Exploring Provence: The Perfect Tour of Southern France
For your next trip, consider visiting Provence, France, on Gate 1’s 12 Day Treasures of Provence tour. Provence is an area defined by its beautiful blend of urban and rural towns, iconic landmarks, and significant history. Get ready for a getaway in southern France.
Begin Your Journey in Paris
Begin your tour in magical Paris with its exquisite architecture, endless treasures and stylish boutiques. Travelers will be driven along the fashionable Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, Concorde Square, and the iconic Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris. Then, continue to the vivacious Left Bank, where artists, philosophers, and writers in a long-gone era flourished in the artistic community of Montparnasse. Housed in a former royal palace, it showcases a vast collection of iconic masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. In the evening, ride in style in a vintage French Citroën that will chauffeur you through the city’s most charming neighborhoods.
Discover the Beauty of Provence’s Small Towns
On Gate 1’s 12 Day Treasures of Provence tour, you’ll visit the many small towns of southern France. First visit the town of Arles, the home of the former Van Gogh. Travelers will enjoy a walking tour along the narrow honey-colored streets in the Old Town that inspired his most famous paintings, including Starry Night and Sunflowers. Next, visit the enormous Roman amphitheater before spending some time on your own to explore this charming city. Then, enter the vast delta of the Rhone River known as the Camargue, a harsh landscape that is home to over 400 species of birds, including pink flamingos, white horses and black long-horn bulls roam freely across much of the 570-square-mile area.
The next morning, head to the hilltop village of Les Baux. Travelers will take a walk along its narrow cobblestone streets and later have lunch. In the afternoon, continue to lovely Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where the impressionist movement thrived, visit Saint-Paul de Mausole, the monastery where Van Gogh spent his final years. Part of the “Circuit Van Gogh,” at the entrance, view the field of olive trees painted by the artist. Then head to Aix-en-Provence for overnight and enjoy dinner.
Aix-en-Provence is another quintessential Provencal town. It was home of the post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne. Begin your exploration at La Rotonde, continuing along the tree-lined Cours Mirabeau in this bohemian town with its centuries-old private mansions. Next, view the lively Place de L’Horloge in the heart of the Old Town, along with the 17th century Town Hall. Proceed to St. Sauveur Cathedral, one of the oldest buildings in Aix-en-Provence dating back to the 12th century. Conclude your visit with Calisson tasting: Calissons are French candies, traditionally associated with the town of Aix-en-Provence. Most of the world’s supply is made in the Provence region.
Luberon: The Heart of Provence
Get ready to visit the heart of Provence, Luberon. Dotted with tiny clifftop villages and sprawling windswept vineyards, this magnificent region exemplifies rural France at its finest. The nearby medieval hilltop village of Gordes is known as one of the most beautiful villages in France due to its privileged position and typical architecture. When lavender blooms in June and July, the pretty Senanque Abbey is surrounded by fragrant flowers. After a quick photostop, continue to colorful Roussillon, with its distinctive orange-hued cliffs. Travelers will walk on the famed Ochre’s Path and then explore the town center and its lively market packed with stalls selling olive oil, honey, and lavender. Then, end the day in quaint Lourmarin. Walk the narrow streets lined with Mediterranean architecture and marvel at Lourmarin Castle, the first Renaissance castle to be built in Provence.
Cassis Cruise & The Port City of Marseille
On Gate 1’s 12 Day Treasures of Provence tour, travelers will enjoy a scenic drive that takes you to Cassis where you can stroll around the harbor before embarking on a cruise to view the region’s famous calanques, limestone rock formations. Enjoy these views while you can, you’ll never forget that gorgeous view. After your cruise, continue to Marseilles, France’s oldest city, founded in 600 BC by the Greeks. Board a shuttle train that starts at the vibrant Vieux Port. See Fort Saint Jean, Fort Saint Nicolas, the Palais du Pharo, and the storied Abbey of St. Victor. From atop striking Notre-Dame de la Garde you’ll be awed by the sweeping views of Marseille, the sparkling sea, and Chateau d’If, the island fortress featured in The Count of Monte Cristo.
Taste Provence Through Wine and Cuisine
At Gate 1, we want our travelers to not only enjoy their tour but to embrace the local cuisine as well! Early on the tour, you’ll attend a culinary lesson led by a skilled chef in the beautiful Provence countryside. Follow step-by-step the preparation of your dinner and savor the delectable results. A few days later, head over to Sainte-Victoire Mountain, immortalized in many of Cézanne’s paintings, for a Provencal lunch. In this picturesque setting of stone villages and river valleys meet with traditional local vintners and enjoy tastings of some of the finest vintages and varieties of the region’s wines.
Visit Iconic Historic Landmarks
Provence and its surrounding regions are filled with remarkable historic sites. Head over to Avignon to see the extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage listed Pont du Gard, graced with 52 precision-built arches. This ancient aqueduct, built during the first century AD, was used to transport water from Uzes to Nimes and is considered one of the finest remaining Roman aqueducts.
Next, travelers will visit numerous museums that emphasize the historic side of Provence. First see the Rothschild Villa and Gardens, an Italian-style pink palazzo with nine exquisite gardens. This lavish residence with its priceless treasures is now a fine art museum that you can explore on your own.
Last, cross the border into the Principality of Monaco. Visit the Old Town with its stately Royal Palace and see the changing of the guard (schedule permitting). On a walking tour, pass Saint Nicholas Cathedral where Princess Grace and Prince Rainer are buried, and view the Oceanographic Museum dramatically perched on the edge of a cliff. In glamorous Monte Carlo, the crown jewel of the Riviera, stop at the opulent marble and gold casino, a lavish example of Belle Époque architecture.
Experience the Charm of Southern France
Exploring Provence offers travelers the perfect balance of culture, scenery, and cuisine. From the iconic landmarks of Paris to the vineyards, villages, and coastal cities of southern France, every stop reveals a new side of the country’s beauty and history. Whether strolling through markets, tasting regional wines, or admiring centuries-old architecture, Provence provides a truly unforgettable journey. To view the rest of Gate 1’s French itinerary, click here. And if you’re interested in exploring other parts of Europe, click here to see our full catalog.
