We are going to France and Portugal for our honeymoon. This is our first time going to France. We have booked a hotel in Paris for a week. We would like to take the train to Southern France for the second week. We plan on renting a car and exploring Southern France, we have a flight booked out of Lyon to Portugal for the last two weeks. Question is: How should we explore Southern France? Where would be a good, central place to stay? Should we split our week up and stay at two different locations? We are not city people and would love to stay in small towns or villages...any suggestions for affordable accommodation? Suggestions on must see places/towns? With our limited time how much can we expect to see without feeling to rushed. We really need help!! Thank you in advance.
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Hi again -
Now that you have had a chance to go over the Traveller%26#39;s Aid and Les Musts I have several suggestions.
First, I hope that you will consider establishing a base rather than going from hotel to hotel... Because distances are not that great you can really explore the area quite successfully in a week.
I would recommend situating yourself in or near St. Remy or Les Alpilles. There are any number of wonderful places to stay at all price points.
What you %26quot;should%26quot; see will depend upon your interests. If you could be a bit more specific as to what these are I am confident that Forum members will be able to provide you with wonderful suggestions.
It will also help us if you could tell us exactly when you will be travelling.
Hoping to hear from you soon
AlpillesGal
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Thank you AlpillesGal. Thank you for the information that you sent. We decided to book 2 nights near Antibes - go to Eze explore the most southern region and the rest of the week we will be staying just outside Avignon and exploring that area. We decided to book B%26amp;Bs. Does that sound like a good plan? We will be there the first week of September....I can%26#39;t wait. Any must sees???
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Hi there
Good decision to not just base yourself in St Remy / Les Apilles. These places are very well known but are actually on the south western corner of Provence. Staying in Avignon is a very good idea. More central
I would recommend visiting the villages near Les Dentilles de Montmirail hills (35 mins drive) – Hill-perched Seguret %26amp; Crestet are beautiful;. Gigondas has great wines. Recommend Les Florets www.hotel-lesflorets.com restaurant in the Dentelles hills near Gigondas.
A local wine expert Olivier Hickman www.wine-uncovered.com does fantastic guided visits and tastings in Gigondas and the region. Takes you into the vineyards and the cellars. He has superb access to the best producers – requirement if you are going during the busy Sept / Oct harvest season.
Fantastic walks in the Dentelles. The scenery is staggering.
Nearby, Vaison-la-Romaine has a very pretty medieval village, interesting Roman ruins and a great market on Tues morning. Recommend Bistro d’O for lunch.
From Vaison, drive to the top of Mont Ventoux for fantastic views.
Orange (20 mins drive) has an amazing Roman amphitheatre. A must
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (20 mins drive). See wine guide above - he works here too. Or visit Cave des Vergier des Papes (www.caveduverger.com) for tasting of wines from different estates.
Luberon is 35mins drive. The village of Gordes is a must.
Pont du Gard is 25 mins drive and a must.
Have a great honeymoon!
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Hi !
Another idea if you want to be near Avignon, in the centre of the %26#39;%26#39;gold triangle%26#39;%26#39; formed by Avignon, Arles and Nîmes is the village of Tarascon. Very good B%26amp;B%26#39;s are scarce and the good one are as follows. La rue du Château is in the centre of Tarascon (nice but no pool and no garden), le Mas d%26#39;Arvieux is also a good idea (just taken over by a new owner) and le Mas d%26#39;Anez (a lovely 17th century mansion with just 3 rooms and a suite which is quiet for a honeymoon).
Le Mas des comtes de Provence is now a hotel (approx 200€ versus around 100€ for the previous ones).
The places to visit absolutely : Avignon (minimum a day), Arles(a day) Nimes (half day) Uzes and le Pont du Gard (a day) les Baux, St Rémy another day.
Avignon is only 15%26#39; away and you can fly in to Paris and take the TGV train 1rst class to Avignon TGV station (not Avignon centre)as it take only 2h 4O from Paris door to door, hire a car (ask for automatic and a GPS or buy a GPS locally). Everything is within easy reach of Tarascon, including lovely authentic provencal markets, unspoilt villages, local non touristy restaurants,etc. You can fly out of Marseilles (1hour drive) or Nice (2 1/2 hour) or Nîmes (40%26#39;) or Montpellier (1hour). anyhing more like restaurants or
monuments or vineyards ?
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Hi again fava%26amp;bean -
You must be really excited with wedding and honeymoon coming up VERY shortly.
Just a few more suggestions as to places to go and things to see while you are in Provence.
Avignon is definitely worth the better part of a day even though you are more into small towns and countryside as opposed to larger metropolitan areas. Consider spending the morning visiting the Palais des Papes and then doing lunch at either dining outside facing the Palais at Le Moutardier if the weather is beautiful, or at La Fourchette at 17 Rue Racine, just one block away. For a change of pace take a drive through the countryside down to Tarascon in the afternoon and visit the castle there.
Arles is another place that is absolutely worth a day. It is full of wonderful Roman sites (Les Thermes de Constantin, Les Arenes, Les Alyscamps, and the Musee de l%26#39;Arles Antique. The Museon Arleten is also worth a visit - it based upon artifacts collected by Frederic Mistral celebrating the Provencal lifestyle. On the way there or back you might want to take a walk along the ruins of the aquaduct at Barbegal which is near the Abbaye de Montmajour a drive amongst Les Alpilles and a quicky visit up to the ruins at Les Baux
The Camargue is also worth a day and will absolutely put you in the midst of a totally rural/outdoors experience. If you are lucky you may be there for the harvest of the Riz de Camargue, a very special rice cultivar growm only in the Camargue. You might want to visit the Musee Camarguais which celebrates the region and has wonderful exhibiits focusing on the Guardians (Cowboys of the Camargue). For wonnderful dining in the Camargue check out La Chassagnette, Route de Sambuc (a wonderful restaurant with a gorgeous organic garden and outrageously good food) or L%26#39;Ousteau Camarguais in Aigue Mortes (really wonderful trational regional food, especially the Daubes)
Another wonderful day would include a trip up to Vaison-la-Romaine and/or Nyons followed by a leisurely return via the vinyards of the Southern Cotes-du-Rhone, including Vacqueyras, Gigondas and for something really special Baumes-de-Venise where they make a desert wine that is a close second to Sauterne. If you choose to do Nyons (which has an awsome Market on Thursdays) make sure to consider doing lunch at La Charette Bleu, it%26#39;s about 5 miles north of Nyons on D-94 - great food and wonderful ambiance, especially if you can dine outside on the shaded terrace.
Hope this input is helpful.
Best of everything !!!
AlpillesGal
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