Melanie Wright
Private, guided excursion including
Provence / Côte d’Azur
Presented on: March 13, 2015
Suggested for: October 4-12
Days 1, 2 3 : Start of guided tour
DAY OF MEETING in Avignon or Lyon
Gordes, Luberon (3)
Taking the high speed train from Paris or Lyon, you arrive in Avignon in approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. (Jenean can book this trip for you) Jenean meets you at the train station, rental vehicle ready.
Another option is that Jenean coordinates picking you up in Lyon on her way from Germany to Provence.
Today we start your Provençal exploration in the Vaucluse and Luberon, staying at a lovely inn in the Village Perché of Gordes. We will also be taking in markets and other charming villages of the area.
The inn where we stay has rooms decorated in typical Provençal style with each room having a different theme. Hopefully we’re there one night for the Table d’hôte, prepared by one of the owners of the inn.
Other possibilities for the area include:
Gordes at sunset
· A little “hike” to the fascinating “Les Bories” on the outskirts of Gorde. Village Les Bories is an historic monument that features an entire village of stone huts (similar to the beehive huts of Ireland). For more information, visithttp://www.avignon-et-
· A peek at the ancient Abbaye de Sénanque (founded by Cistercians in 1148), where monks grow their own crops of lavender to support themselves.
· The charming village of Fontaine de Vaucluse, where the source of the River Sorgue comes from within the mountain, reachable by a short path next to the river.
· Afternoon cooking class
· The ancient semi-ghost village of Oppede le Vieux.http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/
Days 4, 5, 6, 7
Bouche-du-Rhône area (4)
We settle in for the next four nights in the heart of the Bouche-du-Rhône region of Provence.
We stay at an inn run by a couple who moved here from Paris a number of years ago with their three children, who can be seen sometimes in the afternoons at the relaxing pool area on the grounds. The converted “Mas” (which in Provençal dialect means “farm” and is pronounced like “moss”) is informal but full of charm and has expansive grounds with hidden nooks among the Mediterranean Cypress, palms and fruit trees where one can enjoy leisure time reading or for evening picnics or grills.
Madame Ausset’s preserves, which are served at breakfast and sold in in their small boutique, are the best ever! Massages and other treatments can be arranged here as well.
Domaine des Clos
We love shopping at the nearby supermarket for fresh fruit, cheeses, bread and of course, local wine which we then take back to the Mas for enjoyment in one of those hidden nooks on the expansive grounds.
Other options in this area include:
· Markets
· Visiting the ancient fortress and town of Les-Baux-de-Provence.
· Nearby St. Rémy is fun to wander because of its meandering streets and lovely shops and cafes.
· Olive oil tasting
· A visit to the Pont du Gard. The Pont du Gard is the tallest remaining Roman aqueduct from the Roman Empire. The entire region, in fact, is rich in Roman history.
· Aix-en-Provence
· A little road trip to the Camarque region for strolling and shopping through the ancient town of Aigue-Mortes
Days 8 and 9
Villefranche-sur-Mer (2)
Staying in this historic fishing village on the waterfront, we overlook the Mediterranean and take in the beautiful scenery of the Côte d’Azur. In this area, we can:
Make our way up to the village of Eze or explore other towns as interest dictates.
Day 10
Departure from Nice International Airport
Make our way up to the village of Eze or explore other towns as interest dictates.
Day 10
Departure from Nice International Airport
