France Self- Drive Experience

France Self- Drive Experience

1-800-iExplore www.iexplore.com

Welcome to France! A trip to France means good food, fine wine, gorgeous landscapes, ancient Roman Ruins, wildlife and art- lots of it. On this exciting 7-day self-drive experience, you will find museums, art galleries and in this southern area, hundreds of Roman remains for you to explore. Provence is a magical, light-infused world of the Mediterranean, where black cypresses bend in the breeze under an azure-blue sky and the scent of lavender hangs in the air.

France Self- Drive Experience

1-800-iExplore www.iexplore.com

Day 01: MARSEILLES- ARLES

Fly into Marseilles and then head for Arles, the soul of Provence and the gateway to La Camargue, a wild place of lagoons, rice fields and cowboys. Make sure you try and see one of the many Roman sites in the area: in among the pretty nests of red roof and soft stone is the superbly preserved and recently restored amphitheater, which is definitely worth a visit. Above all, Arles is a place to wander in the footsteps of Van Gogh, who settled here for about a year in 1888. Of course, you are in France and like every French town, Arles has its share of cafes and restaurants which can offer as much gourmet food as you can take. Take some time to explore La Camargue, the wetlands at the mouth of the River Rhone. This is a paradise for both birds and bird watchers. Over 560 species inhabit the region, both permanent residents and migratory birds. Huge flocks of pink flamingoes arrive for the summer and create a most dazzling spectacle.

Suggested Hotel: Hostellerie Les Frenes or similar Day 02: ARLES- NIMES

Take a short drive from Arles today to Nimes. Here you will find some of the best preserved Roman ruins in all of France. Perhaps visit the Maison Carree- a Roman temple dating from about 5 AD and maybe the nearby Carree d’Art, which houses the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Nimes is also a good base from which to explore the surrounding area. You may wish to venture out to the attractive village of Uzes and the Pont du Gard, a Roman Aqueduct on the beautiful River Gard. Suggested Hotel: Hostellerie Les Frenes or similar

France Self- Drive Experience

1-800-iExplore www.iexplore.com

Day 03: NIMES- AVIGNON- CARPENTRAS

Depart from Nimes today and head for Avignon, the capital of the region. Avignon is a walled city of history and culture. The popes moved here from Rome in 1309 and for some 70 years Avignon was the center of European religion and art. The clerics are long gone, but the palace remains the most breathtaking sight in Provence. The Palais des Papes is superb inside and out with its silent cloisters, halls and imposing ramparts. Although there are plenty of fine accommodations in Avignon, you may want to continue your explorations of the region and stay outside the urban area; why not head for Carpentras, a quiet little agricultural town only some 25 km from Avignon.

Suggested Hotel: Hostellerie Les Frenes or similar

Day 04: CARPENTRAS- FONTAINE DE VACLUSE- GORDES

From Carpentras, head for Fontaine de Vacluse, a beautiful village with only 600 inhabitants. Fontaine de Vacluse is noted for its amazing spring, where the Sorgue River ends its underground journey and gushes to the surface at the base of a cliff. Jacques Cousteau almost drowned here and nobody as of yet has plunged to the bottom. There are also a few small museums here you may wish to visit.

When you are ready, continue on your way to the tiered village of Gordes, about 20km east. This village forms an amphitheater overlooking the Rivers Sorgue and Cavalon. Just to the south, you will find the Village de Bories; Bories are Bronze-age huts shaped like beehives, which were in continuous use up until the 18th century, as shelters, storage or as wine cellars. Suggested Hotel: Le Couvent des Minimes or similar

France Self- Drive Experience

1-800-iExplore www.iexplore.com

Day 05: GORDES- APT

Depart from Gordes this morning and head towards the town of Apt. Apt is a fabulous market town- the beauty of Apt is the old town (vieille ville), hidden behind the walled buildings. Long, narrow streets winding between the houses, with interesting little nooks here and there waiting for discovery. The old town is centered around the 11th-century Cathedral, on what was once an island between two branches of the river. Two ancient towers, the 18th-century Bouquerie tower and the 16th-century Tour de l'Horloge both have lovely campaniles. In some of the narrow, paved streets you'll see vaulted passages and some very lovely fountains. This is also the perfect base from which to explore the Luberon Hills and the Parc Naturel Regional. There are numerous small villages, forests and abandoned farmhouses to explore as well as some really good hiking and cycling trails as well. Suggested Hotel: Le Couvent des Minimes or similar

Day 06: APT- AIX-EN- PROVENCE

No visit to this region would be complete without a stay in Aix-en-Provence. Handsome, aristocratic Aix-en-Provence is a city of fountains and tree-lined avenues and is the intellectual heart of Provence. Its ancient streets, 17th century residences and numerous squares are reminiscent of Paris.

Depart from Apt via Cadenet and on to Aix.

One of the best ways to see Aix is by taking the Cézanne Trail. Bronze plaques mark sites from the painter’s life. This jewel of a city should not be missed. You will love the gorgeous architecture, broad avenues, fountains, art galleries, museums, wonderful restaurants and cafes and the great nightlife.

Suggested Hotel: Le Piggonet or similar

France Self- Drive Experience

1-800-iExplore www.iexplore.com

Day 07: AIX-EN-PROVENCE- MARSEILLES

From Aix-en –Provence, head back to cosmopolitan Marseilles, France’s oldest and second largest city and gateway to the Mediterranean.

Unlike other French cities, Marseilles hits all the senses at once and is best explored on foot. Here you can find whatever your heart desires. Excellent gastronomy, cafes, bars and nightclubs, art galleries, museums, cathedrals, bustling street markets, and beaches where you can indulge in water sports. In any of Marseille’s hundreds of amazing restaurants, be sure you try Marseilles’ culinary gift to the world, the rich fish stew bouillabaisse. You can take a boat and visit the island of Chateau d’If, immortalized in Le Comte de Monte Cristo by Dumas, where you can explore the dungeons in the fortress.

Suggested Hotel: New Hotel Bompard or similar