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The itinerary below has been planned as a first day of Tuesday and final night of Monday and the day by day |
itinerary may change according to your choice of holiday dates.
To book this holiday click>>How to Book. |
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| For the first four nights of your holiday you will be staying in the heart of the Alpilles area near St. Rémy. Arrive here in time to explore the delightful town of St. Rémy with its lively boulevards and friendly cafes. |
Enjoy all the hustle and bustle of the market in St. Rémy this morning. The many temptations include olive oil, handmade chocolates and colourful provencal fabrics. Then in the afternoon visit the dramatic medieval fortress village of Les Baux perched high on the mountain edge. A visit to the Citadel is highly recommended. |
A whole day in the medieval and roman town of Arles with its superbly preserved Roman arena. Your visit includes suggestions for visits to three of the most famous sites plus an afternoon exploring the old town with its many cafes and associations with Van Gogh. |
An excursion following the 'Olive Route' of the Alpilles - an 'Apellation d'Origine Controlé' olive growing area. A picturesque drive through the Alpilles mountains including an exploration of the old village of Eygalières and a visit to an olive oil mill for an olive oil tasting. Complete the day with a visit to the 10th century Abbaye de Montmajour with its imposing ruins giving magnificent views across the whole plain of the Camargue. |
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| Today we leave the Alpilles and drive to the papal city of Avignon. This historic city on the banks of the river Rhone just demands exploration. A tour of the sumptuous Papal Palace and the famous bridge are a must but don't miss also the colourful Place de L'Horloge, the old city walls and the hillside gardens of the Rocher des Doms with panoramic views of the surrounding area, the town and the river.
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Leave Avignon and drive the short distance to the riverside town of Isle sur la Sorgue for the Sunday morning antiques market. The riverside quays are an enchanting display of interesting artifacts and objets d'art. This afternoon drive north towards the area of the Dentelles de Montmiral. En route to your hotel near Vaison la Romaine, explore the pretty village of Beaumes de Venise and enjoy a tasting of the famous sweet white wine at a local vineyard. Stay the next three nights near Vaison la Romaine.
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Explore the medieval Haute Ville at Vaison this morning and then in the afternoon a suggested visit to the extensive roman sites from which the town derives its name.
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Start the day with a visit to the market in Vaison where stalls wind their way through the whole town laden with provencal produce, pottery and fabrics. Then a tour of the prettiest and most picturesque villages of the Dentelles including Séguret, a 'village classé' and Le Crestet with panoramic views across to the 'giant of Provence' Mont Ventoux. Visit the 12th century Chateau at Le Barroux and visit a vineyard for a tasting of the famous Cotes du Rhone red wines. |
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| Leave Vaison this morning and drive towards the Luberon valley via an ascent of spectacular Mont Ventoux. This white topped mountain imposes its authority on the landscape of southern Provence and has inspired poets, painters, photographers, climbers and cyclists. The views from the top are unsurpassed. Maybe take a picnic for lunch or stop in the ski village of Mont Serein. The descent of the mountain takes you into the lavender growing area around the town of Sault. From here continue your drive into the Luberon valley and onto the perched village of Saignon where you spend the next four nights. |
A day exploring some of the delightful perched villages for which the Luberon area is famous. Include Lacoste, the village of the Marquis de Sade, Menerbes and Oppède le Vieux.
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The beautiful village of Gordes, one of the 'plus beaux villages de France' and we suggest a guided visit to the Abbaye de Senanque in its picturesque and peaceful valley setting nearby. Then onto the stunning village of Roussillon with its unique multi-coloured ochre cliffs. Visit the Conservatoire des Ochres for a fascinating introduction to the use of ochre as a decorative material.
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All the colours and scents of Provence at the lively weekly market in the town of Apt - a wonderful colourful display of herbs, soaps, wines, honey, pottery, fruit and vegetables. Lunch today at the delightful Auberge de la Loube famous for its magnificent platter of provencal hors d'oevres and its pretty setting in the valley of Buoux. Enjoy a stroll in the peaceful valley this afternoon.
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| Drive through the Luberon mountains to the south Luberon and visit the two beautiful villages and their outstanding and distinctively different chateaux at Lourmarin and Ansouis. Here the chateau has been occupied by the same family for over 800 years. Guided visits are included. Then drive on to Aix-en-Provence where you spend your final two nights.
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Explore the old streets of Aix with their honey-coloured stone buildings warmed by the sun. In this lively and cosmopolitan university city there are cafes and restaurants on every corner, designer label shop, art galleries and quiet restful squares to relax over a glass of wine. Included is a visit to Cézanne's Atelier, still full of the painter's presence.
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Depart this morning after breakfast |
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