Provence in the Footsteps of Van Gogh & Cezanne

Take the fast TGV train* from Paris into Avignon arriving at 2:21 p.m. Our driver will pick you up at the train station. It's a 30-minute drive to the 4-star Villa and Spa hotel in Fontvieille. Check-in, unpack, and relax.

We can help you make jet-lag curing spa appointments** upon arrival if you wish.

Drinks start at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at the hotel where our guide, Nancy, will take us over the plans for the week.

*There is also a train you can take directly from CDG airport with one change. It arrives slightly earlier

**Optional jet lag massage is not included.

Today, we're headed to Uzès, the gorgeous walled town with a circular town square. We’ll participate in a Provençal cooking workshop followed by lunch. Spend free time after lunch strolling and shopping in this stunning town.

Before we return to the hotel we’ll visit the famous Pont du Gard, the ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built over 2,000 years ago.

You’ll have free time to relax at the hotel before dinner at the colorful Le Patio in Fontvieille.

We’ll rise a bit earlier today to experience the early morning at the beautiful market in St. Remy. The market sells freshly picked produce, espadrilles, provencal fabrics, olives, and other goodies, perfect gifts to take home. Don’t worry you’ll have time to duck into the lovely boutiques that line every street as well.

After the market, we’ll have an Italian lunch at Da Pepe in St. Remy to change things up a bit.

Then, we’ll visit the monastery of La Mausole de St. Paul. It's the hospital where Van Gogh stayed after the ear incident and where he created some of his most famous paintings. You’ll visit his room and, if you're lucky, catch irises, which he captured in several of his paintings, still in bloom behind the building. 

In the late afternoon, we’ll learn how to play Petanque in St. Remy. Petanque is the Provençal version of Boule, a game played outside with metal balls. You get better the more rosé you drink!

Dinner will be at the wonderful L’Ail ou la Cuisse in St. Remy. Save room for dessert, the chef here specializes in spectacular French pastries.

After breakfast, we're off to an olive oil mill to learn how the unctuous local oil is made. A tasting is in order.

Then we’ll lunch at Bistro du Paradou in Le Paradou, a tiny medieval village.

This afternoon we'll attend an interactive show at Carriere des Lumieres followed by a stroll in the famous town of Les Baux. This is the first location that started the interactive, music, and light show museum craze that has traveled across the globe.

After a full day, dinner is yours to enjoy as you please tonight. There are loads of places within walking distance of our hotel.

Today, after breakfast, we’ll drive and meet up with our truffle-hunting companions. Here, on a typical Provençal farm, you’ll learn everything about growing and hunting truffles with trained dogs. Luckily the truffle guides are fun, funny and produce superb products. After the hunt, you’ll enjoy a tasting of the less intense summer truffle outside at the family pool. It's served with bubbly of course!

Afterward, we’ll have time to explore Lourmarin (one of Peter Mayle’s favorites) and its wonderful shops. Grab a bite on your own or some dessert if the truffle tasting didn’t fill you up. This charming village is where the famous French writer Albert Camus once lived and worked.

We’ll move on to the über famous small city of Aix-en-Provence for a guided tour with a focus on Cezanne. You’ll get to visit his atelier. It looks as if he’s just walked out for lunch.

Dinner tonight is back in our village at Le Bel Oustau in Fontvieille

We're off to the city of Arles today. It's famous for its Roman amphitheater. It is also another stop on the trail of Van Gogh.

You’ll have free time here to visit the market. We’re having lunch at the Brasserie La Malarte. Then, we’ll take a guided tour of the city with Heather from Lost in Arles focusing on Van Gogh.

Tonight we're having a magnificent farewell dinner and wine tasting at Château Estoublon.

Breakfast, photo sharing & departure. You’ll be dropped off at the TGV station for your trip back up to Paris. Should you want to fly back from Marseille, there will be a small extra charge.