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Betty Rosbottom
and
Villas and Vines
present
Provence at Harvest Time!
October 12th – 18th, 2008
Download
as Adobe PDF with Registration Form
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Sunday, October 12th
Avignon
Arrive
in Avignon where you will be met by your program leader,
and escorted to our 4-star hotel, the 16th-century
Hotel Europe, conveniently located in the heart of
Avignon’s historic Old City. Enjoy the hotel’s luxurious
amenities as well as the fine period furnishings. The Hotel
Europe boasts an elegant and distinguished Michelin-starred
restaurant.
The
city of Avignon has a long and fascinating history. In the 14th
century it was the capital of Christendom--the popes lived here
during what the Romans called the “Babylonian Captivity.” The
legacy left by the papal courts’ splendor and magnificence makes
Avignon one of the most interesting and beautiful of Europe’s
medieval cities. Late this afternoon we’ll enjoy a guided walking
tour of our fair “home town.” Our guide, Pierre, will point out
the highlights, architectural gems, historic points of interest,
and beautiful views of Avignon and the Rhône River.
Tonight’s
dinner is to be enjoyed together in one of the charming local
brasseries tucked away in a quiet cobble-stoned side street in the
Old Avignon.
D
Monday, October 13th
Avignon
This
morning we venture just outside Avignon to visit a local cheese
producer. Provence is most noted for its exceptional goat
cheeses, and here we witness the production and variety of
preparations of this local favorite.
Lunch
will be enjoyed together with a crisp local rosé at one of
our favorite outdoor cafes. Pierre will be with us to help guide
you through the menu, explaining the local cuisine.
After
lunch you are free to enjoy this fine city at your own pace:
visiting the Popes’ Palace, enjoying the hotel, or shopping
the stores and boutiques on the fashionable rue de la
République, Avignon’s main thoroughfare.
Tonight,
discover dinner on your own among this colorful city’s wide
assortment of restaurants and cafes. Ask you program leader for
suggestions.
B, L
Tuesday, October 14th
Avignon – Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This
morning we get out of the heat and directly into the kitchen.
First we visit Les Halles, Avignon’s produce market,
with the one and only Madame Manguin, followed by hands-on
cooking instruction in her beautiful home on the island of
Barthelasse situated two kilometers from Avignon on the
Rhône River. Madame Manguin, owner of an idyllic countryside bed
and breakfast, is author, cooking school teacher, and femme
extraordinaire. She guides us through the market as we make
our purchases for our cooking session and lunch in her home.
As
we are very near Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the Côtes du Rhône
village of international wine fame, we will stop in for an
exclusive visit and tasting at one of the most characteristic
wineries in the area.
Tonight
we will enjoy a sumptuous dinner in Avignon at the
Restaurant Heily-Lucullus, one of this fair city’s
finest table.
B, L, D
Wednesday, October 15th
St. Remy –Paradou
Arles - Lourmarin
Early
this morning we enjoy the scenic drive to St-Rémy-de-Provence
to enjoy its city center and wonderful outdoor market place. St-Rémy
symbolizes beautifully the essence of Provence, whether through
its decor of boulevards shaded by plane trees, fountains splashing
in the squares, charming old alley ways, or the atmosphere which
reigns especially during traditional fairs and on market day.
Wednesday is the weekly market morning in St-Rémy where we will
shop for ornate lace, taste the freshest produce just hand-picked
from private gardens that morning, smell the yards of
saucissons, and admire the green and black olive tapenade
and savory local cheeses. This may be the best stop, price- and
selection-wise, to shop for souvenirs.
The
18th-century Mas des Barres has been part of a
long and fascinating history. This morning we will be welcomed to
visit the mill, witness the olive oil production, then taste the
olives, olive oil, and tapenade. The olive oil from Mas des
Barres consistently wins France’s top honors for taste and
quality.
Our
appetites will lead us to lunch in the village of Le Paradou
to share one of the best-loved local secrets for unbeatable
Provençal homecooking at Le Bistrot de Paradou, one
of author Peter Mayle’s favorites. mentioned in his book
A Year in Provence.
