FORCALQUIER + MANE or ISOLATED VILLAGES

Forcalquier is quite an isolated village and retains its rural authenticity. Its stone houses are built around the slopes of a steep conical hill, overlooking a deserted countryside.

Morning: Visit the Forcalquier market which spreads across the main road to fill the Place in front of the church and Rue de Bereluc-Perussis in the lower part of the town's main square, the "Place du Bourguet" and overflows into the small streets leading to the Place St Michel with its fine old fountain.

It is mostly visited by locals and has just about everything you could imagine, including agricultural plants and equipment. It has a particularly large selection of foods stands offering organic vegetables, breads, drinks and other home-grown foods.

We'll stroll the narrow streets of the the town center with their wrought-iron balconies . and doorways which date from the 12th to the 16th centuries.

Lunch

Afternoon :

- Salagon Priory in Mane. a religious building with fine medieval architecture and marvelous botanical gardens.

OR

Visit remote villages for those who love authenticity and quietness. They seem to have no age, remain very untouched and far from the modern life. Surrounded by lavender fields, their beauty is fantastic in July

Aix en Provence + Cezanne

Morning : Guided tour of Aix en Provence "city of water, city of art".

Aix is home to one of the major market of Provence. They take place in the five main squares dedicated to flowers, fruits, vegetables, second-hand clothes and the last filled with antique and handicrafts dealers.

Pause for coffee and freshly made provencal calisson cake with almond paste under the shaded terrace of one of the numerous cafes.

Stroll through the heart of the town, though the old pedestrian streets to discover the the cathedral, the townhall, the Corn Exchange and façades of the baroque ochre colored private mansions built for the nobility, each with a concept and style corresponding to the residents' social importance.

Lunch.

Afternoon: Visit Cezanne's Studio : The building and furniture have remained the same for a century, thanks to admirers who keep the studio exactly as it was.

Visit to Mount Ste Victoire, painted so many times by Cézanne. The fantastic sight with contrasting colours of the red earth, the white stone and the green vegetation. End of the day: Wine tasting at a vineyard on the way back.

Saint Remy - Les Baux de Provence

Morning : Guided tour of Saint Rémy de Provence.

Visit to the famous as the Clinic Saint Paul where Van Gogh recuperated in May 1889 after he had mutilated his ear. you will see the well-preserved Roman triumphal arch and mausoleum. These two masterpieces stand proudly at the entrance of the former greco-roman town.

Lunch

Afternoon: Les Baux de Provence, a village is situated in a wonderful and very picturesque site, in the heart of the Alpilles, perched on a rocky spur 245m high.

Entering in the village is a real experience because, despite the great number of visitors, it seems that the atmosphere is unchanged after 4 centuries.

Its cultural heritage is exceptionally rich, with 22 architectural treasures classified as "Historic Monuments" (including the church, chateau, town-hall, hospital, chapels, houses, doorways). From the look-out points you will have a panoramic view of the Camargue and the Alpilles.

Overlooking the village, stands the ruined fortress than can be visited (entrance not included)visitors, it seems that the atmosphere is the same than 4 centuries ago. Its cultural heritage is exceptionally rich, with 22 architectural treasures classified as "Historic Monuments" (including the church, chateau, town-hall, hospital, chapels, houses, doorways... Also from the look-out points you will have a brilliant view of the Camargue and the Alpilles.

Visit the ruined fortress overlooking the village

Stop for a tasting of oil and other olive products

Sanary - Le Mont Faron

First stop at the tiny picturesque perched medieval village village of La Cadière d'Azur.

Then we will head towards Sanary a lovely little town provençal village bordering the Mediterranean sea with pink and white houses, a charming fishing harbour bordered by palm trees, with a square covered with sand where the the locals play "pétanque".
A very lively market takes place on the sea shore where the inhabitants meet every Wednesday. Provençal markets are particularly colorful for the food they sell as well as for the great personality of the dealers.

Free lunch

Afternoon: we will go for an outstanding panoramic tour of the Mont Faron. From here you will see Toulon and its fantastic bay home the second largest naval port in France and base of the "Force d'Action Navale". One can often see the aircraft carriers, minesweepers, anti-submarine and missile launchers.

On the way back, we stop in an estate producing olive oil and AOC Bandol wine.

Cassis + Marseille

Morning : Visit of Cassis a little seaside resort snuggled at the foot of a very tall cliff called Cap Canaille. Cassis is a wonderful picturesque fishing port lined with cafes and restaurants and a joy to stroll. Fishing boats now share the harbor with yachts and a collection of tourist boats which sail the "calanques", a trip you shouldn't miss (45 mn to 1h30).

