Help with last details for Provence
Aug 30th, 2011, 11:31 AM
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Help with last details for Provence
Hello All,
This is our itinerary and we are wondering if we are situated well.
2 nights London
1 night Avignon
6 nights St. Remy in house rental
This is where we need help - 3 nights in Rousillon or Gordes?
That still leaves 3 nights - should be spend 2 in La Viason Romaine or go to Aix
not sure if being in a city will be good after spending all that time in the countryside.
If we want to go to the Hinterlands is that too far from St. Remy?
We are not sure if we are spending too much time in the areas listed or if we should try to go to Dijon or Beaune - sorry for all the confusion.
This is our itinerary and we are wondering if we are situated well.
2 nights London
1 night Avignon
6 nights St. Remy in house rental
This is where we need help - 3 nights in Rousillon or Gordes?
That still leaves 3 nights - should be spend 2 in La Viason Romaine or go to Aix
not sure if being in a city will be good after spending all that time in the countryside.
If we want to go to the Hinterlands is that too far from St. Remy?
We are not sure if we are spending too much time in the areas listed or if we should try to go to Dijon or Beaune - sorry for all the confusion.
Aug 30th, 2011, 12:13 PM
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>>What are the Hinterlands?<<
Nice Hinterlands, I assume.
As I recall from your e-mail, the 1 night in Avignon is due to the fact that you arrive in Provence on a Friday, but your house won't be available until Saturday. You leave the "house" on the following Friday.
Lots of people (but certainly not all) like St Remy, lots of people prefer the Luberon, and most like both. I always suggest a mix of both - St Remy for the small village/city feel of walking to dinner, cafes, shops, etc. Then out in the countryside for some solitude - surrounded by vineyards, lavender (in season), and small perched villages that you can explore in the early morning or late afternoon without all the mid-day crowds. It seems that you are not certain which area you will prefer - so try both.
The Vaison areas is not that far away from Gordes or Roussillon. If you follow the "inland" route from Gordes to Pernes on the D938, then avoid Carpentras and take the D28 to St Didier & Mazan, Bedoin, over the D19 to the D938 to Vaison - you will have a more scenic drive than just taking the D938 all the way & "fumbling" through Carpentras.
I dislike driving through Carpentras almost as much as I dislike driving through Cavaillon between St Remy & the Luberon.
For your itinerary, I would stay the 6 nights in the "house" then 5 nights in Gordes or Roussillon (doesn't matter which one), then spend your last night in Aix & take the TGV back to Paris of fly from Marseille to Paris or London..
The Nice Hinterland is a little too far away - but if you follow the "lavender Route" in my Provence itinerary and visit the "hills" up from Montbrun les Bains, and also Simiane la Rotunde - you will see some nice mountains & gorges.
Stu Dudley
Nice Hinterlands, I assume.
As I recall from your e-mail, the 1 night in Avignon is due to the fact that you arrive in Provence on a Friday, but your house won't be available until Saturday. You leave the "house" on the following Friday.
Lots of people (but certainly not all) like St Remy, lots of people prefer the Luberon, and most like both. I always suggest a mix of both - St Remy for the small village/city feel of walking to dinner, cafes, shops, etc. Then out in the countryside for some solitude - surrounded by vineyards, lavender (in season), and small perched villages that you can explore in the early morning or late afternoon without all the mid-day crowds. It seems that you are not certain which area you will prefer - so try both.
The Vaison areas is not that far away from Gordes or Roussillon. If you follow the "inland" route from Gordes to Pernes on the D938, then avoid Carpentras and take the D28 to St Didier & Mazan, Bedoin, over the D19 to the D938 to Vaison - you will have a more scenic drive than just taking the D938 all the way & "fumbling" through Carpentras.
I dislike driving through Carpentras almost as much as I dislike driving through Cavaillon between St Remy & the Luberon.
For your itinerary, I would stay the 6 nights in the "house" then 5 nights in Gordes or Roussillon (doesn't matter which one), then spend your last night in Aix & take the TGV back to Paris of fly from Marseille to Paris or London..
The Nice Hinterland is a little too far away - but if you follow the "lavender Route" in my Provence itinerary and visit the "hills" up from Montbrun les Bains, and also Simiane la Rotunde - you will see some nice mountains & gorges.
