Day trips

For those who want to discover the countryside, then the Luberon mountain range will be an ideal place. Limestone cliffs, oak trees, lavender fields (in blossom end of June, beginning of July), quaint hilltop villages like the extraordinary village of Gordes, the colourful Roussillon with its ochre cliffs, the mysterious Lacoste with the haunting ruins of the Marquis de Sade’s castle and/or the hilltop Bonnieux and its breathtaking views on the Calavon Valley...

 

Depending on the place where you are staying, we come back via the peaceful village of Lourmarin dominated by its remarkable Renaissance castle.
Scene of the first conflicts between Catholics and Protestants, the area is outsanding from the historical point of view.

On request:

Visit to the Cistercian Abbey of Senanque (1 hour visit, in French only, with an english brochure).
Visit to the Village des Bories near Gordes.
Wine tasting of Côtes du Luberon.

Especially on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (market days).

We start the day in the beautiful city of Aix with its sumptuous 17th and 18th century architecture, its markets and cafés, its mansions and fountains singing everywhere, its lively streets and lovely stores.

 

 

 

We spend the afternoon in the mountain range of Luberon (see # 1) a very wild area with many delightful quaint villages. Stop in the peaceful Lourmarin dominated by its Renaissance castle, the hilltop Bonnieux, the mysterious Lacoste. Depending on the season we will come across lavender fields.

Especially on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (market days, see #2).

 

After lunch we walk in the footsteps of the painter Cezanne who was born in Aix and made the surroundings of his town very famous, like the impressive Mount Sainte-Victoire, one of his favorite subjects, We will also discover his studio where he realised many of his greatest works at the end of his life.

We start with a walk through the quiet little town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Stopping at the very peaceful Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, the hospital (medieval priory) where Van Gogh stayed for one year and where he painted his most famous canvases: irises, olive tree fields, wheat fields with the range of les Alpilles in the background…

Stop in les Baux-de-Provence a rock top fortress surrounded by olive trees and vineyards, which belonged, in the Middle Ages, to a rebellious family...

We end the day in the Roman and Romanesque city of Arles admiring the great Roman amphitheatre, the ruins of the Roman theatre, the Romanesque church of Saint-Trophime with its remarkable carved gate... and other places painted by Van Gogh.
Olive oil tasting and/or wine tasting on request.

We start with the visit of the famous Provencal market and/or antic market in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

 

You will find there all the things that make Provence famous: herbs, cheese, olive oil, soap, fabrics… It is an excellent place for shopping.

We spend the afternoon in the fabulous area of les Alpilles (see # 4) visiting Saint-Rémy and les Baux-de- Provence.

Olive oil tasting and/or wine tasting are possible.

We start with the visit of the famous Provencal market and/or antic market in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

 

You will find there all the things that make Provence famous: herbs, cheese, olive oil, soap, fabrics… It is an excellent place for shopping.

In the afternoon we discover the villages of Gordes and the colourful Roussillon (see # 1). A wine tasting is possible.

Visit the sophisticated city of Avignon: the Rocher des Doms (views of the Rhône), the famous bridge, the walls and, of course, the awesome Palace of the Popes built in the 14th century when the Popes settled in Avignon.

 

The huge banquet rooms, the frescoes, the coloured floor tiles will give you an idea of the Pope’s life at that time.

We spend the afternoon North of Avignon to discover the famous vineyards of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and have a wine tasting of the outstanding wines produced in this area.

After the visit to Avignon (see # 7), we spend the afternoon in the area of les Alpilles included a walking tour in the quiet streets of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, visiting Saint-Paul-de-Mausole where Van Gogh stayed for one year and discover the hilltop village of Les Baux-de-Provence surrounded by olive tree groves and vineyards.

An olive oil tasting in a windmill and/or wine tasting are both possible.

We start the day in the very often unknown but so picturesque and wonderful town of Marseilles settled in a sumptuous spot on the shore of the Mediterranean.

 

Discover the highlights of the city: the Old Port, heart of the city, beautiful spectacle with thousands of sailboats, visit Saint-Victor Abbey a very important place for the first Christians of Marseilles, the hilltop church of Notre Dame de la Garde that offers the most amazing viewpoint, the road along the sea...

We spend the rest of the day in the little fishing port Cassis, settled between high cliffs.

 

 

 

 

The place is very famous for its location but also for the excellent white wine (which enhances so marvelously the Provencal food like bouillabaisse) produced in the 12 estates of the area. The Calanques are kind of little fjords with high limestone cliffs (boat trip to see 3 Calanques if it is not too windy). We end up on the top of Cap Canaille, the highest seaside cliff in Europe providing outsanding views.
On request: Wine tasting

Mediterranean vineyards: discover the wines produced in the area of Bandol, sumptuous red wines made mainly with the Mourvedre grape, a Mediterranean grape variety.

 

Wine tasting in estates hidden between olive trees and vineyards at the foot of the hilltop villages of la Cadière d’Azur and Castellet.

Afterwards, we go to Cassis to discover the white wine produced in the area and to visit this picturesque little fishing port (see # 9).