“Why don’t we try that way instead of going directly to Avène?” I suggested, pointing straight ahead. A tiny flicker of surprise rolled over Remi’s eyebrow. He is the suggester, the spot finder and an incredibly talented one at that. I am more of the “Can we head back now?” variety I have to admit. A lazy adventurer. But Remi is the real thing and there is never too far, too wide or too long to go.
So up the road we started and the further the car crawled, the steeper the hill, the blinder the turns and the worse the condition of the road. If I didn’t have supreme confidence in his driving (and I do, this is a man who has driven down Africa from north to south), I would have peered continuously over the cliff’s edge but instead I kept gazing forward, eager to see where the trail would lead.
The sign had indicated a distance of two kilometers and yet that small journey seemed a world away. “Who would live here?” we both wondered. We pulled to a stop in front of a smattering of homes, each more neglected and sadder than the next. Appropriate, as the village is called Sadde. It is what had piqued my curiosity in the first place. And then to arrive in the middle of what is already the middle of nowhere and find it abandoned…well, it was a mystery. What had happened here?
Perhaps it was the ambiance, perhaps it was tom-foolery of the light but I had trouble finding my focus.
So many locked doors and shutters closed tight.
Paint left to chip and iron to rust.
A breeze chased and found me, trembling tough flowers and vines overhead.
It sent a deep chill through my bones. All of this loss…left me feeling sadder than Sadde.
“Heather, come on up here,” Remi called to me quietly. I picked my way up a sloping stone staircase and took a sharp intake of breath.
“Nu-uh.” I couldn’t believe it for there, hidden amidst the ruins was a gorgeously renovated home, replete with a kidney shaped swimming pool suspended over the hills. It had been impossible to detect from the front but my, what a secret hideaway.
We laughed and began to see the village in a different light, especially eyeing (as we are want to do) un bergerie or sheepfold. Hmmm…we would keep the original elements of the sliding iron…
…and wooden doors but fill them in with steel-mullioned windows on the inside, add a sleeping loft, a fireplace and voila! The perfect vacation hut…
…with 360° of mountain tops for a view. Ah, not looking so triste after all, now is it?
Appearances are tricky and this particular discovery was enough to make this adventurer, lazy or no, feel a warm glow of the heart.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Isn't it fun to find a new place????
That first photo drew me in and now I want to see more of Sadde. What a place to escape to! I sure would love it there. So, are any of the houses for sale ? 😉
A kidney-shaped pool and a heart-shaped leaf to reward your efforts, Heather. Can I just say I absolutely love that you channeled the curious, exploring spirit that Remi is more typically open to? I think this is the beginning of something for you, girl. 🙂
At first I thought some tragedy had caused the village to be abandoned. What joy to see color and brightness of the pool! Appearances can certainly be deceiving. Going off the beaten track leads to all kinds of adventure.
The drive may have required me to take a Xanax, but it looks like the pay off is was worth it! I love that there was more than what originally met the eye. Glad you took this little adventure!! Happy weekend – hope there are more rewarding journeys in store!!XO
Wow, neat!
At first I thought this was a scary Halloween story – the first doorway had what looked like teeth above it, and it looked like blood on another door (and giant spider legs in front of another doorway?). But, ahh, the town was not abandoned after all – yes, you could swoop in and install your own kidney shaped pool! It seems like the adventure opportunities in Provence are endless – hooray for you and for us as we get to keep following you via these beautiful posts!
A beautifully told story, with the perfect touch of mystery.
What a find! Beautiful photographs to boot. ox, Gina
Mystery and isolation with breathtaking views make a powerful cocktail for the soul. Bisous xxx