Stu Dudley
Aug 30th, 2011, 12:40 PM
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If I had to choose between Gordes and Roussillon, it would be Roussillon. You can't drive into Gordes, for one thing, and I don't think Roussillon is quite as chi-chi, if you know what I mean. Sure, lots of tourists but it's not quite as expensive and full of them. They haven't had to block off the city for one thing. It really depends where you are staying, though, as most people who say they are staying in Gordes really are not, they are somewhere in the surrounding area.
Personally, I'd get out of there are go farther north and stay somewhere up there (like Nyons or around Vaison la Romaine, or Gigondas, or Grignan, etc.) I stayed up near Grignan once and really liked it. Because being in St Remy isn't that far from the Luberon so maybe you'll already see it. But if not, okay. YOu can visit Apt from the Luberon better, if that interests you. They have a really good market, the center for the entire area, I think it's on Sunday.
I personally would not spend 5-6 nights in either Gordes or Roussillon, I'd get pretty bored with either one, I imagine.
Personally, I'd get out of there are go farther north and stay somewhere up there (like Nyons or around Vaison la Romaine, or Gigondas, or Grignan, etc.) I stayed up near Grignan once and really liked it. Because being in St Remy isn't that far from the Luberon so maybe you'll already see it. But if not, okay. YOu can visit Apt from the Luberon better, if that interests you. They have a really good market, the center for the entire area, I think it's on Sunday.
I personally would not spend 5-6 nights in either Gordes or Roussillon, I'd get pretty bored with either one, I imagine.
Aug 30th, 2011, 12:45 PM
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As I suggested on your other thread, with 6 days in St-Rémy, you can easily drive over to the Lubéron and visit a couple of days without sacrificing the things to do around St-Rémy. I think 6 days in St-Rémy followed by 6 days in the Lubéron is a bit of overkill, and I would also get bored for that amount of time in the Lubéron.
I'd go farther afield probably (I loved Grignan too), or add the days to London or spend 3-4 days in Paris.
I'd go farther afield probably (I loved Grignan too), or add the days to London or spend 3-4 days in Paris.
Aug 30th, 2011, 01:55 PM
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>>You can't drive into Gordes<,
Unless this is a new "rule", in the past we've driven into & thru Gordes many times - but not during peak tourist season at mid-day. However, I've never been able to drive into the old section of Roussillon - I don't think you can - easily. We've spent too many minutes "stuck" on the road "by" Roussillon, just outside of the old section.
Like Christina suggested, look for a place "outside" of Gordes or Roussillon. We've spent the last 12 years staying in Gites in Provence - but before that, we stayed at the Domaine de l'Enclos on the Route to Senanque just outside of Gordes. There are several other hotels on that road.
We've spent 5 weeks in the Luberon & we kept busy all the time. For 5 days there:
- On Sunday, visit the market in l'Isle sur la Sorgue early in the morning. If you like antiques, stay there past 10:30 and then visit the permanent antique stores. After the market, visit Gordes & perhaps Roussillon (shops will be open on Sundays).
- Spend a day driving through the Luberon valley. A suggested route is described in the Provence itinerary that I sent you. Visit Bonnieux, Menerbes, Oppede le Vieux, Lacoste, Saignon, Apt, and Goult. Lots of vineyards. If you like to take it slow - this could take 2 days.
- Spend a day exploring south of the Luberon Mountains. Start with the scenic drive (marked in green on the Michelin map) that heads east from Vidauque and circles around. This is mostly a one-way road. Then visit the villages south of the mountains - Lourmarin, Cucuron, Lauris, etc. This is also described in the itinerary.
- Take the "Lavender Route" described in my itinerary - gorges north of Gordes, Sault, Montbrun, Simiane, Gorges de la Nesque, scecic road west of Blavec.
- Senanque Abbey, Venasque, and the fountain walk at Pernes. This is a half-day.
- Rhone winegrowing region & the Dentelles. La Barroux chateau, Vaison, Seguret (visit), Gigondas (taste), Vaqueyras, Beaunes de Venise. Get lost in the Dentelles - and visit the St Amant winery - beautiful setting, fantastic views, and the female winemaker speaks perfect English. Info about St Amant & this drive are in my itinerary.
