Nom de l`organisation

Summary
Itinerary
Sceneries in Provence
pages 1- 6
Getting there
and away page 6
Accommodation
Self drive discovery tour
page 6
Hotels
- Prestige pages 7 & 8
- Luxe pages 8 & 9
SD06 Prestige & Luxe –
A 8-day tour, to discover breathtaking and magnificent
landscapes and the most scenic sites of Provence
Day 1 - Avignon, visit of the town
Nom de l'organisation
Avignon was already an important town during the XII
century thanks to the Benezet Bridge, which
allowed the crossing of the river. Along with the Popes
arrivals during the XVI century, it became a second
Rome. The Palais des Papes, is the biggest gothic palace
in Europe and the famous Pont Benezet - which was
swept away by the floods several
times– are both ranked among the
UNESCO World Heritage sites. The
town harbors many monuments,
numerous churches,
magnificent plazas, the Saint Louis
Cloister, fortifications, quaint alleys,
private hotels and last but not least,
districts
such
as
the
‘Teinturiers’ (Cleaners) which are a
must to visit.
Day 2 - Dentelles de Montmirail
and Mont Ventoux
Scenic tour in the Dentelles de Montmirail, the first sign
of the Alps in the Rhone River’s valley. These low altitude hills, covered by Mediterranean flora, aromatic
plants, green oaks, Alep pine
trees, are dominated by a
white limestone crest, finely
sculpted by the erosion conferring
their
name
as
‘Dentelles’ –Lacesyou shall discover Baumes
de Venise, famous for its
sweet wines - Le Barroux,
dominated by its imposing Renaissance castle - La Roque
Alric nested on a mountain peak - Lafare and the Roman
chapel of Saint Christopher - Suzette, a quaint little village facing the Provence region’s giant: Mount Ventoux
and Malaucène, a small city surrounding a Calvary
erected on the ruins of an ancient castle.
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From
there
you shall start
climbing
towards
Mount
Ventoux on the
road, bordered
by larches and
beech trees, to
reach
Mount
Serein before
coming
to
Mount Ventoux
after few sharp
bends in a rock desert. The
panorama is breathtaking and
shall not let you down with a
view spreading from the Mediterranean Sea to the high summits of the Alps, if not all the
way to the Pyrenees Mountains. You shall come back
down by the south side. The ledged road crosses rock
fields of a surprising whiteness. You shall pass by the
col des tempétes (pass) to go down towards Chalet
Reynard, a small ski resort and the picturesque village
of Bédoin.On the road past
Malaucéne, you shall then
climb up to Crestet, a beautiful medieval village perched
on crests. From the terrace of
the castle, you may take a
last look at Mount Ventoux
before going back down and
go to your hotel.
Day 3 - Ardèche gorges,
Pont du Gard and Nîmes
scenic road with numerous viewpoints at regular intervals. For 35 km, the gorges plunge, double back on
themselves, loop, sinking and slicing through the limestone plateau. Some cliffs of the canyon rise 300 meters
(1000 feet) straight up. An amazing ride!
The Pont du Gard is the most beautiful
edifice and the most important of the
aqueduct, which used to take water
from sources of the Eure River to the
castellum in Nîmes for over 50 kms. It
is the tallest aqueduct bridge in the
Roman world with its 49-meter high
and its three levels of archway.
Nîmes was built thanks to a source,
the Fountaine source that was deificated by the first inhabitants five centuries before the arrival of the Roman .
You will visit the arenas, very well preserved – La Maison
Carrée, a magnificent temple - The Fountain Garden located at the bottom of a hill - The Mount Cavalier, overlooked by the Magne Tower. The garden is host to the
Diana’s Temple, a delicate edifice which true function remains
unknown.
Further down the
Castellum was the
arrival of the famous
aqueduct,
which, passed over
the Pont du Gard.
