I still can't believe that I managed to break out on vacation in the summer, during the lavender bloom! The Verdon Gorge struck me the most! The Cretan road is very scary, exciting, but amazingly beautiful, these are places that take your breath away, take your breath away, these are the moments that you want to keep in your memory forever! Of course, LAVENDER !!! It is really as beautiful as in the photos, but alas, the photos do not convey the smell !!! And you must feel it! This is the smell of Provence! MARKETS !!! This is a must! Reading the reports, I thought, why do people go to the market for the second day in a row, is it really not enough one day? No, not enough! Each village has its own color for the market, each village has its own flavor, and I advise you to visit as many markets as possible.
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Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a very beautiful city, I recommend to visit. Narrow streets, beautiful cobbled steps. Reminiscent of Lefkara, this town is one of the most visited on the Côte d'Azur, just a short distance from Nice. Belted with a fortress wall of the 16th century, the city lives its own life, unlike other cities. Medieval streets, of which there are very few in the city, form a kind of pilgrimage path through the city's numerous art galleries. Modigliani, Picasso, Soutine, Matisse, Cocteau, Colette, Sartre, Yves Montand and Garbo, Sophia Loren and Alain Delon once lived in this picturesque fortress.
And here is the famous Grasse We somehow didn't like it, there are a lot of black and suspicious personalities, if you just walk away from the central streets, it stinks, sorry, urine, I don't recommend this city. In the 16th century, mankind learned to make thin leather gloves, belts, boots, raincoats and dresses. And it all smelled bad. This is how perfumers appeared who were able to add a delicate aroma to leather products using essential oils. Here, in the valley of Grasse, the skill of perfumers flourished. 40 perfume factories are located around this valley. The history of perfumery production in Grasse is 400 years old. Grasse flowers are the basis of all French perfumery!
In the evening we booked the Logis Hôtel Le Vieil Amandier for one night in the city Triganceto explore the Verdon Gorge early in the morning before the crowds of tourists arrive. I categorically did not like the hotel - a terrible dinner, a miserable breakfast, not included in the price, the Internet does not work in the room, they charge extra for everything, they even took some kind of tourist tax, although this is the first time we see this in France.
Day 3, Monday, Verdon Gorge, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, lavender fields
Leaving Trigance we drove along the D952 to La Palud-sur-Verdon, where we turned and made a full circle along the D23 (Route des Crêtes du Verdon) Cretan road, stopping at all viewpoints. It is very important here that you do not follow the navigator, but follow the signs to Cretan road! I understood that before the road was two-way along its entire length, but we "broke off", having passed halfway, we saw a brick sign, we had to go back and go around it completely, but in a different direction. This is really a must-see place !!! Views that are breathtaking! For me, this place feels like an observation deck in Dachstein. And if there is an opportunity, then I will definitely go through these beauties again!
Photos cannot convey the full power of these places, but they are just a delight! After driving around the gorge, we decided to refresh ourselves with a swim in the lake
And this is the beach! We turned to the nearest one (although the reports say that the best beaches are farther away), so as not to waste time, quickly changed our clothes and ran into the water! High! The water invigorates! Unaccustomed to after the Mediterranean Sea, it is difficult to keep the body in the water, because the salty sea itself keeps you! But now we have a second wind and we can continue our journey!
After swimming, we drove into the dervenya Moustiers-sainte-marie, which simply fascinated us! Waterfalls, mountains, beautiful streets, a wonderful selection of souvenirs. We had a wonderful meal and rested in La Cascade, 3 Rue de la Bourgade Although the town is very small, but very colorful, it is not for nothing that it appears in the list of the Most beautiful cities in France.
We do not have time to drive far from the village, as we see a crowd of Chinese people who have surrounded something and take pictures (in general, crowds of Chinese are a frequent occurrence in Provence), we stop and see them - donkeys!
The weather turned bad, it became cloudy and it was raining, but we had lavender fields according to plan, so we drove to the city Valensoleand from there to Digne-les-Bains... It was between them that we found the greatest concentration of fields! My first lavender field! Remember how you shouted to your husband: "Stop!" And he grumbled that the field is not photogenic enough and we must look further and why the lavender is so low and the earth is visible. And I didn’t care - here it is, my first field, waited !!! The dream has come true!
Ahead we met many more fields - of very different lengths, widths, heights. Some of them are completely ugly - with weeds and half-dried flowers. But there are also a lot of beautiful fields!