- Monday - morning market in Bedoin. If it is clear, drive up to Mt Ventoux via counter-clockwise from Bedoin, then back to Malaucene. Then the Lavoire in Mollans, then the D40 east to lovely Brantes (visit), then the D72/D5/D13 west to Malaucene & back to Gordes/Roussillon. See my itinerary for details.
That's 6 days!!!
Lots of other stuff to do too east of the A7
Stu Dudley
Unless this is a new "rule", in the past we've driven into & thru Gordes many times - but not during peak tourist season at mid-day. However, I've never been able to drive into the old section of Roussillon - I don't think you can - easily. We've spent too many minutes "stuck" on the road "by" Roussillon, just outside of the old section.
Like Christina suggested, look for a place "outside" of Gordes or Roussillon. We've spent the last 12 years staying in Gites in Provence - but before that, we stayed at the Domaine de l'Enclos on the Route to Senanque just outside of Gordes. There are several other hotels on that road.
We've spent 5 weeks in the Luberon & we kept busy all the time. For 5 days there:
- On Sunday, visit the market in l'Isle sur la Sorgue early in the morning. If you like antiques, stay there past 10:30 and then visit the permanent antique stores. After the market, visit Gordes & perhaps Roussillon (shops will be open on Sundays).
- Spend a day driving through the Luberon valley. A suggested route is described in the Provence itinerary that I sent you. Visit Bonnieux, Menerbes, Oppede le Vieux, Lacoste, Saignon, Apt, and Goult. Lots of vineyards. If you like to take it slow - this could take 2 days.
- Spend a day exploring south of the Luberon Mountains. Start with the scenic drive (marked in green on the Michelin map) that heads east from Vidauque and circles around. This is mostly a one-way road. Then visit the villages south of the mountains - Lourmarin, Cucuron, Lauris, etc. This is also described in the itinerary.
- Take the "Lavender Route" described in my itinerary - gorges north of Gordes, Sault, Montbrun, Simiane, Gorges de la Nesque, scecic road west of Blavec.
- Senanque Abbey, Venasque, and the fountain walk at Pernes. This is a half-day.
- Rhone winegrowing region & the Dentelles. La Barroux chateau, Vaison, Seguret (visit), Gigondas (taste), Vaqueyras, Beaunes de Venise. Get lost in the Dentelles - and visit the St Amant winery - beautiful setting, fantastic views, and the female winemaker speaks perfect English. Info about St Amant & this drive are in my itinerary.
- Monday - morning market in Bedoin. If it is clear, drive up to Mt Ventoux via counter-clockwise from Bedoin, then back to Malaucene. Then the Lavoire in Mollans, then the D40 east to lovely Brantes (visit), then the D72/D5/D13 west to Malaucene & back to Gordes/Roussillon. See my itinerary for details.
That's 6 days!!!
Lots of other stuff to do too east of the A7
Stu Dudley
Aug 30th, 2011, 02:46 PM
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Instead of staying in Gordes or Roussillon we stayed at Le Mas Perréal near the village of Saint Saturnin-Lès-Apt this July. I highly recommend staying there.Your 6 days could be spent there.
http://masperreal.com/index.html
Use St Remy for day trips in the west-Orange,Chateauneuf-du-Pape, les Baux, Pont du Gard, Nimes, Uzes, Roman Monuments, caume, Alpilles, Arles, Camargue, Aigues Mortes,etc.
Use Le Mas Perréal for seeing the hill-top villages of the Luberon- Roussillon, Gordes, Oppede-le-Viex, Lourmarin, Saignon,Bonnieux,Lacoste,and Menerbes. We had dinner at a different one each night, mostly the unfamous.
Day trips to Aix,Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Apt,Forqualquier, , Sault, Lourmarin(All have market days).
Short Day trips from Le Mas
To the North: the Albion Plateau and high lavender
country, with the lovely village of Sault facing the Mount
Ventoux.
To the South: a stunning drive up and over the Luberon
mountains leads to the picturesque villages of Lourmarin,
Cucuron and Ansuis.Fort de Buoux.
To the East: the "Colorado" of Provence and just slightly
off the beaten path - the Alpes de Haute Provence (Viens,
Simiane-la-Rotonde, Banon)
To the West: the Abbey of Sénanque, the Fontaine de
Vaucluse.
Some longer trips from Le Mas are possible.
Marseille, Cassis and the Mediterranean are an hour and a
half to the south.