From Orange you will
head to Pont St Esprit
and Vallon Pont d’Arc
where you will reach the
Ardeche river hurtling
down
the
Cévennes
montains and rushing
into mighty gorges. After admiring the Pont d’Arc (Arch bridge) a gigantic
natural stone arch spanning the river, you will follow a
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Day 4 – Camargue and Arles
Camargue is an immense swampland more or less salty
located within the Rhône river delta. During the centuries, man tried to manage floods and raging waters by
designing landscapes while leaving way to rugged land.
The later became
paradise to bulls,
white horses from
the Camargue region as well as migrant birds such as
pink
flamingo
symbol
of
the
Camargue region.
you shall cross the
Petite Camargue to
reach
AiguesMortes, a medieval city built
among ponds and swampland. French King Louis IX
bought this land back from
monks in 1240 to set up a
port, a departure point of two
crusades. You shall be able to
admire the fortifications, the Porte de la Garderette as
well as the Constance Tower, a true example of the military architecture from the XIII century.
You shall walk along the Salins (salty lands) and the
high salt mountains to reach Les Saintes Maries de la
Mer, lost between the Mediterranean Sea and the
ponds. From afar, you shall see its fortified church,
which used to protect villagers from enemy attacks and
the home to the remains of
the saints.
You shall then cross rice
fields to reach and visit Arles , the capital of the
Camargue region. You will
discover all the facets of this city - the Roman Arles, with
its amphitheater (arenas), its antique theater, the Crypto
portico, the Roman Thermal Baths from Constantin, a
remain of the Roman Circus. - the religious Arles, with
the Alyscamps (beginning of the Arles’trail, one of the
four roads leading to Saint Jacques of Compostelle) and
the numerous religious edifices among which the church
and the Saint Trophime Cloister, masterpiece from the
Roman Provence - The Classical Arles with its mayor’s
office and its numerous private hotels of Renaissance or
Baroque style. Since 1981, the ensemble of the Roman
and Latin monuments is classified among the UNESCO
World Heritage sites.
Day 5 – Alpilles tour, visit of
Les Baux and St rémy de Provence
You shall drive along the Rhone river to Tarascon, city of
the legends and stories. The chateau Rene stands
proudly on the Rhone
bank and is one of the
most beautiful medieval
castles in France. Close
to the chateau, the Collegiate Church Ste Martha, built in the 12th and
13th centuries, houses
the relics of the Saint.
Then you will head towards
the
Alpilles
mountains. From a distance, the whiteness of its arid
and ragged caps contrasting
against the azure blue sky gives
the illusion of a large, looming
mountain.
You shall make a stop in Fontvieille and go up towards the
Alphonse Daudet’s windmill
(famous French writer), which is
erected, on a magnificent site
from where you shall have a
marvelous view of the Alpilles Mountains.
The road meanders through vineyards and olive tree
fields before reaching the Baux de Provence, a rocky fortress overlooking the valley. This city of the Princes of
the Baux, abandoned during the XVIII century, was restored during the XX century. Do not leave without a visit of the quaint
village and its alleys, the
chapel of the White Penitents, the Saint Vincent
church and the fortifications of the castle.
You shall then cross the
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Alpilles Mountains to discover the antique city of
Glanum, which, during centuries, was an important
commercial center on the Avignon road at the bottom of
the Alpilles. Only the center of town was to be unearthed. You shall admire the Antiques: the Arc de
Triomphe, and the Mausoleum. Further down, on the
road to Saint Remy, you shall make a halt to visit the
Saint Paul of Mausole’s monastery where Van Gogh resided and which church and cloister are remarkable.
St Remy of Provence, its hotels and quaint residences, its shadowed plazas with their fountains
and its quaint alleys will charm you
without a doubt.
Day 6 - Luberon
and perched villages
You shall leave Saint Remy for Fontaine de Vaucluse.
This city is famous for
its
Fountain
,
mysterious hole where
the
Sorgue
River
springs, as well as for
the humanist and poet
Petrarque who lived
there for many years.
