写真

Hy鑽es-les-Palmiers is a middle-sized city with a population of 53,258 located in the south of France between Toulon and Nice. The name stems from this historical significance of palm trees in the city. They made their first appearance about 4 centuries ago, but did not actually become a local resource until 1867, around which time Hy鑽es very quickly became the palm-tree capital of Europe.

Hyeres not only offers beautiful beaches and ports covering a 27,000 hectare stretch of water, but the old medieval town is a site to behold. The narrow streets, lined with houses and shutters of various colours in different states of preservation and lit by overhanging iron lanterns, wind their way up to the top of the hill where one has a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape and sea. About half way up, there lies a square, though not entirely 壮quared� with building corners jutting in and streets tumbling up and down around off the sides. There one will find an array of cafes with outside seating, a boulangerie and fruit stand among other little shops.

Dominating the square is the Saint-Blaise Tower, the last vestige of the Commandery that the Knights Templar built during the twelfth century. Today it has been transformed into two levels of an art gallery of mostly open exhibitions. When we were there we were treated to some beautiful paintings and impressions by children from the ages of 4-16.

It is from this tower this picture was taken, overlooking the square through the beautifully coloured and preserved glass window. The blurred effect and disjointed feeling I got from the panes facing slightly different angles struck me, particularly the play of colours through the glass panes on the various colours offered by the scene in the square.

For more pictures of Hyeres and the surrounding area of Provence, click here