Free time in the market

From the panoramic road overlooking the bay of Cassis, we will stop to appreciate the fabulous landscape and stop in a winery to taste the renown Cassis white wine

Lunch in Cassis or Marseille

Afternoon : Sightseeing tour of Marseille, France's premier port and oldest major city, a surprisingly attractive setting. People have lived here for 26 centuries. Its mixture of cultures being so varied that Alexander Dumas called it "the meeting place of the entire world". All streets lead to Vieux Porte (the old harbour), where visitors tend to congregate. In this creek the Phocaeans landed in 600 BC which has been replaced by thousands of yachts and pleasure boats. We will Stroll in the old area named "Panier", stopping in front the Old Charity, a former hospice composed of beautiful three-tiered arched balconies surrounding the lovely domed Chapel in the center and on to the huge and sumptuous 19th century cathedral.

There is a splendid panorama from the highest point of the city, where you can admire the unique site on which the city was built. Close by is the Basilica Notre Dame de la Garde, overlooking the city, presided over by a golden Madonna on a 150 ft bell tower decorated by mosaics and unusual votive offerings. Then off along the Corniche,a picturesque road cut into the cliff and following the coastline for more than 3 miles. It offers wonderful sights on the Frioul Islands, among which is the Château d'If Island, that served as the setting place for Alexander Dumas, story of the Count of Monte Cristo. Well come across the colorful fishing village of Vallon des Auffes, and finally
St Victor Basilica, a religious fortress founded in the 5th century where you will visit the crypt and catacombs.

Lourmarin-Bonnieux-Roussillon-Gordes

Luberon is the heart of Provence and the name of the famous magical mountain range enriched by its stones, its castles, its luminosity and colours.

A sweet climate and pure clean air surrounds the incredible contrasts between a rich and variable natural environment, the blue rows of lavender, the subtle nuances of green in the forests, the flamboyant and blinding colours of ochre cliffs and the austere white of the limestone hills. It is the place of choice for many artists, painters, sculptors, writers, and singers)

In the northern part on the side of the hills, several picturesque villages are perched, overlooking the valley. In order to protect themselves from pillagers, the inhabitants, over the course of many centuries, have patiently built their houses stone by stone, closed to their Lord's castle.

Nowadays these charming villages are classified among the most beautiful in France.
Each one has its own personality and its own attractive power.

Lourmarin is nestled in the middle of vineyards, olive groves and almond trees. A very animated village in the summer due to its numerous cafe terraces, restaurants and boutiques. You will admire its medieval / renaissance castle, its temple, its interesting pigeon house, its provençal bastides, and its "boîte à sel" belfry. Albert Camus, winner of the Nobel Literature Prize, lived and wrote here. Here you will have free time in the market

Bonnieux is a large attractively-terraced village situated on a promontory that looks out over a lovely view of Calavon Valley and the hilltop village of Lacoste which houses the castle formerly occupied by the Marquis de Sade. Here you will have free time in the market and to have lunch

Roussillon owes its name to the reddish (roux) color of its houses. The village is set in a deep green pine forest on bright red-ochre hills but even more spectacular inside, with the colorful old buildings and narrow medieval streets. You can walk the "Giants' Causeway, among spectacular. jagged rust-red cliffs composed of 16 or 17 different shades.

Gordes is a very beautiful old village perched on the southern edge of the Plateau. It seems to be an unbelievable "stone cascade" with stone houses are built tight against the base of the cliffs and others perched on the rocks above.

In a rocky valley behind the village is the Cistercian Abbey of Senanque offering an outstanding view.

LOURMARIN - BONNIEUX - APT - ROUSSILLON - GORDES

On the way to Apt, we must cross the Luberon. Quick stops at Lourmarin, Bonnieux, Roussillon and Gordes. See full description in Friday.

Apt is the major town in the area and where you will discover one of the most important markets of Provence. The marketplace takes over the entire center of the town and all the interior streets are closed to traffic. The eight open squares are filled little truck-stores, and stands which line the narrow pedestrian streets. The big parking lot is filled with even more sellers. Many of the permanent shopkeepers also set up tables or stands outside their businesses. There are usually about 300 sellers and sometimes street performers. Here you will have lunch.

 

COUSTELLET - ISLE SUR LA SORGUE - FONTAINE DE VAUCLUSE

The morning is dedicated to two important markets, one in Coustellet (only from april to october) which is a farmer's market and the other one in Isle sur la Sorgue mainly for antique lovers.

Coustellet is a small village located at the cross roads of important communication ways between Cavaillon and Apt, at the bottom of the Luberon mountain, in the heart of a great vegetable producing area. Every local products are to be found in Coustellet : meat, fish, bread, olives, tapenade, honey and conserves, herbs and spices, cheese, goat cheese, flowers, oils and wines, ready-to-eat rotisserie chickens, Provencal fabrics and housewares; clothes, the perfect straw hat or straw basket to take to the markets, and much else besides.

L'Isle sur la Sorgue See full description in Thursday.

On Sunday there is full brocante (knick-knack) market along the shores of the Sorgue with a festive ambience. This day, more antique shops are open and other antique dealers coming from elsewhere display their objects all over the city.

Free for lunch.

Fontaine de Vaucluse
See full description in Thursday.