In the evening we checked into our permanent mill hotel, where we spent 5 nights and with which we are very, very happy! The cost is 85 euros with breakfast! The place is quiet, cozy, colorful!
Be aware that many restaurants are closed on Monday in Provence and we had to eat pizza for dinner, although in fairness the pizza was delicious! Day 4, Tuesday. Aix-en-Provence- Ansois- Cucuron- Lourmarin- Chateau la Canorgue-Salon-de-Provence Tuesdays at Aix-en-Provence there is a market, so the first thing we did was go there. Keep in mind that the city is large enough, there are traffic jams, but there are also equipped multi-level parking lots. It's not easy to find the market, but we did find it by wandering around. In general, to be honest, I do not really understand the enthusiasm for this city, in Provence there are towns and prettier ones. But in Aix-en-Provence there are many chain stores like Zara, etc., if someone is interested in such shopping, then keep in mind.
Then we visited two small but charming villages Both villages are very small, we got there during the day, apparently for a siesta, so there was very little people there. Ansua is remembered for the castle (which was closed) and beautiful views of the surrounding area. Kukuron distinguished himself with a large number of cats and good souvenir shops. That's all, of course not counting the wonderful architecture, flowers, and cute details!
Then we drove to the castle in the village Lourmarin... As I wrote many times, we love castles, and we always try to visit them on our travels. Provence is no exception. After searching through the information on the region, I found a magnificent castle worthy of our visit - Lourmarin. Our visit to this palace more than met expectations! We gladly walked not only inside the castle, examining its interiors, but also in the park with blooming lilies.
In the evening we still had time and we were going to visit the lavender fields near the town of Sol, but in that direction the sky was black and lightning flashed, so we decided to call Salon-de-Provence, wandered around the town a little, we somehow didn’t really like it, and I don’t advise you to have dinner at the L’endroit restaurant - a dish on the plate.
Day 5, Wednesday, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence- Monastery Saint-Paul-de-Mausole- Carriers de Lumiere - Les Baux- Moulin de Daudet-Arles
Markets in the city are held on Wednesdays Saint-Remy, so be sure to visit it on this day, this market is one of the largest and there are a lot of interesting goods, souvenirs for every taste! This was the most interesting and colorful market we have seen in Provence! They sell everything here - from clothes, paintings, souvenirs, stained glass windows, bags, soap, and, of course, to a huge variety of food products - olives, pies, tapenades, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, sausages, spices, fish and much, much more! The market is huge! And street musicians play to cheer up!
In the vicinity of Saint-Remy there is a psychiatric hospital where Van Gogh lived for a long time. I read in some reports that people from the city walk to it on foot, so in the summer, in the heat - I do not advise, we went by car, and rightly so, it is not very close there, about 1.5 km. This is an iconic place for connoisseurs of the artist, I was a little "stuck" and infected with madness and I even drove into the navigator instead of Les Baux, which is 15 minutes away - Bonniex, which is 2 hours away, I realized my mistake only 20 minutes later, when we already drove quite far. So, the spirit of Van Gogh really hovers there))) The clinic still has a Van Gogh chamber. His attending physician, Théophile Peyron, examined the patient and concluded that Van Gogh was suffering from one of the forms of epilepsy. When the attacks passed, the artist felt pretty good. Van Gogh painted a lot in the clinic. During the year that he spent in Sant Pol de Mozol, he painted dozens of paintings! It remained a mystery to me why the Impressionists and Van Gogh in particular did not paint lavender fields? Van Gogh in Provence got carried away with drawing cypresses, olive trees, wheat, painted the famous irises, blooming almonds, but not lavender !? Was it ever grown in Provence for 150 years, or is it a tourist marketing ploy?
Carriers de Lumieres (Career of Light) - really liked it! We watched several videos, not only with the impressionists, but also with nature! It's a great idea to put on such a light show in the quarries! My husband did not want to go here, grumbled that there would be anything. But in the end he squealed with delight even before entering the performance, since he liked the rocks and quarries themselves)) And he was delighted with the show! Huge projectors on the walls, floor and ceiling of a huge area under beautiful music show paintings of the Impressionists, it is difficult to describe in words, but you must see! After the show we walked around the village Bo, nice, but it was already hot, and the village is hilly, so the impressions are blurry. Then on the way to Arles stopped at dode mill, beautiful! According to legend, the French writer Daudet bought this mill and lived in it for a long time. The mill was built in 1814 and ground grain until 1915. The Moulin Alphonse Daudet is the only surviving tower windmill in the area.