You shall then follow
the first foothills of the
Mounts of Vaucluse.
The road leads you to
the glen of the Senancole where the Senanque Abbey is nestled.
Austerity and esthetic
are the main characteristics to this Cistercian
abbey, which witnessed
many ordeals but al-
ways managed to preserve
the majority of its buildings
of Roman origins (XII and
XIII centuries).
Your way shall then take
you
to
Gordes,
which
spreads out from the slopes
of a cliff. You shall discover
this quaint Provencal village
while strolling down its pebbled alleys.
Through the vine and orchard covered plain, you shall reach
Roussillon. Built upon a rocky peak,
this ochre facade village is surrounded by quarries and ochre
cliffs. You shall enjoy strolling
through quaint alleys surrounding
the belfry and church before discovering the breathtaking ochre cliffs of
the ‘Chaussée des Géants’. You
shall then take the direction of the
Colorado of Rustrel, a vast quarry site where ochre was
once extracted. The exploitation combined with the erosion created a succession of peaks, steep cliffs, galleries
and earth pillars all of flamboyant colors ranging from
bright yellow to blood red. Many marked trails allow you
to visit the ochre massif.
You shall take the direction of the Petit Luberon
mountain through winding, narrow roads to
discover some quaint
v i l la g e s
s uch
as
Maubec,
Oppede-leVieux, Menerbes, Lacoste and Bonnieux,
perched
along
the
mountain. You shall
cross the Combe de
Lourmarin where the
Aigue Brun River carved
narrow
gorges
with
steep inner walls before
arriving in Lourmarin.
There you shall discover
its narrow alleys bordered
by
vintage
houses leading to its
castle built atop a hill.
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Day 7 - Aix en Provence,
Saint Victoire
and Saint Baume Mountains
From Lourmarin, you
shall cross the Durance
River and may visit of
the Abbey of Silvacane,
built in XI century on a
deserted stretch land
covered by swamps.
You will continue your
way to Aix en Provence.
The city is a history
book in itself thanks to the
Oppidum of Entremont occupied during the Roman
era, the new district Sextius Mirabeau, the earls’
town and the numerous private hotels of the Mazarin
district… The ancient capital
of the Provence region is
proud to share its threemillennium old patrimony
with you. May we recommend you visit the famous
Mirabeau courtyard and its
fountains, the medieval
town surrounding the Saint
Sauveur cathedral and its
numerous shadowed plazas which give Aix its quaint
ambiance.
You shall leave town in the afternoon to follow the path
of the Saint Victory
Mountain, crowned by
the
Provence
region
cross, to reach Vauvenargues and its castle.
You shall then continue
towards the quaint village of Puyloubier before
coming across Trets, an
ancient city that kept its
fortifications. You shall
then cross over the Regagnas
Mountain
to
reach Saint Zachary before coming across Nansles-Pins, which is overlooked upon, by the ruins of a castle and an old
fortified village. You shall
then reach the Hostellerie at the bottom of the Saint
Baume Mountain, a true white limestone fortress
erected at more than 1000 meters of altitude and overlooking a beautiful forest, a sacred site during the Gaul
era. Near the summit, you shall discover a cave carved
by erosion. It is said that it was once haven to Saint
Marie Madeleine, which is why it became an important
pilgrimage site. No less than 8 Popes and 18 monarchs
climbed up this trail…
The road along the Saint Baume Massif crosses over the
Espigoulier mountain pass before going back down to an
almost barren landscape towards the glen of Saint Pons.
This green haven harbors
ruins of an ancient Cistercian abbey. Finally, you
shall reach Gemenos, a
quaint village, which was
built upon the last foothills
of the Saint Baume Mountain.
Day 8 - Cassis and Calanques
You shall head to Cassis. A quaint fishing port in a nearly
closed bay and surrounded by hills covered by vineyards
and olive trees. You shall
leave your car behind to
wonder by the port or
stroll along alleys of the
quaint village and its
small fishermen houses.
