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Touring in The Heart of Provence Day 1 - Arrival in Avignon Settle into the hotel, get your bearings, and check out the neighborhood. We will gather in the lounge for a Welcome Cocktail party, and we can give you some tips on our favorite nearby restaurants.
Day 2 (non-golfers) - Gordes and the Luberon.
Carved out of golden stone, and topped by its own Renaissance chateau, this is one of the loveliest of the hilltop villages of the Luberon Mountain range. The chateau at the top represents several centuries of history, reflected in its varied architecture. In a wild valley 2 miles north of Gordes we find the 12th-century Abbaye de Senanque, surrounded by fields of lavender tended by its Cistercian monks. The buildings are well-preserved and house an interesting cultural center. We will return to Gordes for a nice lunch, and then proceed to the "Lavender Museum" for an informative tour.
Day 3 (everyone) - Isle sur la Sorgue, Fontaine de Vaucluse
Sunday morning brings us the traditional market day in Isle sur la Sorgue. We will find a sort of holiday atmosphere here, as we wander through the dozens of booths offering antiques, products of the local cottage industry, pottery, linens, herbs and spices, regional cheeses and sausages, and much more. The town is interesting, too -- it splits the River Sorgue into several channels once used to turn the waterwheels of the town’s silk factories. We may stroll along the banks and see them for ourselves. In the afternoon, we will continue on for 5 miles (east) to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, the site of the River Sorgue’s emergence from its underground source. Water shoots up from its cavern, cascades down the rocks at the foot of a cliff, and runs gently through the town, passing its cafes, small hotels, and garden restaurants. If time allows, we may visit the nearby village of Roussillon and take a quick look at its impressive ochre mines.
Day 4 (non-golfers) - Pont du Gard, Nimes, Beaucaire, Tarascon After dropping off the golfers, we will travel on a bit to Beaucaire to visit the ruins of the Chateau with its Romanesque chapel, beautiful gardens, and ancient watch tower. We will pass through its sister city of Tarascon, whose imposing medieval castle has been the set for many adventure movies on our way to a charming former farmhouse, where we will enjoy a relaxing lunch in the country. Nimes, which dates back to the reign of Caesar Augustus (27BC-14AD) still has the arena, temple and watchtower of its medieval days. The arena is restored and used today for bullfights and tennis tournaments. It is considered to be the world’s best- preserved Roman amphitheater. We will stop here for a look while the bus collects the golfers.
We will continue on together to visit the Pont du Gard, a huge, three-tiered aqueduct constructed 2,000 years ago as part of the 30-mile canal supplying water to the city of Nimes in the time of the Romans. It sits 150 feet over the Gardon river gorge, and is amazingly well preserved. We will have time to visit a wonderful museum to learn more about the construction and function of this most fascinating place.
Day 5 - Free day for all in Avignon Now is your chance to visit the Palais des Papes, if you have not already done so. They offer an excellent self-guided tour, which you will find extremely informative. Seven exiled popes lived here (1309-1377) after fleeing the corruption of Rome, and the palace itself was built in two stages by Pope Benedict XII and Pope Clement VI. Just behind the palace is the 12th-century cathedral, containing the Gothic tomb of Pope John XII. A few steps further on, you may actually walk out on the Pont St. Benizet, though only half of it remains from the 12th century. The medieval Petit Palais houses a nice collection of Old Masters, especially of the Italian school, including a Botticelli "Virgin and Child". Or perhaps you would like to shop for some Provencal goods to take home -- there are several nice shops near our hotel, and a stroll down the main street of Avignon will show you even more.
Day 6 (non-golfers) - St. Remy , and Les Baux de Provence
The small, market town of St-Remy-de-Provence dates from the 6th century BC, when it was called Glanum. Temples, baths, forum, and houses have been excavated, as well as the Triumphal Arch we will see as we enter the town. Today, this is a charming and typical Provencal town, complete with fountains and tree-lined streets. (Note: today is market day!) Van Gogh spent the final year of his life in St. Remy and it is believed that it was here that he worked on his famous masterpiece, "Starry Night". We will have a special Roman lunch near the excavation site before moving on to our afternoon visit.
