Peillon at 8:53 a.m., just before the sun rose above the hills in the back
Peillon has got to be one of the least touristy places in the entire area! Nothing at all is done to cater to those seeking to purchase postcards, souvenirs, or even a simple cup of coffee or sandwich. In fact, there is no shop of any kind to be seen. When we fist visited the place in May of 2001, we thought it was just a matter of time until things changed; now, over twelve years later, we're delighted to see that we were wrong. Even today, Peillon is not accessible by any form of public transportation; the closest railway station is Peillon Ste. Thècle, some 4 kilometers (~ 2.4 miles) away by car. There are no buses that make their way up the winding, narrow road with its hairpin turns. Demand is probably too limited because the road ends just outside the village.
One can, of course, walk up to the village; this takes between one hour and one hour and a half depending on one's pace, but people staying at the Auberge de la Madone, Peillon's only concession to non-residents, would do well to take a backpack to hold their personal belongings: forget carrying a suitcase up the sometimes extremely steep footpath. To say that the village is not exactly overrun by visitors is an understatement. Consequently, is it possible to wander the narrow streets without encountering a soul except an occasional cat. On the early Saturday morning the pictures on this paga were taken, the village was remarkably quiet, and when I sat down on a bench outside the church, the only occasional sound was the buzzing of an insect. How wonderful a contrast to the usual Riviera hubbub!
Have fun exploring this virtual haven of peace!
Click on any image to see a larger (1500 x 1000 pixel) version!
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A look at the village from the lower part of the access road... |
...and from higher up where I parked my car. |
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Peillon façades |
The fountain at the entrance of the village |
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The war memorial |
One of the ways into the old village |
Heading up |
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Steps and archway |
Hydrant |
Typical village street |
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Peillon is a maze of stairways |
Purple gate |
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Walkway from the old school to the church square |
This is one way to climb up to the church... |
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...and this is the other. |
The church |
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Church square is one of the few level places in Peillon |
The view onto the hills behind the village |
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The church of Peillon |
Looking down onto the rooftops |
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In front of the church |
Light shadows |
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Village scene |
Village scene |
Village scene |
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Fence with blue accents |
Underpass |
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One can admire these beautiful flowers... |
...before emerging on the other side. |
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Leaving the village on the north side... |
...to take the foot path down into the valley. |
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A lovely old stone bridge on the way down |
Looking at the village from the east |
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Climbing back up... |
...on a path bordered with grasses and shrubs. |
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Re-entering the village and... |
...going down the steps to the war memorial. |
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On the way back to the car |
10:38 a.m.: A last look at Peillon |
The photos on this page were all taken on Saturday, September 14, 2013.
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