May we suggest you take
a boat out to sea and discover the Calanques Massif spreading from Marseille to Cassis. Landscapes are breathtaking.
The whiteness of the
limestone and the crests
detach from the blue sky.
The boat enters the massif into these famous
calanques, some narrow
and deep indentations
and
ancient
valleys
carved by rivers that no
longer exist.
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Back to Cassis, you shall have
lunch on a terrace by the ancient port. Then back to your
car and follow the road of the
crests on the Canaille mountain, which falls into the
ocean with its amazing cliffs:
the
S o u be y r an es
cliffs.
The
highest
cliffs in France with
399 meter high at the
summit ‘grande Tête’.
You shall make a stop
at one of many panoramic viewpoints to
discover the vertiginous peaks. From La
Ciotat, you shall reach
5
Marseille. If you still
have time, may we
suggest you make a
detour to go down
towards the Calanque of Mourgiou, a
true timeless paradise at the end of a
long road crossing
the massif of the
calanques.
The tour ends in late afternoon in Marseille
- International Marseille airport— from the airport, shuttles to Saint Charles rail station (every 20mn) and train
to Avignon central station (journey time : 1.15 hours)
Car rental : Pick up office at Avignon Centre.
Tour end
The tour ends at Marseille (day 8 in late afternoon)
Return to Paris (TGV trains - 3 hour trip) or other french
towns by train from St Charles rail station
Numerous worldwide destinations from the Marseille international airport
Car rental : return office at Marseille rail station or Marseille airport.
The tour package will be delivered to you at your last
hotel you will stay before the tour or at the pick up office
Accommodation
Prestige category
7 B&B accommodation in 4*Luxe hotels
Getting there and away
Day
Day
Day
Day
Day
Day
Day
1 : Avignon - Hotel d’Europe
2 :Orange – Chateau de Rochegude
3: Nîmes - Hotel Jardins secrets
4 : Arles – Hotel Jules Cesar
5 : St Rémy de P. – Chateau Vallon de Valrugues
6 : Lourmarin—Le moulin de Lourmarin
7 : Gémenos—Le relais Magdelaine
or equivalent depending on vacancies
Arrival
Luxe category
The starting point of the tour is Avignon that you can
reach
By car : A7 and A9 motorways or N7 and N100 National
roads
We recommend you to arrive on site the day before and
stay overnight in the neighbourhood or in the first tour
hotel. We can arrange this extra.
By train : 2 rail stations in Avignon
- Avignon TGV train station (Quartier de Courtine)
Direct TGV to Paris (2h40), Roissy-Charles de Gaulle
airport, Lille, Nantes, Rouen, Metz, Montpellier, Geneva, Brussels, Lyon, Marne la Vallée, Rennes, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
Bus connection to centre city
7 B&B accommodation in 3 & 4*Luxe hotels + 1 dinner
Day
Day
Day
Day
Day
Day
Day
1: Avignon - Le Cloître St Louis
2 : Orange - Le Mas des Aigras (dinner)
3: Nîmes - Hotel Imperator
4 : Arles – Hotel Particulier
5 : St Rémy de P. – Chateau Vallon de Valrugues
6 : Lourmarin—Le moulin de Lourmarin
7 : Gémenos—Le relais Magdelaine
or equivalent depending on vacancies
Avignon centre city train station (boulevardd
St Roch)
Regional trains, inter-city trains and Paris TGV
(3h20), Eurostar Avignon-London in summer.