Les Baux de Provence is perched high above the surrounding countryside and is truly an amazing place. The mineral Bauxite was discovered here in 1821, hence its name. Half of the town consists of tiny, winding streets and ancient stone houses (largely inhabited by local craftsmen) and the other half is called the Ville Morte, a mass of medieval ruins and vestiges of the past. At the top, we will visit the 10th-century citadel built by the Lords of Baux, who claimed to be descendants of Balthazar, one of the biblical three kings. On the way back down to the parking lot, we will have time to peek into some of the tiny craft shops.
Day 7 (everyone) - Arles and the Camargue
Arles was probably first inhabited by the Greeks in the 6th century BC, but the Romans left a much stronger mark, having built the impressive 1st-century theater and amphitheater. The arena is still in use for traditional Provencal Sunday bullfights, and the theater is used for the city’s Music and Drama Festival in July. Arles was once a thriving port before the Mediterranean receded over what is now the Camargue, and it was the site of the southernmost bridge over the Rhone, making it a major commercial crossroads. Arles is also famous as the home of Vincent Van Gogh near the end of his life, and the setting for many of his famous paintings. South from Arles lies the delta area of the Rhone, spreading over 300 square miles. The low, flat plains of the Camargue are a nature preserve, home to innumerable species of migratory birds and the famous native horses and black bulls, and well as the French version of Les Cowboys. The primary town is Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, named for Mary Magdalene, Mary Jacobea (sister of the Virgin Mary) and Mary Salome, (mother of the apostles James and John). Legend says that these three, along with their servant, Sara, Saint Martha and her brother Lazarus were set adrift after the crucifixion and landed here. They built a shrine, and then all except Mary Jacobea, Mary Salome, and Sara moved on. Sara, the servant, has become the patron saint of Gypsies, who gather here every spring, and festivals in May and October honor The Saintes Maries.
Day 8 (non-golfers) - Aix-en-Provence and Mt. Ste. Victoire
We will take a city tour of this traditional and extremely well-preserved capital of Provence. The Romans were drawn here by the thermal springs as early as 122BC. We will be drawn by its elegance, its rich sense of history, and its graceful beauty. Aix-en-Provence is proud to claim two of France's most creative geniuses among its sons: Paul Cézanne, 1839-1906, many of whose postimpressionist paintings depict the nearby countryside; and Emile Zola, 1840-1902, who wrote of Aix in several of his works. After lunch on the fashionable Cours Mirabeau and perhaps a few moments to glance into the elegant shops along the Cours, we will visit Cézanne's workshop, preserved exactly as he left it. From there, on to Mt. Ste. Victoire, painted by Cézanne in many of his landscapes, before we pick up the golfers at Pont Royal and return together to Avignon.
Day 9 (everyone) - Carpentras, Mt. Ventoux, Wine Tasting. Our first stop today is Pernes les Fontaines, a nice little town with a small museum devoted to the local customs, especially those associated with Christmas and the famous "Santons". Next stop is Carpentras, the capital of the Comtat Venaissin and the center of the Cotes du Ventoux wine region. We will stroll though the Old Town to visit the 15th-century Cathedral. Then, on to Mount Ventoux, one of the most difficult and dangerous legs of the famous Tour de France bike race. This massive mountain towers over the surrounding plains and is known for its wildly varying weather conditions. We will have lunch at a chalet near the top. And then (you have been waiting for this) we will visit several vineyards (after all, this is the home of Chateauneuf du Pape) and enjoy a taste of wine in a private cellar or two. In the evening, we will host a farewell dinner at the hotel. We will have a chance to share stories, exchange addresses with our new friends, and enjoy one last glass of Cotes-du-Rhone.
Day 10 - Au revoir, Provence! Our motor coach will deliver you back to the Marseille Airport for your connecting flights home, or on to new horizons. Larry and Carolyn will wave good-bye and hope to see you again soon on another Stowe Away Tour. [note: "up" button takes you back to previous page]
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