Proximity is Key: Local Discoveries (Bormes-les-Mimosas & Le Lavandou)

One of our goals while in Provence is to explore much of our immediate surroundings, nearby towns, mediterranean islands, wineries (we do live in Côtes de Provence wine country after all), and other interesting attractions. We dedicated a half day to visiting Bormes-les-Mimosas, a medieval village set in the hills with expansive views of the sea and countryside. Among its charms, the village boasts a modest sized castle dating to the 13th century which is a private residence today. We had a fun time checking out this gem of a town.

We paired a Sunday morning food shopping trip with a visit of Le Lavandou’s beach and its old town center. Sunday by 12:30pm (when most large supermarkets shut down), is pretty much the only time that day to get any last minute food shopping in. The vast majority of other shops are closed (which can make for an adjustment coming from New York). Le Lavandou emanates a total beach-town vibe and has some pretty quirky history. Apparently in 2000 the mayor passed a bylaw making it illegal to die in the town. The reason, the cemetery was full and the town was denied permission to build a new one.