We
will be pleased to pick up our guests at the Avignon TGV
train station
at 4:30 P.M. Otherwise, guests who have their
own
transportation may check in after 5:30 P.M. Upon arrival,
settle in,
unpack, take a tour of the beautiful grounds, enjoy the
view and, above
all, relax.
WELCOME
DINNER:
Meet
your travel companions and enjoy your first evening in
Provence!
Due to late arrival of some guests, we often have our
champagne
reception on Sunday.
...
Market day In Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, A painter's dream in
Roussillon
Sunday:
This
morning’s visit of the colorful and famous food and
antiques markets of
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is the perfect introduction to the
culture and
history of Provence. It's easy to fall in love with
this
small
town, the "Venice” of the region - so called because the
green
waters of the river Sorgue divide into five branches that
form a series
of islands. Strolling along the river banks lined
with Plane
trees and several ancient water-wheels, you’ll enjoy
touring the market
where all Provence’s bounty is displayed: fruits and
vegetables,
olives and breads, cheeses and sausages, herbs, flowers,
fabrics,
soaps, pottery, baskets and more... This is where
you can buy
a
gourmet specialties and local produce to take home.
Along the way take a few minutes to
visit the17th-century church Notre-Dame-des-Anges which
rich
decorations and paintings present the finest example of
baroque art in
Provence.
L’Isle’s market for antiques is internationally
known and is the second best in Europe after Paris.
Over one
hundred antique dealers offer furniture, paintings, fine
art, glass,
and other rare objects. Enjoy browsing the antiques
displayed
in the open-air flea market then visit some of the
antiques galleries
where you may discover the object of your dreams!
LUNCH: We invite
you for champagne and lunch prepared by Anne-Marie at our
house, in the
Luberon countryside.
After lunch, we’ll head up to the hilltop village
of Roussillon
(from roux, red), nicknamed the "Colorado of the Luberon"
from the
stunning seventeen hues of ocher coloring the facades of
the
houses. Over the Val des Fées (fairy valley) you’ll
have a
breathtaking view of the deep red and golden yellow
quarries, red rust
cliffs set among green pine trees and the rich blue
sky.
Roussillon is a magic place and you’ll enjoy a lovely
stroll through
the colorful streets, small gardens and squares.
Several shops display unique potteries made from local
ocher clays and blends
of mineral oxides. Many artists display their work
in this
village.
EVENING:
After this enlightening introduction to Provence, we'll
drive back to
Gordes and point out some of the restaurants where you can
have dinner
on your own. Or, you may prefer using your private
kitchen
and dine on the terrace of your “home” and enjoy
your market day specialties.
...
The Palace of the Pope & Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Vinyards
Monday:
En
route to Avignon for a visit of the Palais des Papes ,
we'll enter the city through one of the fortified
gates built along the ramparts that encircle the
town. One of
the
largest buildings of its time (2.6 acres), the Palace is a
veritable
fortress where nine popes ruled the Roman Catholic World
from 1309 to
1403. The princely residence is a maze of corridors,
chambers and
chapels richly decorated with frescoes and tapestries.
Afterward
you might like visiting the Petit Palais, now a museum
with exceptional
Medieval and Renaissance sculptures and paintings. A few
steps from the
museum stand the 12th century Notre-Dame-des-Doms and the
famous
St.Bénézet bridge (le Pont d’Avignon) that crosses halfway
above the
Rhône river.
Or, you can catch the small train and tour the town before
lunch.
LUNCH: Stroll
through
the nearby Place de l'Horloge where you'll find several
fine small
restaurants. Or, stop at one the very tempting
baker-shops
and
delicatessens.
After
lunch we'll head on to the famous vineyards of
Châteauneuf-du-Pape to
taste one of the greatest wines of France. We’ll
then drive
up to
the top of Châteauneuf and walk through what’s left of the
Popes'
summer castle. This where you can enjoy a fantastic
view
over
the Rhône valley and vineyards. Then, for chocolate
lovers, we'll stop
at the best Chocolaterie in Provence!
DINNER:
Delight in prestigious vintages of Provence such as
Gigondas,
Beaumes-de-Venise, Hermitage, Vacqueyras and Tavel, at our
special Wine
Tasting and dine on regional specialties cooked by
Anne-Marie at our house.
...
Journey to Gordes & Sénanque
Tuesday:
This
morning we’ll take time to visit the beautiful village of
Gordes and
take part in the lively weekday market. You'll find
Provençal
fabric to decorate a room, table cloth and napkins to
dress up a table,
wood carvings, lavender products, and much more.
There are
several art galleries, craft shops, jewelery stores
with
semiprecious stones and fossils, as well as regular
village stores.
You’ll enjoy your time there shopping or just
looking! You’ll
also have the opportunity to visit the chateau with its
magnificent
fireplaces and doors, and the 18th century
church built above
a
Roman building. All the small streets of the village
lead to
beautiful views of the Luberon valley below. It’s a
good time
to
take memorable photos!
LUNCH:
There are la lot of nice restaurants in the village.
You
might
also enjoy having a nice picnic with goodies from the
market.
This
afternoon, we'll drive up to the Mont de Vaucluse known
for its
Lavender fields and stop
by the Abbaye de Sénanque which style is a pure example of
Romanesque
architecture. Later on you’ll enjoy your
visit of the
Lavender Museum where antique copper stills are displayed,
and
watch a movie outlining different distillation
processes. The
museum's boutique offers excellent lavender
products. We’ll
end
this day with a wine tasting at a favorite local winery.
