THE JEWELS OF PROVENCE TRAVEL ITINERARY
TOUR LIMITED TO 12/14 PARTICIPANTS ONLY
DAY 1 : WELCOME TO THE ENCHANTING PROVENCE
With its shimmering coast and rustic Provencal heart, the Mediterranean south has a timeless allure. You’ll travel through wildly divergent landscapes: cinematic coastline, rugged hinterland and bucolic valleys. Arrival at Marseille airport and travel to the enchanting village of AIX-EN-PROVENCE for the first three nights stay at the charming “HOTEL DE FRANCE” or “HOTEL LE PIGONNET” which enjoys an excellent location close to the village’s architecturally treasures. This evening join your local tour director and fellow travelers for a welcome drink followed by our first dinner together in an authentic Provencal restaurant.Overnight in AIX-EN-PROVENCE
DAY 2 : AIX-EN-PROVENCE: CITY OF FOUNTAINS & HOME OF PAUL CEZANNE
AIX-EN-PROVENCE is one of the most beautiful cities in France. Anywhere you look, you will feel the city’s unique ambiance and romantic character. After breakfast in your hotel, meet your tour guide for a stroll through the historic center, with its elegant 17th and 18th century hotels, fountains and the beauty of renaissance architecture, following the footsteps of Cezanne. Our walk finishes at the magnificent Cathedral of Saint-Sauveur, which dates back farther than the early history of the city. The beauty of this church encompasses a variety of architectural styles and one of the historical highlights that you can see here is the 4th century Merovingian baptistery, an octagonal basin surrounded by a circle of 8 marble columns. After a light lunch in one of the lively bistro scattered throughout the town, you’ll have time to meander through the colorful artist’s market to see the skillful craft of local artists and perhaps take the time to visit the Granet museum. The museum’s permanent collections including paintings by Cezanne make it one of the most visited museums outside of Paris. Paul Cezanne is a famous painter who lived and worked in Aix-en-Provence in the 18th century. Spend the rest of the day visiting the studio he built, a must for any Cezanne fan. Your evening is free to discover your own little restaurant or bistro in the old town. Overnight in AIX-EN-PROVENCE
DAY 3 : MEDITERRANEAN PROVENCE :CALANQUES CRUISE,CASSIS & BANDOL VINEYARDS
Breakfast in hotel. With a varied topography that could easily be considered France’s finest, Provence boasts golden beaches, valleys and the fjord-like CALANQUES. Today you will be touring along the region’s prettiest roads to the rugged beauty of Cassis’s towering Calanques, passing resort towns that saw their heyday in the 1920s and verdant countryside full of vineyards. Explore the cliffs and coves cruising to the famous Calanques of Cassis (45 minutes) followed by a guided tour of the lively city port of CASSIS, hemmed in by the white cliffs of the Calanques to the west and the precipitous Route des Cretes to the east. Cassis was a famous trading port before the Nazis almost wiped out its entire fleet during World War II. Much of the town’s history can be discovered at the charming MUSEE MUNICIPAL which has many interesting exhibits, some recovered from the seabed, dating back to the Greeks. Lunchtime will be at leisure in the picturesque harbor of Cassis followed by a panoramic drive along the coast on your way to BANDOL for a wine tour with local tastings in a local domain. Overnight stay in AIX-EN-PROVENCE
DAY 4 : MY TIME IN AIX-EN-PROVENCE & COOKERY SCHOOL
Breakfast in hotel. Overnight stay in AIX-EN-PROVENCE
DAY 5 : THE LUBERON REGIONAL PARK: THE OCHRE VILLAGE OF ROUSSILLON, LIMESTONE GORDES & SENANQUE ABBEY & GORDES
Breakfast in hotel. Today’s tour takes you to discover the enchanting mountainous land of the LUBERON REGION with its bucolic rolling hills, golden-hued perched villages and hidden valley. Some two millennia ago, the Romans used the ochreous earth around the spectacular village of ROUSSILLON for producing pottery glazes. This makes the village famous for its magnificent red cliffs and ocher quarries. No other village looks so warm and rich, so harmonious and inviting. Continue to the pretty little hill town of GORDES, located on a rocky slope of the Vancluse plateau popular with artists since the academic Cubist painter Andre Lhote began visiting in 1938. Gordes is designated as one of the “most beautiful villages of France” and is dominated by a 16th century chateau and arcaded medieval cobblestone lanes that wind thru this spectacular village. After a walking tour with our local tour guide, we will have lunch in the center of the village at our favorite restaurant. We will end the day with a visit to the beautifully sited 12th century Cistercian ABBEY DE SENANQUE surrounded by a tranquil sea of lavender for a photo stop. Continue to the romantic town of ST REMI, our base for the last four nights at “Hotel Image” or “Hotel Gounod“ with breakfast included. Overnight stay in ST REMI DE PROVENCE
DAY 6 : HISTORIC ALPILLES: AVIGNON, CHATEAUNEUF DU POPE & PONT DU GARD
Today’s venture takes you to discover AVIGNON, a city of a rich historical past, surrounded by Medieval Walls and home to the pope for more than 100 years in the 14th century. Today we visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, PALAS DES PAPES, the largest Gothic palace in Europe, with an estimated floor area of 15,000 square meters. However,you will no longer see original furnishings within this edifice, but the legacy of its past is still visible through the shadows of this fortress-like structure. Continue to the stunning CATHEDRAL, built in the 12th century where you will marvel at the huge octagonal dome and a richly-decorated Romanesque interior. After some time on your own and a photo stop at the famous medieval bridge PONT ST BENEZET, one of Avignon’s famous landmarks, we drive to the wine country of CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE where will visit a well-known domaine for a wine tasting with lunch.We will end the day with a visit to the tallest of all Roman aqueducts at 48m (158ft) of PONT DU GARD. Dinner is on your own this evening.Overnight in ST REMI DE PROVENCE
DAY 7 : LES BEAUX DE PROVENCE,CARRIERES DE LUMIERES & ARLES
Breakfast in hotel. Scenic drive through Les Alpilles to visit to the magnificent perched fortress site of Les Baux with time to experience the spectacular sound and visual imagery of Carrieres de Lumieresthe, a larger than life art show in limestone caves at Les Baux Overnight stay in ST REMI DE PROVENCE
DAY 8 : MY TIME IN ST REMI DE PROVENCE
Breakfast in hotel. Overnight stay in ST REMI DE PROVENCE
DAY 9 : GOODBYE BEAUTIFUL PROVENCE
Morning transfers to Marseille airport.Thanks for travelling with Secret Tours
