Provence by the Sea & The Heart of Provence

Program Length: 11 days. Dates: Spring and Fall dates on request

Program Highlights: A cruise on the Mediterranean: the Chateau d'If Island; the fishing port of Cassis; sightseeing in Marseille, Arles and Avignon; Chateauneuf-du-Pape; St.Remy, les Baux-de-Provence, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue; Roussillon, Gordes, and Senanque; Menerbes, Bonnieux, and Fontaine de Vaucluse; medieval villages, wineries, antique and food markets.  Small-group tour.

The city of Marseille, founded by the Greeks in 600 B.C., is like a theater with every street and every house looking out towards the sea. Hemmed by white limestone hills, it offers breathtaking views over the Port, the islands, and the deep blue Mediterranean sea. A city of art with a rich heritage, Marseille's 19th century triumphal and baroque architecture has given splendor to its palaces, gardens, fountains, cathedrals and noble houses. The history of Marseille is tied to the ships which, for 26 centuries, have linked the city to the ports of the world. On a hill-top, the basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde protects the sailors and watches over the spectacular harbor, the bay, and the famous Chateau d'If island where, in Dumas' novel, the Count of Monte Christo was imprisoned.

The deep inlets "calanques" along the coast from Marseille to Cassis are a breathtaking sight. The delightful fishing port of Cassis is like a jewel encased between towering red cliffs. The first part of the tour features 3 nights in Marseille; visits of the most important sites of the city; a cruise along the coast up to the fishing port of Cassis where we will have lunch and spend the afternoon; and a visit of Arles. Then the tour continues on with aDay by Daydescription of our "Cultural and Gourmet Delights in Provence" tour described in this web site.
Price: On request.

The program includes 3 nights in Marseille, 7 nights in the exclusive Luberon region of Provence. All breakfasts, 10 meals, wine tastings, admission fees, guide, a cruise in Cassis, a visit of the Chateau d'If Island, ground transportation with private chauffeur during the tour. Please contact us for reservations.

Phone: 602-953-3173 - email: fvv@q.com
© Copyright 1995-2014 by French Vintage Vacations, LLC. All rights reserved.


"Walking in Provence"

Self-guided tour. Private chauffeur
Price & Dates on request

If there are just two of you or not enough to form a group, travel with us independently and you will enjoy the same personalized touch we give to our guests in our guided tours.

Program Length: 8 days (the program can be shortened or extended)

Dates: Weekly, from mid-April to October.  For June, July, and August we recommend advanced reservations (no later than mid-February if possible).

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: A unique vacation in the protected Luberon Natural Regional Park, the very "heart of Provence." With a rich variety of flora and fauna, the Luberon range is one of the last Provençal regions to have its natural surroundings preserved. Your path will cross hillside villages, lavender fields, medieval castles, vineyards, cherry orchards, and breathtaking landscapes. Roussillon, Rustrel, and the Provençal Colorado which looks like a painter's palette; Bonnieux and the Cedar forest, Gordes and its Medieval and Renaissance castle; Senanque, and its 12th century abbey nestled among lavender fields; Oppede, Buoux, and Lacoste crowned with the impressive ruins of the Marquis de Sade's castle; villages' markets, town squares with old stone fountains to quench your thirst; and, the friendliness of Provençal people.

We pre-book your accommodation and make all the arrangements for your visit. We provide a chauffeur, a set of maps with trails, a proposed itinerary, brochures and notes of interesting sites to visit, and places to stop for lunch or picnic.

You can adapt the itinerary according to your needs: If you decide to take a day off from walking and want to do something different such as visiting a historical village, museum or castle, shopping - or rest all day by the pool, just tell your chauffeur one day in advance. You can also make optional, personal arrangements with the chauffeur to visit sites not noted in the itinerary.

Unless you tell him otherwise, your chauffeur picks you up each morning at 9 A.M. for a short drive that takes you to the start of the route. By late afternoon, he picks you up and takes you back to the hotel. We provide a contact phone number if you need assistance or want to be picked up earlier.

The program includes 7 nights in a comfortable room with en-suite facilities in a very charming inn with views over the Luberon valley, gardens and swimming pool; 7 continental breakfasts; 6 meals with wine; 2 admission fees to two sites of your choice in the proposed itinerary, transportation to all sites noted in the proposed itinerary; transfers from Avignon TGV train station (or airport for an added fee).

"Antiques Expeditions in Provence"



Program Length: 8 days Dates & Price on request

Program Highlights: Antique markets, stores, galleries, and dealers in architectural antiques in and around Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, St.Remy-de-Provence. We help you negotiate the price and make arrangements for shipping with professional shipping companies. We do not take any commission from you or the vendors. Some of our guests have saved $$$$ with our help in negotiating prices. Visits of historical villages, Provençal markets, and private wine tasting are also part of the tour. The program is designed for 10 or 12 guests.

Whether you are interested in buying French Antiques, or just want to have fun looking at the incredible variety of furniture and objects offered for sale on the French Antique Market, you will enjoy this tour as much as we do. Indeed, we are constantly looking ourselves for good deals to furnish our house in Provence!

No matter what you are looking for we will do everything possible to help you find it. There is no limit to what you can find in Provence, no matter the period, the style, and your budget.

Although this tour is designed for antiques' lover, this doesn't mean that you will be spending all you time in the confinement of antique stores. Along our way, we will also stop by to visit beautiful villages and markets where you can purchase Provençal fabrics and products, have wonderful lunches and dinners, and a private wine tasting!

The Program includes: 7 nights in a lovely hotel, all breakfasts, 7 meals, several wine tasting, visits of antiques stores, villages and markets, program director, ground transportation with private chauffeur, transfers from Avignon TGV train station. Saturday pick up time is 4:30 P.M. The following Saturday we leave the hotel at 9:30 A.M. and arrive in Avignon at about 10:30 A.M.

Art, Castles & Wines in Languedoc

A Week's hosted tour with French Vintage Vacations

A Special Tour -- Price & Dates on request

This personalized and intimate tour is designed for 8 to 10 guests

Discover a beautiful region, nestled between the Pyrénées mountains and the Mediterranean sea, where cherry trees bloom in February. The Roussillon area of Languedoc is the sunniest part of France and, with 310 000 hectares of vineyards and 35 varieties of wines, it is the largest producer of wine in the world! You'll enjoy tasting the Banyuls, Rivesaltes, Corbières, and you'll love the delicious and exotic cuisine of French Catalonia. This is the country of Cassoulet, wonderful fish, stuffed mussels and calameres, grilled red peppers and sausages, duck, escargots, and delicious desserts!
 [Click here to see larger photo]You'll explore a region attached to its traditions, rich in culture and monuments, with extraordinary Medieval Castles, Romanesque churches, perched villages and abbeys, fortified towns and, along the Vermillion Coast, delightful fishing ports that Picasso, Matisse and Derain celebrated in many paintings.

PRICE: On request. The price includes 7 nights in a comfortable room and private bathroom, 7 breakfasts, 7 meals, wine, a welcome reception, transportation to all sites noted in the proposed itinerary, museums and wineries fees, transfers from and to Perpignan train station.

ACCOMMODATIONS: A beautiful Catalan house with comfortable rooms and private bathrooms, gardens with Mediterranean plants, close to the sea.

RESERVATIONS: Please contact us by email for dates and price.

TRAVEL AGENTS AND TOUR ORGANIZERS FOR A SPECIAL GROUP OR LANGUEDOC TOUR PLEASE CLICK ON "SPECIAL GROUPS" BELOW.

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