Driving near the village of Mees, we saw very unusual rocks. We stopped to take pictures of them. And already at home, in the guidebook, I came across an interesting legend. The rocks were turned into stones by monks.
Day 6, Thursday, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue - Fontaine-de-Vaucluse - Abbaye de Sénanque - Roussillion
In the morning we stopped at the market at Ile sur la sorgue, of course, the antique market is there on Sundays, but we didn't work out on Sundays, we had to go on Thursday. I liked the town itself - the streets by the river, bridges, beauty! I highly recommend visiting it! Many travelers indulge in comparing cities of different countries with Venice. So I also decided to pay tribute to this tradition, because in my opinion, L'Ile-sur-la-Sorgue really resembles this magical city on the water. In ancient times, this place was a vast swampy area with an unhealthy and harmful climate. Several families of fishermen settled here, who, to improve living conditions, drained these lands with the help of drainage canals.
This market has a wonderful selection of clothes, I bought myself a few sarafans and a new T-shirt, which I immediately put on
Fountain de vaucluseto be honest, not impressed. I was in love with this place in absentia, because everywhere they wrote in one voice that it was just a must, people come here from all sides and corners of the world to admire the magical source of unearthly beauty, emerald waters, the famous poet Petrarch sang these places in his works , attracted by their mystical beauty and lyricism, and in general, it is eerily beautiful! I think in the spring, when the water is full, it should be very beautiful, but in the summer, when we walked there from the parking lot for about 45 minutes in the heat and found a low-water lake, it was somehow even a little offensive. Although the road to the lake itself is beautiful!
Next on the plan is the famous abbey of Senanque, whose monks believe that only they grow real lavender. I was hoping to buy some souvenirs from this very lavender there, but the packages indicated Marseille and other cities, the monks apparently do not bother themselves with work. A very recognizable place, because his photograph is perhaps the most popular among the covers of travel guides to France and Provence with the Cote d'Azur, and among postcards too.
I think many people started or are starting their acquaintance with Provence with the books of Peter Mayle or with the film adaptation of one of them - the film "Good Year". If you haven't read the Mail or watched the movie, be sure to correct this oversight! I have not yet met a single person who would remain indifferent to these works! We have visited many places in Provence that are associated with them. For example, Peter Mayle lives in Lourmarin, by the way, I understand him, and now, after 3 visits to Provence, I would also prefer this village and its surroundings. Near the village of Bonneux, we stopped at Сhateau la Сanorgue - a chateau from the film. And in this post I will show you Gordes and its surroundings, which also actively appear in the film.
Roussillon is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France, and in my opinion, by right! The colors of the houses are striking: yellow, orange, pink, red, crimson, which turns each street into a bright postcard, somewhat reminiscent of Burano. A short walk from the city center is the ocher reserve - a beautiful route through the quarry. A forty-minute walk through the reserve will give you landscapes that seem unearthly!
We still had time, but we were tired and therefore walked a little around the town of Apt, sitting in a restaurant and gawking at passers-by Day 7 Friday, Carpentras, Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
I know that the route is not logical, but on the last day I wanted to visit another market, and on Fridays, Peter Mail praised the market in Carpentre... In my opinion, this was the worst market that we saw, there are a lot of Arabs here, and Sino-Turkish things are more like Barabashka and Cherkizon (for those who are in the subject). But there are also several rows of Provencal goods
Camarguebeautiful! We saw white horses, black bulls, pink flamingos! Swim in the Mediterranean. Here you can already feel the influence of Spain! By the way, for those who complain that the sea is cold in Cyprus! You’re kidding me! Swim in France and you will understand that the sea in Cyprus is just fresh milk! Even my arms and legs were a little cramped by the temperature of the water, although, of course, it invigorates! There is a bird park in the Camargue! In general, I am rather indifferent to birds, but the best representatives are presented here)) The pearl of the park is, of course, pink flamingos! As far as I understand, wild flamingos fly to the Camargue, as well as to Cyprus, to winter, but some sources write that only wild flamingos gather in the park in summer. In any case, it doesn't matter whether they are wild or tamed, the main thing is that they are beautiful! In addition to flamingos, there are about 200 more bird species - gulls, birds of prey, hawks, black kites, tits and more.
