Nine Glorious Days!
The First Six Days…St. Remy de Provence
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. Our home base town is the lovely Gallo-Roman village of St. Remy located on the plains at the northern edge of the mountain range, Les Alpilles. The old village of St. Rémy is pretty and picturesque, protected by the circular 14th-century wall, which is lined by its protective circle of buildings. Our hotel 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 are lovely and give beautiful shade during the warm months. Listed below are some of the activities included during our stay in St. Remy de Provence.
Huiles du Monde Taste the world champion of olive oils and the French gold medalist olive oil. Presentation of olive oils from several domaines, suggestions for use of the various flavored olive oils and tasting, of course! Sample basil, garlic, black and white truffle olive oils as well as a variety of flavored vinegars.
Chocolatier of Joel Durand Known as the top chocolatier in France, Joel works almost exclusively with ganaches that melt in your mouth. He infuses his ganache with over 32 different flavors. These range from the classic to the exotic, from the spice to the herb, from the flower to the fruit: jasmine tea, lavender, cloves and lemon, rosemary, praline, rose petal, star anise, bitter honey, orange, tiramisu…yum.
Chateau Romanin Wine tasting and presentation. Winemaking at Château Romanin is based on biodynamic winegrowing methods. This winery has a well deserved Templar theme due to it being built below the ruins of a 13th century Knights Templar Castle.
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. Live music to be enjoyed throughout the market place.
Les Baux de Provence This is an extremely picturesque village with royal history. Perched on a craggy rock formation, this tiny village will astonish you. Tour the chateau and ramparts, shop in specialty boutiques and artist ateliers. Sit on a café terrace overlooking the rocky cliffs and valleys…sip a Pastis or try one of the regional rose wines.
St. Paul de Mausole The hospital where Van Gogh admitted himself as a patient after his crisis in Arles, following a fight with Gauguin. Vincent stayed here for more than a year, enjoying a certain degree of freedom that allowed him to paint in the surrounding fields. This was an intensely prolific phase of Van Gogh’s career. Over 150 paintings were completed here, including several of his room and the hospital buildings, “Starry Night”, and many different views of the twisted cypress and olive trees.
Domaine d’Arnajon Preparation of a four course meal with chef Marc Heracle. Based on 18th and 19th Century recipes of the region and using local and seasonal ingredients, learn how to prepare these simple recipes yourself. After the cooking lesson, enjoy lunch under centuries old mulberry trees in the garden.
Glanum Guided tour of the ancient city of Glanum that dates back to 600 BC. The most important archeological site in France! Discover the ruins of Celtic-Ligurian, Hellenistic Greeks, and Roman civilizations. Our guide will explain the culture and history of the three civilizations while visiting the site.
Roussillon Perched on the southern edge of the high Plateau de Vaucluse, the entire village is built out of the reddish local stone. The Romans used this ochre earth to make pottery glazes over 2000 years ago. A popular village for artists who are inspired by the bright red and orange hues, sprinkled with the tall dark green Cyprus trees.
Gordes Visit 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. Enoy the panorama of the valley and mountains of Luberon. Lunch in Gordes at one of the many charming outdoor cafes and restaurants or purchase a picnic at the market.
La Camargue and Aigues Mortes Drive through the fascinating landscape of marshes, wild ponies, and black bulls. Our destination is the walled medieval city of Aigues Mortes, the site of the 13th Century seaport constructed by St. 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 lively city below . Try the regional specialty, Gardienne, a delicious stew made of beef and served with the famous Camargue rice.
The Next 3 Days! …Nice and the French Riviera
Our hotel for the next three nights is the four start Hotel Grimaldi. Our hotel 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 Vieux Nice the Cours Saleya has a daily flower market and a food market in the mornings. There are scores of stands, from large, professionally displayed wares to folding tables set up by family farmers with their produce and live fowl directly from the farm. The length of the Cours Saleya is sided by the low buildings separating the “Cours” from the seaside. Once housing the fishermen’s catch, they have given way largely to seafood restaurants. The other side of the Cours Saleya is lined by terrace cafés, lovely old buildings and the grand Prefecture. Matisse had an apartment here in the big yellow house at the end of the courtyard. Stroll through a labyrinth of secret passageways and cobblestone streets. Be sure to enjoy one of Nice’s private beaches, complete with umbrella, lounge chair and waiter to serve you! For art and history lovers there are several museums: The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Beaux Arts museum, the Palais Lascaris, the Matisse Museum and the Chagall Museum. Savor local cuisine of seafood, bouillabaisse, raw oysters, 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.
Eze and Fragonard Perfumery A magnificent hill town, known as the “most picturesque perched village in France”! Tour the exotic gardens, enjoy lunch in one of the charming outdoor café settings, meander the tiny cobblestone paths that wind throughout the village. From Eze we will tour the Fragonard perfumery. After a presentation and sampling of the perfumes, you can purchase their lovely products at wholesale prices.
Scenic Riviera Drive Drive along the upper corniche, the high mountain road that runs along the Riviera. (Featured in the film “To Catch a Thief” with Grace Kelly and Cary Grant). We promise to drive more slowly so you can enjoy the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and the towns of Villefranche, Monaco, St. Jean-Cap Ferat, and Beaulieu. We will stop at a lookout point for a picnic and local specialty aperitif!
Rothschild Villa and Gardens Located near St. Jean Cap Ferat, the astonishing pink villa and gardens overlook the Mediterranean. Enjoy fountains set to music in the midst of various garden styles: Provencal herbs, Greek gardens, Italian gardens, the famous Rothschild Rose garden, and the Exotic Asian gardens. Inside the Villa you will see Madame Rothschild’s love for art and collecting. Tour the many rooms which are still decorated as they were when she lived in the villa.