Provence is renowned for its climate and light, almonds and Mimosa blossom in February and the hot summer lingers into warm autumn days with brilliant clear blue skies and beautiful starry nights.
From the city of Avignon to the peak of Mont Ventoux, & through the Luberon, discover the lands of the Vaucluse, the fields of lavender, the olive trees, and the vineyards. Enjoy the markets, brocantes, bustling cafes, summer festivals, music, theatre & art. There are mountains to climb, rivers to canoe or fish, Mont Ventoux to cycle, The Dentelles and all the surrounding countryside to walk in.
Explore wonderful Roman ruins, shop in chic shops, or relax in the shade with a glass of wine and simply be…..
There is so much for you to discover, these are just a few;
St.Didier is a pretty, unspoilt, and typically Provencal village offering three boulangeries, three cafes, four restaurants, grocer’s shops, tennis courts, and nearby horse riding. The main street is shaded in summer by an avenue of plane trees. It is a perfect spot to relax with a glass of wine, or linger over a long lunch. It is well situated to explore all the attractions that Provence has to offer. Bikes can be hired from the next village, and for walkers there are so many wonderful trails to enjoy, from the nearby paths of the shrines, The Dentelles, or the slopes of Mount Ventoux. The pretty seaside resort of Cassis is 1 hour 45 minutes away.
Bedoin, at the foot of Mount Ventoux is a lovely little agriculture village, spread out over a large area; it comprises several hamlets all of which are blessed with that Mediterranean climate of sun nearly every day of the year. A good wine (AOC) is produced here, along with asparagus and fruits.
There is a very good market on a Monday morning with live music, where you can sit in one of the numerous cafes or bars and enjoy a glass of wine. It has many restaurants, shops, and boulangeries, one selling the most wonderful almond croissants, and the other producing apricot and walnut bread baked over wood.
It is a Mecca for cyclists who spend the hot summer days cycling up the Mont Ventoux following the final stages of The Tour de France. Bedoin has a very large bike hire shop for enthusiasts where you can hire suitable bikes daily or weekly.
Other activities include hiking, and mountain biking on marked trails, tennis and mini golf. Golf is a 30-minute drive away. There is also winter skiing, both cross country and alpine. The costal resorts are about 1 hour 45 minutes away.
Isle sur La Sorgue is a very pretty town, with rivers running along side it’s cafes and bars. It is famous for antique shops, and brocantes numbering more than 300. Visit on a Sunday morning and stay for lunch.
The picturesque hillside towns of Gourdes and Rousillon in the Luberon make a perfect day out.
Orange has fine Roman remains, including it’s Triumphal Arch and well preserved 1st century Roman Theatre, It is equally famous for “Les Choregis” a major music festival in July for opera lovers.
There is the Roman Aqueduct at Pont du Gard, which remains impressively intact.
Vaison-la-Romaine has both impressive Roman and Medieval remains.
Arles, (gateway to the Camargue, the wild land of gypsies and cowboys) boasts Roman Arena, Amphitheatre and baths. Registered with Unesco but just as well known for its associations with Van Gogh, Gauguin and Picasso who all stayed and painted here.
Aix en Provence, the historical capital of Provence. It is beautifully laid out with wide avenues and fountains, fabulous for shopping, art, markets and café life.
Avignon, the closest city, is both beautiful and majestic, dominated by the Papal Palace, and enjoying a long summer festival of music, dance and theatre. Here you can sit in the sun in its many squares full of cafes and restaurants. It also has good shopping.
Carpentras is the closest town and it has a wonderful Friday morning market. The town is well worth a visit, park near the tourist office and enjoy the architecture, shopping and bars.