The Camargue is worth visiting not only for the Pont de Gaux ornithological park. Most of all, this region is famous for the town with the Spanish flavor of Saint-Marie-de-la-Mer and the white horses of the Camargue. The Camargue is considered one of the few corners that have survived more or less in their original form. The Camargue is an intricate maze of beaches, sand dunes, reed beds, coastal pastures, and salt pans. It produces 90% of all salt consumed in France. Particularly appreciated is the large Camargue salt, or as it is poetically called “Camargue Flowers”. Local beaches are considered good, we also swam, but in terms of beauty they are about the level of our Larnaca beaches, and even in July the water is cold compared to Cyprus! _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Blog partners: |
It's been almost a year since I promised to tell you about one of my most beautiful travels. This was the south of France, Provence. And now the day has come! :)
Thanks to my memory - I seem to still remember how it was :)
Go!
Since we went to this land for the first time, I wanted to see everything at once, so that we could understand for sure where we wanted to return. It turned out a little at a gallop, but we still managed to form a relatively clear impression. In some cities I wanted to spend more time, in some I have already traveled for the second time and, if everything goes well, in October I will go for the third.
Traveling requires: a good mood, a passion for French cuisine, the ability to entertain yourself on quiet evenings, a car, a desire to look and see, a little endurance (I will tell you about this separately) and a love of rural landscapes.
And yes forgive me my passion for hipstamatic and amateur photography :)
At first I struggled with the route for a long time, but then he somehow drew himself:
So, we see: Marseille - Salon de Provence - Avignon - Lyon - Ebens (subgrenoble :)) - Manosque - Grasse - Cannes - Frejus - Marseille.
But first, a flight from Moscow to Marseille Marignane airport.
The airport is located about 25 km northwest of Marseille. We had no goal of going to Marseille, and so we immediately went north and further north-west - to the small town of Salon de Provence, where we had to spend the night before the start of a wonderful trip.
The distance is just under 40 km.
Salon de Provence is a small town with a population of just over 40,000. He gained fame thanks to soap factories and the fact that in the 16th century Michel Nostradamus lived there for the final 25 years of his life. There is a museum in the city, but we have not reached it.
Evening of the first day. Nice little interior of the hotel room.
And morning!
After lunch we went to Avignon. The distance is about 60 km. An ordinary road, not a track, and therefore very picturesque.
On the way to Avignon:
Avignon is located on the left bank of the Rhone. The city is famous and beautiful. I will not give a historical background (I will not copy Wikipedia, in fact), but I will share a couple of amusing photos. And yes: you need to go to this city.
Small restaurant with Michelin stars. Great meat and chilled wine, friendly staff and a delightful patio.
A bit of a city.
A street of burnt cars.
We didn’t spend the night in Avignon and went to Lyon. The distance is about 240 km.
For the sake of fairness, I will say: this map is not entirely correct - in fact, we first drove along a country road, and then pulled out onto the autobahn - approximately in the Valence area.
But the most beautiful, of course, was along the country road - VINEYARD!
Lyon in person.
This, of course, is no longer quite Provence - Lyon is the administrative center of the Rhône-Alpes region.
What to tell about this city? He's amazing! An unambiguous must-go. Was there the second time last November and will come again and again!
Nice details.
Theatre.
Carnot Square.
Restaurants await guests for dinner.
We stayed in Lyon for a day, and it turned out to be painfully short. I repeat: must go!
After Lyon we went to the town of Ebens - it's not even a town, but a commune! The distance is about 120 km. On the way we stopped in Grenoble, but the city did not make any impression.
But the road was amazing!
A little bit of Grenoble.
And here we are at Ebens' cute little spa hotel.
Cheerful prose.
Hotel territory: cozy gazebos, silence, wonderful air. Height - 408 meters above sea level.
The most wonderful tea party!
And a little girlish joy - greetings from Lyon :)
Hills and mountains.
We are driving along the so-called Napoleon road (N85), laid from Cannes to Grenoble - it was along this road that the emperor returned from the Elbe in February 1815.
A little Chablis at the foot of the Alps never hurts!
Gap turned out to be a small town of funny statues.
Late in the evening we drove into Manosque.
But what is he like in the morning!
Nice little town.
