1(,(, BORMES. 



hectares and yield those particularly fine chestnuts which 

 are exported as "Marrons de Lyons". 



in the western portion of the Montagues des Maures 

 there is no lovelier spot than Bormes. This can be 

 reached b\' train from II\eres in an hour. There we 

 ascend from the shore to the hill on which the little 

 village stands like an amphitheatre. The houses are 

 scattered at different heights ; here singh' there ia groups, 

 as though attempting to climb the mountain. The place 

 is dominated by an old Castle whose gre\' ruin.s show 

 clearl)' against the dark green background of the \\-oods. 

 The slope is overgrown with aromatic herbs, and each 

 step liberates their sweet-scented oils. Whole tracts are 

 violet with that I^avender (Lavandula Sfocc/ias, Fig. p. 257) 

 which at one time ga\'e its name to the Islands of 

 Fl^'cres. This plant is still found in such abundance 

 here that a neighbouring village is named from it — 

 "Lavandou". We ascend farther into the wood among 

 Cork Oaks, Pines and evergreen bushes. TIere, too, 

 ever^■thing is now in bloom. The air is laden with per- 

 fume, and from the Pines, if touched, thick clouds of 

 pollen rise. The outlook over the dusk^• ruins, the 

 bright village and the blue sea, into which a tongue of 

 land stretches lar awaw increases in grandeur. East- 

 ward we gaze down into the roadstead of Bormes. and 

 westward is seen that of llyeres; and be\'ond a narrow 

 promontor\' the Golfe de Giens is just visible. The 

 colouring of each of these bays is different. The eastern 

 bay gleams with a soft blue light; the roadstead of 

 1 lyeres is like liquid silver; while the Golfe de (jiens. 



