Time seems elastic here. Whilst 10 days in clutch repair lockdown can stretch endlessly, 62 days meanwhile, can pass in the blink of an eye. But here we are, 62 days in to this journey, northward bound through the French Alps. There’s a paucity of Les Plus Beaux Villages in this region and so we’re navigating by map, along the roads marked as showcasing great natural beauty. And they certainly do.
It’s this path that sees us arrive in the fortified alpine village of Colmars les Alps, not to be confused with its northern counterpart, Colmar. Set in the Haute Provence Alps, Colmars’ population is less than 500 but its history goes back to the Roman era.
Originally a site dedicated to Mars by the Romans and razed at different points in throughout the French religious wars in the 1500s, Colmars certainly has a tumultuous past. 300 years ago, as the border town between Provence, the (then) kingdom of France and the Duchy of Savoy it was the site of many a battle. It’s this period of history we see in the village’s fortifications, still remarkably intact.
With its tall buildings, pretty cobblestoned streets and the tail end of a market in progress, Colmars’ is a welcome break in the day’s drive.
Colmar explored, we press on only to learn of road closures ahead which means backtracking most of the way to avoid them. We’re aiming for Le Graves, an Alpine Les Plus Beaux Village that promises a view from the top of the world. I can’t wait.
Meanwhile there are new donkey friends to feed at day’s end. Apparently you can make friends with salad. Carrots are technically salad right?
Miss Baci Travels 