We stayed in Manosque until lunchtime, after which we stopped at the small airfield of Vinon-sur-Verdon.
Small picnic :)
Then we were going to go to the legendary city of perfumers - Grasse. The navigator offered me 2 routes. They differed in length - 10 kilometers, and I, of course, chose a short one, but ... I, a person terribly afraid of heights and mountain roads, should pay attention to the fact that part of the route runs through the mountains, and some have characteristic mountain slopes sharp turns. Distance is about 160 km.
And then the horror story begins! :)
At first, everything is pretty cute: such a coniferous forest.
Rough slides ...
The most beautiful lake of Saint Croix!
Soon after which the Verdon Gorge begins.
This, I'll tell you honestly, is very beautiful, but terribly scary! Literally behind this turn, the road goes into the shadows and for the next 40 kilometers it goes along the cliff of the mountain: in some places there are no bumpers and you can see a cliff with a mountain river rumbling below, there are no road markings anywhere, and oncoming traffic is very unnerving.
In fact, this is such a huge fault: on the left, a sheer rock goes up, on the right it goes down.
Then I do not take pictures, because I am trying to do two things: not to die of horror and not to strangle myself for such a route.
It is worth renting a car. Relying on public transport means deliberately refusing to visit many interesting places, since the bus network in the region is not very well developed.
Lavender fields of Provence
Where to find them and when is the best time to come? Let's figure it out!
Usually lavender blooms from mid-June to mid-August, but the period from the last week of June to the end of July is considered optimal for a visit. At this time, there are numerous festivals (Lavender fête) and parades dedicated to lavender: in Valensole, Riez, Digne-les-Bains, Sault and other cities.
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To see as much as possible, it is worth renting a car. If this is not possible, contact one of the travel agencies that organize day trips to lavender fields from Avignon and other cities in Provence.
Where to go? There are several options:
Plateau de valensole ... Quite a lot of lavender fields are concentrated in a relatively small area. To see them all, from Valensole take the D56 to Puimoisson, then the D953 heading north to the Poteau de Telle junction, and from there take the D8 back to Valensole.
Mont ventoux ... The lavender fields of this region are concentrated around the settlements of Saw, Apt and Gordes. In the area of \u200b\u200bthe village of Gordes there is also an interesting village of borie stone buildings, and to the north is the Senanque abbey, next to which there is one, but a large and famous lavender field.
Pays de valensole ... You have to come to Castellane, then travel 45 kilometers westward, along the way having examined the famous Verdon Gorge, and reach the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, which is one of the most beautiful in France. A road goes up from it, which will lead you to the fields. This area will be of interest to those who rest on the Cote d'Azur (it is located closest to the coast).
A useful gift for loved ones is lavender soap, which can be purchased at any souvenir shop in the region. Affordable prices - 1-3 EUR per piece.
Culinary Provence
The ideal starting point for a gourmet tour of the region - ... Try the fishermen's favorite dish called pan-bagnat, which is a bread stuffed with a mixture of tuna, eggs and salad. Also popular is the niçoise salad, which includes tuna, anchovies, eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives. For breakfast, order the omelette de poutine, an olive oil omelet with parsley and lemon juice. Fans of non-standard flavors will appreciate the fried zucchini flowers in tomato sauce, called beignets de fleurs de courgette. For a more hearty meal, try soupe au pistou, a bean soup with tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, pesto and olive oil. There are many decent establishments, but the best is the French restaurant Jean (12 Rue Lascaris), where lunch will cost from 45 to 165 EUR, and dinner (set menu) - from 100 to 165 EUR per person.
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The next city to be included in the itinerary is the resort
on the Cote d'Azur. Those with a sweet tooth cannot resist a lemon cream pie (tarte au citron) or oranges (fougasse mentonnaise). The first place in the rating of city establishments rightfully belongs to the Michelin-starred restaurant Mirazur (30 Avenue Aristide Briand). The cost of lunch on weekdays is 50 EUR, dinner will cost an average of 70 to 135 EUR per person.
Then head to - home of the famous bouillabaisse soup. Its preparation is an almost waste-free process; the poupeton soufflé is obtained from the remaining parts of the fish. Do you want something non-standard? Order oursinade, a sea urchin dish. Worthy of attention is the AM par Alexandre Mazzia restaurant (9 rue Rocca), where you can dine for 35-55 EUR, and dinner for 90-110 EUR per guest.