By plane
- Avignon Caumont airport
Direct flights for Paris Orly west 4 times a day
3 flights a week from Southampton and Exeter
(Flybe) from March to October
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Prestige hotels
Hotel d’Europe at Avignon
The building dates back to 1580, when it was the city home to the
Marquis of Gravezon. The Gravezon and the Forbin families lived in
this luxurious residence which looked out onto the most beautiful
square of Avignon until the French revolution. In 1799 Madame Pierron, ladyfriend of Napoleon Bonaparte , created her hotel, then giving
it the name it still bares today : Hotel d'Europe. (Napoleon was no
stranger to that idea). Hotel d'europe has 41 appartments and 3
suites each of which offers a rewarding union of legendary style, upto-the-moment convenience and luxurious comfort.The streetside rooms benefit from a highly perfectioned soundproofed atmosphere (double windows-double glazing) . All rooms and public areas
are equipped with air conditioning through individual units, providing the optimal in temperature
regulation. The restaurant, expertly run by Chef Bruno d'Angelis, has since many years received
excellent write-ups in the best known guide books. Best quality products are the base of the Chef's
cuisine, savour and colours are his guidelines. Creativity and innovation are expressed through
this regional approach with many Mediterranean.
Château de Rochegude near Orange
During the thousand years of this
château's existence, its owners have
included popes, dauphins, and less
prominent aristocrats who showered
it with taste and money. This magnificent XIIth century fortress, once
the summer residence of the Marquis de Rochegude, towers majestically above the Côtes-du-Rhône and
its sumptuously furnished, air-conditioned rooms offer superb vistas of the vineyards. Today each room is outfitted
in a style inspired by a specific emperor or king. The setting is 20 acres of parkland adjacent to the Rhône, outside
Orange. The Château's main building was rebuilt in the 16th and 17th century and surrounds the 12th century
tower. The private 10 ha (24.7 acres) park has a heated outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court. Enjoy Philippe
Boucher’s inspired cuisine in the restaurant or on the terrace. The chef learnt his trade with two French masters Bocuse and Georges Blanc. He is accompanied by André Trestour, the outstanding wine waiter.
Hotel Jardins secrets at Nîmes
Jardins Secrets is a 18th Century coaching Inn
recently turned into a splendid boutique hotel.
Tucked away in a flowered secret garden with
garden pool, orange trees, Mediterranean jars
and an old well once used to provide drinking
water to horses, this is a peaceful and charming hotel conveniently situated in the center of
Nimes. With its red clay façade covered with
bougainvilliers and hidden behind rows of olive
trees it is reminiscent of a villa in Tuscany.
The host’s penchant for refined 18th century décor is predominant with silk drapes, pendants, antique renderings and baldaquins beds in the rooms. In the boudoir bathrooms are legged tubs on
Montpellier marble floors.Three connecting lounges with historical fireplace, music room or smoking room allow
guests to mingle or seek privacy and in order to remain switched on despite the scenery.
Hotel Jules Cesar at Arles
Where better then, to feel the weight of history
than in a 17th-century convent in the heart of
the old town, now a luxury hotel. Hotel Jules
César is close to the UNESCO World Heritage
Sites of Alyscamps, Arles' famous Roman Arena
and the Roman theatre. The hotel offers 21stcentury facilities in this former 17th-century convent. The nun's cells have been turned into large,
indulgent bedrooms. The cloistered galleries now house the Restaurant Lou Marques offering Provençal cooking that
knows no moderation while the lavender gardens, where monastic peace still prevails, envelop a heated pool.
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Hotel du Vallon de Valrugues at St Remy de Provence
Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues is a
charming hotel set within a Roman villa
close to the gem-like village of SaintRemy-de Provence. Each of Hostellerie
du Vallon de Valrugues' 53 rooms and
suites offers absolute comfort and the
Provençal magic of the Alpilles, one of
the highlights of Southern France. When
the time comes to dine, whether in the
glorious restaurant hall or under mulberry trees by the hotel swimming pool, you'll enjoy dishes that make Provençe a gourmet's delight. There's a whole
range of activities on the premises and near at hand. Or simply relax over a quiet drink at the bar. No matter what
pace of life you desire, Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues will give you a new appreciation of the 'l'art de vivre'.
