Pierre at the waterfront. Inside there are wonderful murals by Jean Cocteau.

Back now in the UK, the snow is still here and it is a lot colder, maybe spring will arrive soon!

I hope you enjoy these four paintings.

Dolce Acqua, Liguria

Dolce Acqua, Liguria

Port Passable ,Cap Ferrat from Villefranche

Port Passable ,Cap Ferrat from Villefranche

In the old town of San Remo

In the old town of San Remo

 

San Siro, from Via Palma, San Remo

San Siro, from Via Palma, San Remo

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year