Are you ready to continue? The Cavayon, where the famous Cavaillon melons are grown, awaits you. One of their admirers was Alexandre Dumas, who traded 194 of his books for the delivery of 12 melons annually for the rest of his life. Arriving here in July, you will witness a unique event - the melon festival. As part of a four-day event, a pyramid of melons grows on Place de Clos, processions with the participation of members of the Order of the Melon follow through the streets, music sounds, master classes are held on cooking (of course, from melons!), Everyone can visit the farms with a guided tour ...
You can end the journey in the town of Carpentras. Provence is the main supplier of truffles to restaurants and shops ... On the local market, according to statistics, up to 50% of the total volume of "black gold" mined in the country is sold. In the menu of any restaurant you will find dishes that include truffle. Take a look, for example, at Chez Serge (90 rue Cottier), where you can taste pasta or omelet with truffle for 25 EUR or order a set dinner for 29-119 EUR per person.
Excursion Provence
If you are fond of history and love colorful ruins, come to Avignon! The most visited attraction of the city is the Palais des Papes (papal palace), included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The entrance ticket costs 5.5-11 EUR, excursion support - 120 EUR per group. Audio guide rental (available in 11 languages, including Russian and English) - 2 EUR. Also of interest are the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palais du Ruhr (15th century), where exhibitions are constantly held, and the Saint-Benese bridge. Be sure to stroll through the Banasteri quarter, lined with buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. When planning your trip, keep in mind that the Avignon Festival begins in mid-July and lasts three weeks. At this time, up to 200,000 tourists come here, so sightseeing and finding a place for dinner will be problematic.
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Avignon is also a convenient starting point for exploring the surrounding area. Remember at the beginning of the article we talked about the need for a car in Provence? Well, in Avignon there are difficulties with parking during the season. You can limit yourself to those cities and villages where regional buses go. For example, in Orange (Orange) there are two attractions that are protected by UNESCO: the ancient Roman amphitheater (one of the best preserved in the world) and the triumphal arch, erected in honor of the victories of Julius Caesar. The entrance ticket to the amphitheater with the right to visit the historical museum costs 7.5-9.5 EUR (the price includes the rental of an audio guide).
Take a look also at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, located 20 kilometers from Avignon, which is called the “Venice of Provence.” The city will be interesting not only for lovers of beautiful views, but also for lovers of old L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is the third largest antiques trading center in the world, second only to London and Paris, with international fairs held twice a year: 15 August and Easter.
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It is definitely worth taking the time to visit Nîmes. The ancient Roman amphitheater, which was erected in 60 BC, has been preserved here. It is under the protection of UNESCO and occasionally serves as a stage for performances of world-famous stars such as Depeche Mode, Metallica and Rammstein. The entrance ticket to the territory costs 8-10 EUR, the price includes an audio guide rental. Not far from the city is another grandiose structure of the same era - the Pont du Gard aqueduct, which is also included in the World Heritage List.
Provence for art lovers
This region has played an important role in the lives of many eminent artists. For example, the surroundings of Aix-en-Provenc, in particular the Montagne St-Victoire ridge, inspired Paul Cézanne. While walking around the city, look for nails with the letter "C" on the head on the asphalt - they mark the points associated with his life and work. You can visit the Jas de Bouffan family estate, look into the workshop on the Lovs hill or the Bibemus quarry, where Cézanne came to work on paintings in the open air. Only 32 points - from the house where the artist was born to the cemetery, where he found his last refuge. From April 1 to October 31, you can go for a walk with a guide, the cost of a two-hour tour is 5-9 EUR per person (for children under 7 years old - free).
Coolest Provence Route by Car in 1 Day! July 24th, 2015
The route is quite simple, and can start not only from the city of Castellana. You can stay in any city on the Côte d'Azur: Nice, Cannes or my favorite Menton. Only you need to leave early anyway, since the route is quite intense and intense. 
You can also end up not in Avignon, but in some other city. But Avignon is one of the most interesting places in Provence, the “Papal City” with one of the largest medieval buildings in the world - an impressively powerful papal palace. And for those who love the province more, I highly recommend staying in the village of Les Baux-de-Provence, instead of Avignon, and this will not affect travel time in any way. At the end of the route, after the abbey, there is as much to Les Baux-de-Provence as to Avignon, but this village is just a stunning place and here is the most visited castle in France.