Moustiers and the Gorge du Verdon are a similar distance
to the east.
We took a two hour trip to Gap ( To see the Tour de France).
Walks/hikes in and around the Mas-The Perréal Hill, The "Colorado" of Provence , The Château du Bois , The Falaise de Lioux , The Crest of the Luberon.
Walk to the local village Saint Saturnin-Lès-Apt
All this starts with a gourmet breakfast.
Boring it aint.
http://masperreal.com/index.html
Use St Remy for day trips in the west-Orange,Chateauneuf-du-Pape, les Baux, Pont du Gard, Nimes, Uzes, Roman Monuments, caume, Alpilles, Arles, Camargue, Aigues Mortes,etc.
Use Le Mas Perréal for seeing the hill-top villages of the Luberon- Roussillon, Gordes, Oppede-le-Viex, Lourmarin, Saignon,Bonnieux,Lacoste,and Menerbes. We had dinner at a different one each night, mostly the unfamous.
Day trips to Aix,Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Apt,Forqualquier, , Sault, Lourmarin(All have market days).
Short Day trips from Le Mas
To the North: the Albion Plateau and high lavender
country, with the lovely village of Sault facing the Mount
Ventoux.
To the South: a stunning drive up and over the Luberon
mountains leads to the picturesque villages of Lourmarin,
Cucuron and Ansuis.Fort de Buoux.
To the East: the "Colorado" of Provence and just slightly
off the beaten path - the Alpes de Haute Provence (Viens,
Simiane-la-Rotonde, Banon)
To the West: the Abbey of Sénanque, the Fontaine de
Vaucluse.
Some longer trips from Le Mas are possible.
Marseille, Cassis and the Mediterranean are an hour and a
half to the south.
Moustiers and the Gorge du Verdon are a similar distance
to the east.
We took a two hour trip to Gap ( To see the Tour de France).
Walks/hikes in and around the Mas-The Perréal Hill, The "Colorado" of Provence , The Château du Bois , The Falaise de Lioux , The Crest of the Luberon.
Walk to the local village Saint Saturnin-Lès-Apt
All this starts with a gourmet breakfast.
Boring it aint.
Aug 30th, 2011, 03:19 PM
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Building on Stu's comments.
This July we drove up to and thru Gordes.It was a zoo. Lady Garmin (GPS) failed us slightly being one street off and taking us to a dead end at the top of the village.
We only had dinner in Roussillon and drove up to the parking lot at the village with no problem.
Les Mas Perreal is 10 min from Roussillon.
We followed Stu's itineraries for the most part.
Loved the hikes to the ruins of Oppede le Vieux and Saignon.
Lavender was fabulous in July.Sault-Nice market and views of Lavender fields.
We can't wait to return to Provence. Sorry Tuscany. Family, not me, wants to bike Mt Ventoux.
This July we drove up to and thru Gordes.It was a zoo. Lady Garmin (GPS) failed us slightly being one street off and taking us to a dead end at the top of the village.
We only had dinner in Roussillon and drove up to the parking lot at the village with no problem.
Les Mas Perreal is 10 min from Roussillon.
We followed Stu's itineraries for the most part.
Loved the hikes to the ruins of Oppede le Vieux and Saignon.
Lavender was fabulous in July.Sault-Nice market and views of Lavender fields.
We can't wait to return to Provence. Sorry Tuscany. Family, not me, wants to bike Mt Ventoux.
Aug 30th, 2011, 03:59 PM
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Las Mas Perrael is booked. Therefore, we are trying to decide where to stay in Luberon area.
As far as Viason La Romaine - which area is best to stay in to go to this area which I believe is part of the Rhone Wine Country San Remy or Luberon.
Thank all
As far as Viason La Romaine - which area is best to stay in to go to this area which I believe is part of the Rhone Wine Country San Remy or Luberon.
Thank all
Aug 30th, 2011, 04:45 PM
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I would visit it from the Luberon - unless you choose to stay 6 nights in St Remy & only 3 nights in the Luberon.
IMO, the drive from Gordes to Vaison & the wine region, is more scenic than the drive from St Remy to this region. I avoid getting near the A7.
Stu Dudley
IMO, the drive from Gordes to Vaison & the wine region, is more scenic than the drive from St Remy to this region. I avoid getting near the A7.
Stu Dudley
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