Help with 6 days Provence Itinerary

Old May 15th, 2011, 09:25 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Help with 6 days Provence Itinerary

Hi everyone,

I am planning to spend 6 days (nights) in June in Provence. I have read up some of Provence threads from Fodorists and come up with the following itinerary (in part due to limited supply of hotel rooms -- end up splitting my stay in 3 different places). Comments from all Provence experts are very welcome:

Thurs: TGV to Avignon; pick-up car -- visit Avignon -- Vaison-la-Romaine -- Stay in Vaison-la-Romaine for 2 nights

Fri: Dentelles Loop (visit Seguret, Gigongdas, Beaumes des Venise) -- Chateauneuf du Pape (Beaucastel tour)

Sat: Gordes -- Senanque Abbey -- Oppede-le-Vieux -- Menerbes -- Bonnieux -- Saignon  Roussilon; Stay in Roussillon for 2 nights

Sun: L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (Sun market, arrived before 830) -- Stu’s Lavender tour

Mon: Arles -- Pont du Gard -- Saint Remy; Stay in Saint Remy for 2 nights

Tue: Aix (market day) -- Les Buaux de Provence -- Back to St Remy

Wed: Return car in Avignon; return to Paris

How does it look like?
dps123 is offline  
Old May 15th, 2011, 09:36 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,540
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm going to bow to the expertise of other Fodorites who have been to Provence, but I think your Saturday looks very full. Bonnieux is small and we didn't get to Oppede or Saignon so don't know how long you'll be there. Otherwise, good show! I loved Roussillon by the way.
TDudette is offline  
Old May 15th, 2011, 10:14 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 862
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Looks good--a bit active but fine. I think you will enjoy the explorations and don't fret if you don't make it to all on your list. I understand the moves necessitated by availability--they should expose you to a variety of settings and food & wine opportunities.

My only advice is to not hurry off to the next site if you are enjoying the present one--its about the pace and ambiance. And remember, most everything shuts down for the 12:30 to 3 period--except restaurants. We always enjoy this "picnic" time!
macanimals is offline  
Old May 16th, 2011, 06:56 AM
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the reply.

TDudette, I am going to remove Bonnieux and Saignon from my Saturday's schedule and will take on the advice of macanimals to take our own pace!
dps123 is offline  
Old May 16th, 2011, 07:50 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>>I am going to remove Bonnieux and Saignon
StuDudley is offline  
Old May 16th, 2011, 06:52 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Stu, and other Provence "homies" ...

Do you think information about state of lavender at Senanque Abbey, is something nearby towns' tourism offices would know?

(Similar to how the tourist offices in New England know the best week in a particular yr for seeing the most brilliant burst of color in autumn leaves, or Texans know the best week for seeing bluebelles in Hill Country.)
CaliNurse is offline  
Old May 16th, 2011, 08:43 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would not rely on opinions of tourist offices. When I asked the tour guide at Senanque about the lavender, she said that it had been "replanted". I saw nothing but weeds and absolutely no lavender. There was lavender on fields just a tad beyond - but no lavender if front of the abbey - like you see in all the pictures and like we have on dozens of our photos. This was late June/early July. A hotel might give you a more honest answer - if they have actually visited the abbey - which might be unusual since the access is difficult.

Stu Dudley
StuDudley is offline  
Old May 17th, 2011, 08:48 AM
  #8  
sap
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I, too, was wondering if there was such a thing as a lavender forecast or lavender report. I haven't found anything yet and have assumed I'll just have to wait/see. I have loads of it in my own garden right now, but entire vast fields sound so picturesque.

Stu, I wonder if the Senanque guide just meant they were going to replant later, or perhaps they seeded and it hadn't yet sprouted. Still, the existence of weeds is not a good sign. It wouldn't surprise me if the poor resident monks decided to let it go to deter the hoardes of tourists!
sap is offline  
Old May 17th, 2011, 09:10 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 29,540
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We were at Senanque in 2009 with a tour guide and he said the lavender near the building was removed because so many folks were taking it.
TDudette is offline  
Old May 17th, 2011, 09:14 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
>>or perhaps they seeded and it hadn't yet sprouted. Still, the existence of weeds is not a good sign.
StuDudley is offline  
Old May 17th, 2011, 09:40 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can't speak with authority on much, but last year we spent four days with Avignon as our base and took day trips out from there. We loved Avignon and stayed in a flat inside the walled city.

Don't miss the Palais du Papes and the bridge, of course. But I would also recommend a visit to Les Halles. It was great. Also, make sure you get to the right station in Avignon to get your rental car. There are two stations.
ksbeem is offline  
Old May 17th, 2011, 09:48 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Try posting your question about the lavender on the tripadvisor.com web site; someone recently put up a link for lavender information.
Underhill is offline  
Old May 17th, 2011, 10:29 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanks Stu, Underhill, Tdudettte, and sap for input.
Oh, pas de probleme--as long as i can see fields of lavender, I'll be happy. Hoping the warm spring has caused an early bloom, since we leve Provence on June 11.
CaliNurse is offline  
Old May 21st, 2011, 11:12 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Stu, I'll be leaving for France in early June so I'd definitely appreciate for any heads-up on the lavender!
dps123 is offline  
Old May 22nd, 2011, 06:03 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You won't see much/any lavender blooming in early June. If it is extremely hot between early May & mid-June, you might see lavender blooming in mid-June. We've been there around 5 - 6 times in mid-June and about 40% of the time lavender was blooming in several places, but we were there just after "record" hot Springs. No lavender fields blooming around Sault in mid-June in either '10 or '07. Valensole Plane lavender seems to bloom a little earlier than lavender in other locations.

Stu Dudley
StuDudley is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
shuaavi
Europe
5
Apr 18th, 2016 08:42 AM
drdonnad
Europe
5
Oct 17th, 2015 11:23 AM
ag123
Europe
14
Aug 3rd, 2015 11:25 AM
StuDudley
Europe
14
Jul 22nd, 2010 02:19 PM
donluci
Europe
6
Sep 1st, 2004 10:10 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -