Top of the World
While Nice was naturally nice and Avignon was stunning, Tourrettes sur Loup was the haven I had come to the South of France to see: a fortified medieval village free of cars and inhabited mostly by flowers. We reach this village by driving up the slopes of the Alpes-Maritimes and arrive right in front of it, seeing it almost suspended on the mountain in front of us. The village is fortified around its imposing 14th-century castle and possesses a unique and original architectural richness, articulated around a crescent-shaped central artery. It is a secret village that only reveals its mystery and beauty when you cross the entrance gates located on each side of the square. Tourettes sur Loup, besides being a beautiful village with stone houses, is famous for its violets, to which the town dedicates numerous tributes and preparations. The violet in Tourrettes sur Loup is a major source of economic sustenance. Thanks to a special microclimate in this location, the locals are able to grow their violets with excellent results. So much so that this is one of the areas in France where the most violets are produced. Obviously, all this production has given rise to a business and, in addition to the violet festival, large quantities of essence are produced here and sold to French perfumeries, but also used for other products. During a stop in Tourrettes sur Loup, it is impossible not to try the candied violets that can be bought in the pastry shops of the old town. The Fête des Violettes is held here every year and ends with a battle of the flowers.
