Provence and the Côte d’Azur
Provence, the South of France – what a magical phrase for a magical place !
Provence is in fact a series of different sun soaked regions, full of fragrances, colours, tastes and” joie de vivre” in the south- eastern corner of France.
Which means rosé wine de Provence, lavender from Hautes Provence, olive oil from the Alpilles, Pastis the aniseed drink from Marseilles, bright yellow, blue clothes and pottery.
Provence is also “Peter Mayle’s country”, the Luberon east of Avignon.
Provence is Avignon on the Rhône River, once home of the French Popes who have left us their Pope’s Palace which you can visit during a stay in this very popular town ( but be warned it welcomes one of the largest Music and Theatre festival during the summer months when hotels are in very short supply – but what an experience!)
Our tours include the Vaucluse region, east of Avignon, visiting very charming, stone built villages such as Gordes where lunches are eaten outside under a shady vine whilst admiring the extensive view of the valley .
The Luberon the afore-mentioned Peter Mayle’s country with further romantic villages such as Menerbes and Lacoste once home of the Marquis de Sade.
A tour of Provence is not complete without a visit to Baux en Provence, today an active touristy village but still with a presence of habitants passed. There is also a very large range of superior, mid range, B&B’s and cheaper hotels in the close vicinity (should you not be staying in Avignon or Arles). On this day we’ll also visit St Remi de Provence, home of some of the Jet Set of this world . A great market is also held on Thursdays. It is in this region that visits are organised to olive oil producers and Santon makers. .
And you’ll hopefully listen attentively as I retell the great stories Alphonse Daudet wrote in his classic “Lettres de mon Moulin “ … so Provencal !
We’ll also visit Arles once a very important Roman town, visit the Pont du Gard, the last remaining part of an Roman architectural masterpiece in the form of a three storey aqueduct which once brought fresh water down from the Uzes hills to the town of Nimes .
We’ll also spend time in the Camargue, the wild wilderness of the Rhone Delta where black cows and bulls for the Camargue Games are bred (here the animal is the star of the show and is definitely not killed !) and the beautiful white Camargue horses bred to work the cows.
If we are lucky we’ll also see a whole bunch of flamingoes leisurely straining their food out of the lagoons .
A Provence tour is usually followed, or indeed can start with a tour of the Côte d’Azur which is the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea stretching from the Italian border at Vintermille , through Menton, Monte Carlo, Beaulieu sur Mer and Nice , a very large town these days, stretched along the Bay des Anges and the Promenade des Anglais ( Nice has its own international airport ), then Cannes ( the film festival is always held in May) and if you really insist St Tropez ( I recommend taking the boat ferry across from St Raphael as it saves hours just sitting in traffic waiting for that single parking spot in St Tropez … will we see Brigitte Bardot, the French President , Tom Cruise or even Mr Madoff if he is not under house arrest?
Visitors also like visiting St Paul de Vence, a really cute hill top village, buzzing with loads of visitors from around the world, all mingling through the narrow streets lined with art galleries . One can also visit the perfumeries such as Fragonard in Grasse where you are of course encouraged to buy their perfumes…
Provence, the Côte d’Azur, a wonderful place with so much to see, to visit, to enjoy, possibly to buy antiques or a house!
We can make your stay a success so give us a call now on 00 33 2 54 70 20 52 or emil us at : office@france-tours.net