TOUR: PROVENCE

Join us for an 8 day Guided Tour of the highlights of Provence, commencing with four days in a lovely Château-Hotel near Cassis, followed by two days near St.Remy in a delightful Relais et Châteaux Hotel, and ending with two days at a boutique hotel in Uzès.  The focus is on the history and the culture of this fabled part of France, punctuated by its beauty, its food, its wines, and its lifestyle. The Mediterranean climate, its rugged terrain, with vine, olive, and lavender covered hills and fields, the archaeological and architectural remnants of Roman through Medieval and Renaissance times, the scintillating scenery, and careful safeguarding of the area’s resources and environment perpetuate a history that has captivated tourists for centuries. Provence is a magnet that draws all who discover it, back again and again. Join us in September 2016.

The tour is organized and led by Adrian & Susan Doull, who have a home in Uzès, and who have many years’ experience in leading visitors on international travels, as well as many years of hosting guests at their Château-Hotel in Picardie.

We start at what has been one of our favourite hotels, convenient for visiting Marseille, Cassis and Aix-en-Provence. It is a 29 bedroom Bastide, offering all the charm of Provence in its antique furnished rooms, its Grande Allée, and its perfectly peaceful garden, where we will dine outside. From there we will move to Les-Baux-de-Provence, near St.Remy, to an exceptional hotel, with exceptional restaurants. The last two nights will be spent in a boutique hotel in Uzès, a gem of a Provençal town, which has preserved wonderfully the attractive architecture from its rich, silk industry past and which survived being the scene of much religious conflict in earlier centuries.

Daily sorties will include Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Cassis, St. Remy-de-Provence, Les Baux de Provence, Avignon, Arles and Nîmes. As we will be out touring around most days, we have planned the lunch arrangements at various restaurants, and will spend most of the evenings dining at our accommodation.

A summary of the preliminary itinerary is outlined below. Please note that the program is subject to change.

Please contact us if you’d like more information about this
COMMENDABLE TOUR
to PROVENCE

The Papal Palace, Avignon

The Quarry at Les Baux

The Arena at Arles

Pont du Gard

Pont du Gard

The Duke’s Castle, Uzès

Lavender fields. Provence.

BRIEF NOTES ON YOUR HOST COUNTRIES

This region is one of the most sought after parts of Europe for visiting, and living. An important colony for the Romans, it remains an important attraction today for French and foreigners. The Roman colony of Provincia (hence “Provence”) was established in 120BC at Aix-en-Provence. The Romans left their mark in countless monuments, including such notable edifices as the Arena and the “Maison Carré” Temple at Nimes, the Pont du Gard Aqueduct, the Theatre at Orange, and the Amphitheatre at Arles.

Extraordinary architecture in Romanesque and Gothic styles can be found all over the region. One of the notable features are the hilltop medieval towns and villages, vestiges of the violent period of more than a thousand years following the end of Roman rule. These are fascinating and attractive spots for visitors, some notable examples being Roussillon, Gordes, and Les Baux-de-Provence. Dramatic fortified castles can be found at Tarascon, Sisteron, Barbaren, Murs, Thouzon and of course the Palace of the Popes at Avignon.

This extraordinary panorama of history is accompanied by dramatic landscapes and the gastronomique bounty of nature. The cuisine of Provence is renowned not only for being one of the tastiest and most delightful anywhere, but also as one of the healthiest – an enviable combination!

UZES: Uzès is a town for walking, and the immediate area is one for biking. It offers twice weekly, one of the best markets in Provence. Spoil yourself by trying the local wines. There are enough gastronomic restaurants in the area to keep a gourmand very happy indeed!  These are some of the reasons the UK’s Guardian newspaper designated Uzès as the #2 destination to visit in the world in 2014.

ARLES: 
This town was a major Roman centre, as evidenced by the many monuments, especially the Arena. Vincent van Gogh produced more than 300 paintings while he lived here.

AVIGNON: Avignon, the City of the Popes, sits along the Rhône River and was home of the Popes for 68 years in the 14th century, leaving behind the Palais de Papes (Papal Palace), once a fortress and palace. The picturesque Pont d’Avignon and location makes Avignon a must-see.

NIMES: Nîmes is one of the most historic towns of France. Its Roman history is reflected today in one of the best preserved of the Amphitheatres of the Roman world as well as the only fully-preserved temple of the ancient world, “La Maison Carrée”.

ST.REMY-DE-PROVENCE: If you do not yet know St.Remy-de-Provence, a marvelous treat awaits you. If you have been there you will certainly want to return. Famed for Van Gogh’s Starry Night, this beautifully picturesque village is at the heart of Provencal lifestyle.

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Email: susan@commendablerentals.com

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