Provence & the Riviera

  Nine Glorious Days!

 

We will meet you at the Nice airport upon your arrival and transport you to St. Remy-de-Provence. Check in at our charming Provencal country inn, The Mas des Carassins, which will be our home for the next six days. Unpack, relax, and take a tour of the extensive gardens before your welcome dinner this evening. You will enjoy 5 course dinners each night at the Mas des Carassins! This beautiful inn is only a ten minute walk to the center of the town which is filled with lovely squares, plant-filled alleyways, and cooling fountains. This is a busy, active village, with a good selection of restaurants, cafes, galleries, and shops. The roads leading into St. Remy are lined by plane trees that offer beautiful shade during the warm months.

Our hotel for three nights in Nice is the four star Hotel Grimaldi. The Grimaldi is perfectly situated to explore Nice and all that this city has to offer: dining, shopping, sunbathing and swimming, movies, theaters, opera, museums — or just strolling along the Promenade des Anglais and enjoying the good life. In Old Nice the Cours Saleya has a daily flower market each morning and is lined with terrace cafés and colorful old buildings. Stroll through a labyrinth of secret passageways and cobblestone streets. Be sure to enjoy one of the private beaches, complete with umbrella, lounge chair and waiter to serve you! For art and history lovers there are several museums: The Massena Palace Museum, the Beaux Arts museum, the Palais Lascaris, the Matisse Museum and the Chagall Museum. Savor local cuisine of shellfish, bouillabaisse, or enjoy one of the many Italian restaurants in the town. Dance the night away at the disco or try your luck at the Casino Rhul on the Promenade des Anglais. On Monday take advantage the extensive “brocante” (antique) market in old Nice. Look for old Limoges, vintage linens with hand tatted lace, old silver, antique cork screws…taste the specialties offered by the vendors of marzipan, calissons, and nougat.

Program Itinerary

 

Day 1 – Welcome to France! We will meet you at the airport in Nice after you retrieve your suitcases. Enjoy a beautiful ride past Mediterranean landscapes, through the hilly, rocky Var region into the heart of Provence.  We will make a stop for lunch en route.  Arrive at our hotel in St. Remy around 2:00 pm to check in.  Settle in and unpack. Welcome meeting in the garden.

Day 2 – After breakfast we will walk to the famous archeological site, the City of Glanum. Our very knowledgeable guide will explain the history of the region which was settled by Celtic Ligurians, Greeks, and then the Romans. After our visit of Glanum we will walk to St. Paul de Mausole, the hospital where Van Gogh admitted himself as a patient after his “crisis” in Arles.  Vincent stayed here for more than a year. This was a prolific phase of Van Gogh’s career.  He completed here over 150 paintings and drawing, including several of his room and the hospital buildings, “Starry Night”, and many different views of the surrounding landscapes.  After our visit to St. Paul de Mausole you will have a free afternoon.  Enjoy lunch at one of the many cafes or restaurants in St. Remy and explore the town.

Day 3 – Today we will drive into the Luberon, land of Peter Mayle stories, to the hilltop village of Gordes which is listed as “one of the most beautiful villages of France”. Stroll the tiny streets which climb up between the tall houses to the the fortified castle. Enjoy the panorama of the valley and mountains of Luberon.  Have lunch in Gordes at one of the many charming outdoor cafes and restaurants or purchase a picnic at the market.  After lunch we will visit an entirely different hill town, Roussillon. A village of intense color! Over 17 different shades of ochre tint the buildings in colors ranging from golden yellow to deep red.

Day 4 – Market day in St. Remy! Start the day at the beautiful Provencal market in St. Remy de Provence.  If you get up with the birds, you can watch the market setting up.  It’s really quite a sight to see…and hear and smell!  The artistry with which the vendors display their wares is amazing. You will find everything at this market from French music CDs, original paintings, clothes, lavender products, wine, honey, candy, toys, Provencal linens and crafts, as well as every conceivable food product of the region.  There is live music to be enjoyed throughout the market place.  Enjoy your morning and explore the town.

Day 5 - Today we will visit Les Baux de Provence, an extraordinary village that blends with the jagged spur of rock on which it is perched.  The dramatic scenery and historic ruins draw visitors from around the world. Les Baux was once the seat of the powerful lords of this region who traced their descent from the Magi king, Balthazar. Tour the chateau and ramparts, participate in the catapult demonstration, shop in artist ateliers and specialty boutiques. Sit on a café terrace overlooking the sheer cliffs and twisted rocks of the Val d’Enfer (Valley of Hell) which was the inspiration for Dante’s description of the Inferno. Afterwards, we will visit the Chateau Romanin for a wine tasting. Winemaking at Château Romanin is based on biodynamic winegrowing methods. This winery has a Templar theme due to it being built below the ruins of a 13th century Knights Templar Castle. Afternoon return to our hotel for time to relax in the garden or take a swim before dinner

Day 6- Today we will drive south through the Camargue region. Look for the famous black bulls of the French bullfight (where they do NOT kill the bull) and the beautiful white horses used by Camargue cowboys. Our destination is Aigues Mortes, a medieval walled city and site of the 13th Century seaport constructed bySt. Louis for his departing crusaders.  Walk around the ramparts to get the best view of the surrounding landscape, the ancient towers, and a panoramic view of the cité. Try the regional specialty, Gardienne, a delicious stew made of beef and served with the famous Camargue rice. Mid-afternoon return to St. Remy

Day 7 – Today is our cooking lesson at the Domaine d’Arnajon, a former hunting lodge of Louis XIV, later converted to a “country home” in the 19h Century.  After the cooking lesson, Chef Marc will take us on a tour of the family estate and we will return to the garden to feast on Marc’s creations.  After our delicious lunch, we will depart for Nice where we will be for three nights.  Check in at the Hotel Grimaldi. Enjoy a Kir at the hotel and an orientation walk around Nice.  Dinner on your own but we can make suggestions of places we like.

Day 8 – This morning we will drive to Eze, the highest perched village on the Riviera at 1,407 feet above the sea.   We will start with a visit to Fragonard, the famous perfume maker for centuries. After the visit of the perfumery, you will go to thevillage ofEze.  Be sure to tour the exotic garden at the top of the village with more spectacular views of theMediterranean. At the top of the gardens you will find the ruins of the chateau that Louis XIV had dismantled in 1706.  Take lots of pictures in Eze.  It is very picturesque and you will be thrilled with the results. We will have lunch in Eze at the Cheval Blanc.  In the afternoon we will visit the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, the finest villa on the Riviera.  Seventeen acres of gardens and fountains surround the Belle Époque villa, which houses the art and antique collection of the Baroness Ephrussi de Rothschild.   Late afternoon return to Nice and dinner on your own

Day 9 – Free Day in Nice! Start with the flea market in Old Nice.  Nice’s colorful, sun-drenched Cours Saleya is filled with over 200 flea market vendors selling their wares.  A huge variety of treasures can be found: silver, vintage linens and Hermes scarves, posters, ceramics, paintings, toys, jewelry, and more.  Take advantage of the beautiful beaches or stroll Vieux Nice, a labyrinth of secret passageways and cobblestone streets.  Finish up last minute shopping, visit the Villa Massena (free), and Bon voyage dinner with the group tonight.

Day 10 - End of Tour today. We will arrange transportation to the airport for each traveler’s departing flights.

Breakfast and dinner are included every day at the Mas des Carassins.  Breakfast is included every day at the Grimaldi Hotel in Nice.