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n°1
Exploring
the Dentelles de Montmirail near the Mont Ventoux:
Why not starting our day by a wine tasting in a prestigious "chateau"
in Chateauneuf du Pape (specialists say that it's the best time),
then heading to Orange to see the roman theater with the original
statue of Augustus Caesar. If you are a wine amateur, there is
so many less known appellation to discover such as (Seguret, Gigondas,
Rasteau) ; Lunch in an excellent restaurant in Vaison la Romaine
before wandering in the ruins of the famous Roman city ;A nice
drive back through the scenic Dentelles de Montmirail where you
will discover wonderful picturesque villages.
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n°2 Exploring
the Alpilles area:
Drive straight to St Remy de Provence, a place to be seen! (Wednesday
being the best with its colorful market) ; If you are an art lover,
we know some painters inspired by the Provence light, why not
visit them? Then nobody wants to miss the famous citadel of Les
Baux de Provence . Lunch wherever you want , we have a huge choice;
On the way you can buy olive oil from the mill before a stroll
in the roman city of Arles where Van Gogh lived or a drive through
the Natural Park of Camargue for bird watching. At the end of
the day, when the sun is not so hot, drive back to reach the twin
medieval cities of Tarascon and Beaucaire for an eagle show.
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n°3 Exploring
the northern Luberon:
Fond
of natural landscapes and typical villages? Northern Luberon is
the place for you with its sunny and welcoming little villages
such as Gordes and its well preserved "Bories" settlements, the
Romanesque abbey of Senanque so beautiful when lavender is blooming,
the ochre's carriers of Roussillon or Rustrel which give all the
warm colors to the villages of Provence, Fontaine de Vaucluse
and its natural spring. For lunch, a one star Michelin restaurant
or a local bistro serving natural Provencal food ? It's up to
you !! You'll find, on our way back, a lot of souvenirs in the
Antique dealers shops in l'Isle sur la Sorgue.
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n°4 Want
to follow Peter Mayle's traces in Provence ? :
A
tour of the Luberon could start in Cavaillon or Aix en Provence,
the city of Cezanne. Then a visit to the Abbey of Sylvacane the
youngest of the three Provencal Cistercian abbeys. There are a
lot of scenic drives through this range of mountains, with the
discovery of pretty villages, out of the modern rush, such as
Lourmarin where lunch in a 2 star Michelin restaurant could be
a highlight of your trip, Bonnieux , Lacoste dominated by the
castle of the Marquis de Sade , Menerbes,Oppede le Vieux with
its ruined citadel overlooking the valley.
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n°5 Exploring
the Provencal Gard:
So
famous that nobody would like to miss it: the Pont du Gard roman
aqueduct, standing here for more than 2000 years, is still waiting
for you. Then, head to Uzes to discover its picturesque streets
and unique Romanesque architecture tower. Feel like a romantic
lunch ? the castle of Franz Lizst 'mistress would be the place!
Scenic drive through to the typical "garrigue" landscape to reach
the city of Nimes with its well preserved "Maison Carre" and roman
arenas still used for very popular "corridas" (bullfights). On
our way back, let's discover a surprising troglodyte monastery
dating back from IVth century AD.
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