A
leisurely drive through the beautiful Provençal countryside takes
us to the captivating and winding streets of Arles, often
referred to as the soul of Provence. Art lovers, archaeologists,
and historians have long been attracted to this town on the Rhône
River.
The
Greeks are said to have founded the city in the 6th century B.C.
while Julius Caesar established a Roman colony here in 46 B.C.
Under Roman rule, Arles prospered. It wasn’t until 1481 that Arles
was incorporated into France. Today Arles is a magnificent city
with first-rate museums, excellent restaurants, and exciting
summer festivals. The charm of Provence is very much in evidence
in Arles. Many of its scenes, painted so luminously by Van Gogh,
remain to delight visitors. Van Gogh painted some of his most
celebrated works in this Provençal town including The Bridge at
Arles and Sunflowers. We are privileged to have our
own guide leading us through the colorful past of this great
painter. We will also visit one of the world’s most pristinely
preserved amphitheatres to witness where the Romans watched
gladiators fight the lions and each other.
We
now transfer to the luxurious, countryside 4-star hotel Le
Moulin de Lourmarin in the village of its namesake.
Lourmarin is picturesque and idyllic, and is included amongst
the “100 most beautiful villages in France” (Les 100 Plus Beaux
Villages de France). Peter Mayle now makes this village his
summer home since having left Ménerbes.
Tonight’s
dinner is an adventure to discover on our own amongst the wide
array of cafés, bistros, and restaurants in Lourmarin.
B, L
Thursday, October 16th
Cassis - Lourmarin
This
morning we make our descent southward until we reach the colorful
Mediterranean fishing village of Cassis, justly reputed for
the quality of its fish, shellfish, and other seafood; the
sea-urchins (oursins) with Cassis white wine are a local
specialty.
Lunch
will be ours to enjoy at Nino, the finest
restaurant on the harbor, specializing in the local seafood with
wonderful water views.
Cassis
rests at the foot of Europe’s highest cliff and is known for its
famous calanques--miniature fjords among towering
white-stone cliffs. This afternoon we cruise these Mediterranean
inlets with our good captain who has been sailing these waters for
over thirty years.
Dinner
is an adventure to discover on your own in Lourmarin among the
nice array of cafes, bistros, and restaurants in the village
center. You may decide to make reservations in the exquisite
dining room at our hotel.
B, L
Friday, October 17th
Lourmarin-Gordes-Roussillon
Today
is market day in our own dear village of Lourmarin so the morning
will be yours to bargain with the artisans, vendors, and farmers
in the market place or to enjoy a grasse matinée at the
hotel in comfort and style.
Lunch
will be yours to discover by sampling the offerings at the market
or at one of Lourmarin’s tasty restaurants or brasseries.
This
afternoon we visit two of the most pristinely preserved Provençal
villages voted amongst France’s 100 most beautiful villages,
Gordes and Roussillon. In Gordes, the houses rise in
picturesque tiers above the Vallé d’Imergue on the edge of
the Vaucluse plateau. It is pleasant to walk through this
charming town along the calades (small, paved, sometimes
stepped alley ways lined with gutters defined by two rows of
stone) with vaulted passageways, arcades of old, tall houses and
rampart ruins; the shops, craft shops and market add to the
bustle.
Roussillon
stands on an unusual site on the highest of the hills between the
Coulon valley and Vaucluse plateau. These striking
hills, composed of ochre rock of 16 or 17 different shades, which
are featured in the local houses, enhance the village and the
surrounding countryside. There will be time for shopping in
charming boutiques; colorful pottery is an excellent souvenir from
our visit.
Dinner
tonight will be the icing on the cake, as we dine at one of the
finest restaurants in Provence, for a meal to remember!
B, D
Saturday, October 18th
Avignon
Following
breakfast we transfer to the Avignon train station to continue our
journey homeward.
B
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