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[singlepic=39,200,,,right]Solar Tour 2008 – Day 10: From Buoux it is just a small drive north-west to Roussillon, one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France and known for its ochre mines. We first visited Ôkhra, the Conservatoire des ocres et pigments appliqués just outside of Roussillon. Here one can learn about the processing and use of the red ochre. They also have a shop with a great selection of art and design books as well as nice souvenirs.

Next we parked on the large paid parking just around the corner of the conservatory (motor homes are not allowed any further) and walked into town. Just besides the village we visited the former ochre quarry. The walk through the jagged cliffs of ochre was an otherworldly experience. Be prepared to get dirty!

Most of the old houses in the village are also painted in red ochre. A walk through the narrow medieval streets of the small center doesn’t take very long. Here one can find a lot of restaurants and souvenir shops offering pottery. Be aware that there is only one ATM in town. You can find it on the main road going up into the old center.

While it is allowed for motor homes to stay overnight on the paid parking, we didn’t feel like doing so. Large car parkings in touristic towns are not among those places where we feel comfortable and secure.