Provence in a Nutshell: Villages, Pont du Gard & More

In the morning, you will be picked up in an air-conditioned minibus from your hotel in Avignon. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide, you will be taken on a tour of the region of Provence.

You will visit the following sites:

• Pont du Gard: The Pont du Gard is a beautiful 2000 year-old Roman aqueduct that until recently supplied over 40 million gallons of water daily to the city of Nimes. Surprisingly, this gigantic stone structure has no mortar – the stones are made to fit together in a rather seamless fashion and using the arches the weight supports itself. The monument is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On your way to Alpilles, you will come across lock of Vallabrègues on the Rhône river and Tarascon with its 15th century medieval castle of Roi Rene.

• Baux de Provence: It is a beautiful village set upon a rock at a height of 245 metres. Tour around its historical centre and visit the museum of santons, Hôtel des Porcelets, beautiful 16th century houses, St Vincent Church and other attractions.

• Antiques of Saint Remy de Provence: It is a pretty village, and the old Gallo-Roman interior is circled by the remnants of a circular 14th century wall. St. Remy is located on the plains at the northern edge of the Alpilles, about 20 kilometres south of Avignon, this is where Van Gogh painted ‘Starry Night’.

Drive through the Luberon regional park, known for its beautiful countryside and picturesque hilltop villages Menerbes, where British writer Peter Mayle wrote ‘A Year in Provence’. Further on, proceed to Roussillon, one of the most beautiful villages in France. Visit the village of Gordes, one of the most well-known hilltop villages in the region. Stroll around and you will see houses of white stone and labyrinth of narrow cobblestone streets.

You will come across an impressive collection of copper stills dating from the 16th century. A demonstration of the process of distillation will be presented during the harvest season (July and August). On Sunday only, enjoy L’Isle sur la Sorgue, village famous for antique shops and the weekly market.

Your tour ends at the starting point.