DINNER:
Dinner on your own.
...
Arles & Les Baux-de-Provence
Wednesday:
On
our way to Les-Baux-de-Provence we'll travel through olive
groves, vine
covered hills, the lively towns of Cavaillon and
Saint-Rémy, along
small roads lined with plane trees, and arrive in the
heart of the
Alpilles region. Standing high on a rocky spur, the
spectacular
natural fortress of Les Baux-de-Provence, the ruins of its
castle
dominate the Alpilles valley. The breathtaking view from
the dungeon
and plateau extends to the Camargue and the sea.
It's from this 12th-13th century castle
and village that the Court of Love
originated. Here, troubadours composed passionate
verses for
ladies of the court. The narrow streets of this
unique
village
are lined with 16th-17th century houses, art galleries,
and boutiques
with a variety of Provençal fares and crafts. Take
time to
visit
the Eglise St. Vincent, partly carved from living
rock, the
Santons Museum (17th-18th century traditional clay
figurines), or take
a short hike to the top of the castle. Walking
through this
village gives the sense of life when noble dames were
courted by poets,
cruel acts were perpetuated, and lords and knights fought
some of the
bloodiest wars in the history of Provence.
LUNCH:
Take a break from your visit and shopping spree and join
us for Côtes
des Baux-de-Provence wine and lunch at the terrace
of an
excellent
restaurant.
After lunch we'll be on our way to
Arles, a town with a rich and glorious past, built on the
bank of the
Rhône river. In the city of Caesar and Van Gogh, the Arena
is one of
the most ancient of the Roman world. Across
from
the Place of the Arena you can tour the Antique
Theater or, a few steps away, the St. Trophime Church and
its
magnificent Romanesque and Gothic cloister.
EVENING:
Free evening for dining out.
...
hilltop villages & castles in the luberon
Thursday:
We'll first go to Ménerbes, a natural fortress, famous
for its stronghold of
16th-century Calvinists - and for Peter Mayle's
books on
Provence. One of the most beautiful villages of France,
Ménerbes has
numerous testimonies of a rich historic past such as the
12th-16th-century citadel, 16th-century mansions, and the
14th-century
church.
Our next stop this morning
will be at the village of Lacoste dominated by
the impressive Château du Marquis de Sade. Perched
high above
the
Luberon valley it overlooks the village of Bonnieux: a
great spot to
take photos. The castle has been partly restored by
designer
Pierre Cardin; the huge quarries next
to it are used as a magnificent theater for concerts,
ballet and other
shows.
LUNCH:
We invite you to our very special place (surprise) for a
delightful
lunch.
After
lunch, we'll drive up to the top of the village of
Bonnieux for a
spectacular panoramic view with Mont Ventoux in the
distance.
Nestled in a beautiful park shaded by huge cedar and pine
trees, the
12th- century "Old Church" stands high above the entire
region. Walk
down the narrow streets leading to the 19th-century "New
Church" and
enjoy Bonnieux' architectural and artistic wealth:
medieval tower,
16th-18th-century mansions, passageways cut into the rock,
small places
with water fountains, galleries with talented artists,
ceramists, jewelers, and even a lady who creates
exclusive hand-knitted garments! We suggest you
visit the gallery of our friends who, we believe, paint
the most beautiful Provençal landscapes. Afterwards,
we'll stop at Pont
Julien,
a 1st-century Roman bridge named after Julius Cesar.
DINNER:
Free evening for dining out.
...
Medieval villages & Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
Friday:
Our
beautiful drive through the foothills of the Monts de
Vaucluse will
take us to the mysterious Fontaine de Vaucluse which is
truly one of
Provence's wonders. It's here that the river Sorgue
begins,
formed at a great depth by subterranean springs that erupt
from the
earth after gathering water from the Vaucluse plateau.
You'll
enjoy walking along the emerald-green water of the river
that flows
through this pretty village. Built at the foot of
steep
cliffs,
it's dominated by the ruins of the 14th-century Bishops of
Cavaillon
Castle perched atop a rocky outcrop. Don't miss the
11th
Century
Provençal Romanesque church and the Moulin à Papier Vallis
Clausa
(paper mill of the Close Valley) which produces handmade
paper since
the 14th century. There, you can buy beautiful stationary,
prints or
reproductions of old maps. Take photos of this very pretty
region and,
if needed, do some last minute shopping in the small
shops, art and
craft galleries, and more Provençal fabric stores.
On our way
to
our next stop we’ll drive the scenic road and cross other
typical and
less-known villages that are worth seeing.
LUNCH:
We invite you for lunch in our favorite restaurant in
Goult.
We'll then take a tour of this typical fortified hilltop
village,
crowned with a windmill and ramparts of a 13th-century
castle.
Part of the castle's walls and vaulted passages are carved
out of
living stone. Goult overlooks Gordes and the Luberon
mountains.
FAREWELL DINNER:
We will have a wonderful farewell dinner and more
Provençal wines!
...
Au revoir!
Saturday:
Enjoy
breakfast, pack the lovely gifts you bought for your
friends back home,
take some last photos of the gardens and Gordes, your
"home in
Provence," and of the beautiful countryside. We will leave
at 9:30
A.M., and arrive at the Avignon train station at
about 10:30
A.M. We recommend our guests to stay an extra day in
Paris or
somewhere else before going back to the United
States. This
makes
easier plane connections as it’s not fun to get up very
early and miss
breakfast to catch a plane the same day your Provence
France Tour ends.