m.touch travel
Provence Private Tours
Region:
Avignon
The city, as a strategic site in the Rhone valley, owes its origine to the Doms rock. With the arrival of the popes in the 14th Century, the city became a second Rome. It was enriched by art in the 17th and 18th Centuries, and it remained papal property up to the French revolution. Its medieval walls cover nearly 3 miles and are punctuated by 39 towers and seven gates ! Within the walls thrives a culturally rich city. The streets and squares are often filled with buskers.
The major site of the city is the huge pope's palace, the biggest gothic palace in the world. Just beeing at the foot of the impressive building will let you an unforgettable souvenir. It gives an idea of the grand life under the seven French popes who built a miniature Vatican during their rule here. You can visit 25 rooms of it, including the ceremonial rooms, chapels, cloister, private papal apartments with priceless frescoes, and others.
The second point of interest is the St Benezet bridge. This legendary bridge is a significant symbol of the history of Avignon, famous throughout the world due to the beloved children's song. The bridge was built in the late 1100's. Though it was often rebuilt after damage inflicted by the raging flood waters of the Rhone.
Pont du Gard
Le Pont du Gard is an incredible bridge was built around 19 BC ! It is in fact a part of an aqueduct which transported spring water from a catchment area near Uzes to the Romans in Nimes. It was engeneered to carry the daily water supply along its 31 miles. This huge and so old construction is very impressive. This is something you will never forget in your life !
Aix en Provence
The old capital of Provence has kept a great deal of the character imparted to it in the XVIIth and XVIIIth. The sober elegance of its mansions, the graceful charm of its squares, the majesty of its avenues and loveliness and its fountains are impressive. The city also boasts a wide variety of fountains. Aix is the "city of water, city of art". Among other buildings of interest : the cathedral, the townhall, and the Corn Excange.
St Remy
This little town located at the bottom of the Alpilles chain and at the edges of the prosperous agricultural region of Chateaurenard is a very pleasant place to stop. Its streets display charming 16th and 17th century mansions.
Les Baux
The 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 the same than 4 centuries ago. Its cultural heritage is exceptionally rich, with 22 architectural treasures classified as "Historic Monuments"
Luberon Villages
Lourmarin : Situated in the middle of vinyards, olive groves and almond trees. An animated village with medieval / renaissance castle, temple, and provençal bastides
Bonnieux : A large, attractively-terraced village situated on a promontary offers a lovely view of Calavon valley.
Gordes : A very beautiful old village is perched on the southern edge of the high Plateau de Vaucluse.
Regional Tours:
Provence Private Tours
Below are suggested itineraries. We can create any combination of visits so just let us know what interests you.
These are private tours so please email us with your hotel location so we can give you a quote.
Inquiry FormAvignon
This tour gives you the opportunity to plunge into Provence history : from the roman epoch to the medieval times.
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Avignon + Pont du Gard
Morning: Le Pont du Gard :
Free lunch in Avignon
Afternoon : Visit of Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Avignon + Aix en Provence
Morning: Guided tour of Aix en Provence
Free time for shopping and free lunch. (market on tuesday, thursday and saturday)
Afternoon : Visit of Avignon
Avignon + Saint Remy + Les Baux
Morning: Visit of Avignon
Free lunch
Afternoon : Visit of Saint Remy de Provence and Les Baux de Provence
Avignon + Luberon
Morning: Visit of Lourmarin, Bonnieux and Gordes
Free lunch
Afternoon : Visit of Avignon
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Marseille
France's premier port and oldest major city, Marseille is in a surprisingly attractive setting, centred on the Vieux Port (the old harbour). People have leaved here for 26 centuries, its mixture of cultures being so varied that Alexander Dumas called it "the meeting place of the entire world"
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Full Day Marseille
We will Stroll in the "Panier" area, 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, with its 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 Chateau d'If Island, that served as the setting place for Alexander Dumas, story of the Count of Monte Cristo. Finally a visit to St Victor Basilica, a religious fortress founded in the 5th century where you will visit the crypt and catacombs.
Marseille + Avignon + Aix
Morning: Guided tour Marseille > Continue towards Aix en Provence
Free time for shopping and free lunch. (market on tuesday, thursday and saturday)
Afternoon : Visit of Avignon
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Blue Coast Tour
The Cote Bleue is a coast of the Mediterranean Sea stretching from West of Marseille to Martigues. Along its 30 km, the landscape is full of surprises : rocky coves in which are nestled tiny little fishing ports, small seaside resorts, white, shingly beaches, pine forests, scrubland.
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The Blue Coast West of Marseille
Let's begin by a walk following a former customs and excise path which winds along the coast. This is easily accessible and will give you superb panoramas over the bay of Marseille and its islands.
This area of exceptional natural beauty is reputed for its clears waters and its preserved submarine fauna : a real paradise, at just 40 mn from the big city of Marseille !
We will continue by Carry le Rouet, a charming seaside resort set at the foot of pine covered hills. It was well known during the thirties because of the French actor Fernandel who used to spend his vacations here.
Sausset les Pins is another village surrounded by the aromatic garrigue (scrubland) and pine forests. It has developed from a small fishing village with scarcely 200 inhabitants to become a small, family seaside resort. Little by little, the number of houses has increased and extensive building has taken place on the hills facing the port… Beautiful, sea-facing houses lie along the coast road. True to its traditions, fishing provides Sausset’s main focus, from highly competitive tuna fishing on the high seas to traditional coastal fishing for rock fish. You will like its little pedestrian streets, its outdoor cafés with views over the harbour and its air of simplicity, far from the busy French Riviera.
La Couronne is a small hamlet where you will have a typical Provençal lunch
We will now leave the Blue Coast, and head North towards Martigues (panoramic view), the "Provençal Venise", crossed by several chanels joining the sea to the Berre Lagoon and reach Miramas le Vieux, perched on a hilltop overlooking the Berre Lagoon.
The village is very well restored, with everything in the native orange-yellow stone among which some medieval houses and the ruins of a fortress. You will feel there a relaxing and authentic athmosphere, with very few tourists and shops.
Cornillon Confoux is another example of one of these peaceful perched village where everything seems to be perfect. Walking through the little lanes of the village you will find rows of little cottages, among them some lovely old stone houses. The Place de l’Eglise is particularly charming, with the 12th-century church on one side and the Beffroi (Belfry)
The spot boasts an outstanding panoramic view, which stretches as far as the Alpilles in the west (with les Baux de Provence) and Sainte Victoire in the east. Opposite is the Luberon mountain range and in good weather Mont Ventoux (the highest mountain of Provence) can be seen beyond.
On the way back, we stop for a wine degustation .
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Saint Remy + Les Baux + Arles
3 classic towns for an authentic Provencal experience.
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Saint Remy + Les Baux de Provence + Arles
Morning : Guided tour of Saint Rémy de Provence.
Visit to the famous 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.
Arles : the Celtic city colonized by the Greeks became Roman after Julius Caesar distributed the land among his veteran legionnaires in 46 B.C. This was the first Golden Age of the city dubbed " Little Rome in Gaul ". At that time, it was a city of considerable importance covering an area of some 99 acres and possesses a wide array of monuments, including an amphitheater, triumphal arch, circus, theater and a full circuit of walls.
Nowadays, among other Roman remains, we still can see the amphitheater (where there are accasional bullfights), the theater, Constantine's Baths and a part of the wall surrounding the city. They are all listed as Unesco world heritage monuments.
The medieval heritage is unique. The fine cloisters and portal of St. Trophime's church and Arles has preserved many lovely buildings dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.