The route is conventionally divided into two parts, the first is Verdon Gorge, Moutiers-Sainte-Marie village and lavender fields.
Here is the area with the gorge in more detail. 
The first views start from the intersection of D925 and D955, and the Cretan road D23 begins from the village of La Palud-sur-Verdon. This is a serpentine road and you need to drive it clockwise (as shown on the map), because the other half is completely one-sided. The culmination is somewhere in the middle of the Cretan road (the title photo of the post), but further interesting views also open up, up to Lake Sainte-Croix. More photos with a gorge in a separate one. 
Immediately after, we are greeted by Lake Sainte-Croix, which, if desired, you can call in for a swim. 
Then we will stop at the village Moutiers Sainte-Marie (Moustiers-Sainte-Marie). 
Here we will have lunch and we can work up an appetite a little, go up (262 steps) to the Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir chapel. 
And, of course, have lunch. For lunch I recommend Bistrot provencal La Treille Muscate (located on Place de l "eglise, Google finds it by name), a real French restaurant with local cuisine and a touchy chef, if the meat is suddenly ordered to be above average. There is only one nuance - they only speak -French. You can reserve a table by mail [email protected]or by phone +33 4 92 74 64 31. Incredibly delicious.
Then we go to Lavender fields, on the D8 or D6 road. There will also be lavender fields after Valensole along the D6, up to Manosque, but less often. 
I really liked the pictures of lavender fields near trasyy
, here is one photo.
The most important thing is not a beautiful view, but a smell. But you can see and smell them only from mid-late June to early August. And the best time is the beginning of July.
The second part of the route is a beautiful road through Serest (it is not necessary to stop there) and between the villages Lacoste (Lacoste) and Proud (Gordes), where on the sides of the road there will be vineyards, orchards, ancient stone walls. And at the top of Lacoste there is a castle where the Marquis de Sade once lived. 
The last leg of the route is larger. 
Lacoste (Lacoste) and Proud (Gordes) are very pretty villages, which are the quintessence of an idyllic Provencal village with ancient stone streets buried in flowers and stunning views of the surrounding valley. 
And the last stop, just after Gordes, is abbey of Senanque (Librairie de l "Abbaye de Sénanque), founded in 1148, which also has a large lavender field. 
To go along the route, it will be enough to print this post (namely, screenshots of Google maps) and go. In general, the route can be divided into two days, then there will be more free time to walk. Before traveling, I recommend reading my
Provence is an area in southeastern France that has inspired more than one artist and poet to create timeless masterpieces. It was here that Renoir and Matisse worked. Travelers come here to see the vibrant, mosaic-like nature and architectural monuments of antiquity. Bus tours and travel planned by the tour operator are unlikely to allow you to fully enjoy Provence and its atmosphere, so we suggest you.
How to rent a car
The itinerary that we have compiled assumes that you start your journey from Marseille. You can rent a car right there, just after going down the plane, but if you want to save money, it is better to use one of the proven aggregators in advance. We recommend rentalcars.com. Also on this site you can see car rentals in other cities of Provence.
Day 1 and 2 - Marseille
Day 3 - Aix-en-Provence
From Marseille to Aix-en-Provence 33.5 km, travel time about 35 minutes.
Aix-en-Provence is a picturesque city with Baroque, Gothic architecture and many beautiful fountains.
What to see in Aix-en-Provence
Boulevard Mirabeau. The central and largest street in the city. In the immediate vicinity of it there are medieval temples and city museums.
Church of Saint-Jean-de-Malte. Gothic cathedral of the 17th century. The bell tower of the cathedral is the highest point in the city. Address: 24 Rue d "Italie.
Granet Museum. Named after François Granet. The exhibition is based on the works of the painter himself, but thanks to benefactors from private collections, masterpieces of other famous artists have come here. Address: Place Saint-Jean de Malte.
Where to live
We recommend staying at Escale Oceania Aix-en-Provence, Campanile Aix-en-Provence Sud - Pont de l "Arc. For more Aix-en-Provence hotels follow this link.
Day 4 - Abbey of Notre Dame de Senanque and lavender fields
The distance between Aix-en-Provence and Senanque is 80 km, travel time is 60 minutes.
