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Days 7-8
Next stop: Cannes Previous stop: Dijon Return to full itinerary »

Most visitors come to Provence to follow in the footsteps of great painters like Van Gogh. The same scenery that inspired these artists will inspire you. Base yourself in Avignon and soak up the scent of lavender fields and the rugged beauty of the Camargue wetlands, all bathed in an ethereal light. Make time to visit the regions countless museums and churches as well.
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  • Natural Beauty
  • Food and Wine
  • Shopping

Experiences

  • Tour the Lavender Route, starting at the Abbaye de Sénanque, and stand waist high in a field of these fragrant purple flowers.
  • Visit the picturesque town of Arles, which inspired Van Gogh with its unusual light. Spend time in its myriad museums and churches.
  • The wild and marshy region of the Camargue stretches to the sea, and lucky visitors might spot white horses, flamingos, and bulls.
  • Avignon, the regions heart, features narrow streets clustered around the 14th-century Palais des Papes.

Festivals

  • The Festival dAvignon, which runs throughout July, showcases French and foreign contemporary drama and dance creations.
  • Traditional bullfighting is held in the amphitheater in Arles, and the season runs from Easter to September.

Side Trips

  • Distellerie Le Coulets, on the outskirts of Apt, is a working lavender farm that offers free tours.
  • Gordes, 22 mi/35 km east of Avignon, is one of the most beautiful villages in Provence, with cobbled streets and stone houses.

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