Le moulin de Lourmarin at Lourmarin
In the heart of the village of
Lourmarin, opposite the château, Le Moulin de Lourmarin,
old oil mill remains true to the
memory of Albert Camus and
Henri Bosco who lived in the
village. It reflects the sunkissed spirit of Provence. This
former 17th century olive oil
mill features 19 contemporary
guest rooms that radiate French countryside charm. Here, close to where the little river Raye once set the mill turning, you'll enjoy a stay that's both rustic and classic, modern yet old. In a romantic setting beneath a vaulted roof,
you'll also savor inventive Provençal cuisine, concocted by Edouard Loubet, an alchemist of nature's products.
Le relais de Magdeleine at Gémenos
At the far end of a park full of trees
a hundred years old you will find
an 18th century country house
where the Marignane family welcomes all those looking for a restful stay. The entrance hall leads to
the cosy restaurant, the lounge
with its bookshelves and fireplace,
ideal for autumn evenings. Beautiful garden with its sparkling fountains and ornamental lakes. Plane and lime trees provide cool
shade for evening meals in summertime. The restaurant offers you a cuisine full of provençal sun,
using local ingredients. Large selection of regional wines. Antique furnishings fill the rooms.
Luxe hotels
Le cloître Saint Louis at Avignon
Situated in a historical building dating back to the 16th century, the hotel offers an extremely quiet and serene environment. Initially a religious school for Jesuits, the Cloister saw
its function changed over the centuries to a military hospital,
and a home for the elderly. After a thorough renovation in
1990, the building is now a prominent cultural center and a
four star hotel. Rooms and facilities are found both in the ancient cloister, and in the splendid modern extension designed
by the famous French architect from Nouvel. The spacious
rooms, all furnished in a contemporary design, are located in the 16th century Cloister and
in the modern extension. The majority of rooms are overlooking the Cloister inner courtyard (superior and suites) or the peaceful private garden (standard garden view). Unheated open-air pool (May-September), roof-top sun terrace and peaceful interior garden.
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Le mas des Aigras near Orange
This pretty farmhouse, with its gardens and swimming-pool is
in the midst of vines of the Cotes du Rhone.
You'll enjoy the good things in life here. Sylvie and Alain Davi
offer a gastronomic provencale cuisine using organically
grown local produce. The rooms which are decorated in the
colours of Provence, are all en-suite and are airconditioned.
The family have thought about all the little touches that will
make your stay very comfortable and enjoyable.
Hotel Imperator at Nîmes
Imperator Hotel Nimes is centrally located and is close to the
Arena and the city centre. The hotel has comfortable and wellfurnished rooms that are equipped with standard amenities.
The gastronomic restaurant is located on the ground floor. In
the summer its glass doors are opened and the restaurant is
extended into the beautiful hotel garden, with its fountain and
large trees.
Hotel Particulier at Arles
Located right in the
heart of Arles ancient
district, secretly hiden
behind its large gate
is L’Hotel Particulier.
Smooth indolence in
the centurial leafy
garden and daydream
by the pool. Invitation
for a sensual journey from your gently luxuriant suite, to the heavenly scents
and whispering waters of the white paved hammam… High ceilings, huge
rooms and beds, big windows opening to the leafy courtyard below.. The owner has tastefully and uniquely restored
this historic property. If you are a fan of Charleston or Savannah, this hotel is for you. Lovely French breakfast
served al fresco by the pool. Candles scent the air. Quiet nights lulled by cooing pigeons and bubbling pool fountain.
History and elegance lovers wil appreciate this XVIIIth century old mansion, where the first owner, Baron de
Chartrouse's prestige goes along with today's comfort and sophistication.
Hotel du Vallon de Valrugues at St Remy de Provence
Le moulin de Lourmarin at Lourmarin
Le relais de Magdeleine at Gémenos
(see page 8)
(see page 8)
(see page 8)
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