Senanque Abbey is not just a monument of the Middle Ages of the 12th century, but also a functioning monastery, in which several dozen monks live to this day. They are engaged in obtaining honey and growing lavender flowers. The well-preserved refectory and scriptorium (the place where texts were copied by hand) is considered the pearl of the monastery. But the main attraction of Senank is considered to be the huge lavender fields that stretch around the monastery for many kilometers. In the flowering season, they look like a fluffy lilac carpet without end and edge.
Where to live
Travelers usually do not stop in the Senanka area and, having examined the surroundings, go further.
Day 5 - Avignon
The distance from Senanque to Avignon is 38 km, travel time is 42 minutes.
Avignon is one of the most beautiful Provencal medieval cities, famous for its rich history and architecture. In the Middle Ages, the city was the seat of the popes, the castle-palace of the pontiffs is perfectly preserved.
What to see in Avignon
Saint Benese Bridge. The main symbol of Avignon, built in the 12th century. Only 4 arches have survived to this day, but once the bridge was a real miracle of medieval architecture, having 22 arched spans (today only 4 are left) and reaching a total length of 915 meters.
Papal Palace. The palace was built in the 14th century. Also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The palace is the largest Gothic building in the world. Address: Place du Palais.
Opera Theater. The theater was built in the 19th century by the outstanding French architects Chaprentier and Fejche. Popular classical operas and plays are staged here. Address: 1 Rue Racine.
Where to live
We recommend staying at the Avignon Grand Hotel, the Mercure Pont d "Avignon Center or the Ibis Avignon Center Gare.
Day 6 - Orange
The distance from Avignon to Orange is 30 km. Travel time is 30 minutes.
Orange is a small town located on the banks of the Rhone. It is considered the warmest city in France. Gauls once lived here. They gave the city its name in honor of one of the main pagan gods.
What to see in Orange
Roman amphitheater. Built before our era by the Romans, the amphitheater can accommodate 12,000 spectators. Previously, gladiator fights and theatrical performances took place here. Now, thanks to very good acoustics, opera music festivals are held here.
Triumphal Arch. Another well-preserved ancient Roman building. It was erected in honor of the defeat of the Gauls by the Romans. The arch is 20 meters high. Located on the road from Orange to Lyon.
Cathedral of Notre Dame de Nazareth. It is a Catholic church that once served as the seat of an Orange bishop. The building was erected in the 6th century.
Where to live
It is better to stay in the city center. The highest ratings are for Chambres d "Hôtes Mas Julien, Campanile Hotel Orange, Hotel Arene.
Day 7 - Pont du Guar and Nimes
The distance from Orange to Nimes is 50 km, travel time is 60 minutes.
- a huge aqueduct across the Gardon River, built by the ancient Romans. One of the well-preserved monuments of ancient Roman culture. Located near Nimes. Address: 400 Route du Pont du Gard.
Nîmes is a charming southern town famous for its architectural monuments and the unusual coat of arms in the form of a crocodile and a palm tree.
What to see in Pont du Guar and Nimes
Amphitheater. Built in the 2nd century BC, the Nimsk amphitheater is almost an exact replica of the Roman Colosseum. The amphitheater was the main arena for gladiatorial battles. Its dimensions are truly impressive: the amphitheater is 120 meters long and 100 meters wide.
Maison Carré. An excellently preserved temple from the 2nd century BC. The temple was built in honor of the beloved grandchildren of Emperor Octavian. Address: Place de la Maison Carrée.
Where to live
Day 9 - Arles and bullfighting in the arenas of Arles
The distance between Nimes and Arles is 33 km. Travel time is 24 minutes.
Arles is a small town that can be completely explored on foot. It is famous for the fact that Gauguin and Van Gogh lived and worked here for a long time.
What to see in Arles
Cathedral of St. Trofim. Located right in the center of Arles in the main square. It was built in ancient times and reconstructed in the 12th century. Address: 6 Place de la République.
Amphitheater. Located a hundred meters from the cathedral. Built in the 1st century AD. Accommodates up to 25 thousand spectators.
In the summer, the Camarkan bullfight is held in Arles. Prestigious bullfights take place in amphitheater arenas and attract thousands of tourists. The performance, of course, is cruel, but incredibly spectacular.
Where to live
10-12 days - Camargue and the beaches of Saint-Marie-de-la-Mer
Day 14 - return to Marseille
Distance from Montpellier to Marseille - 168 km, travel time - 2 hours 10 minutes.
Have a nice trip!