6day Provence itinerary:Please comment
 

Sunday:
L'Isle-Sur-La Sorgue
Fontaine de Vaucluse
Gordes
Roussillon
Monday:
St-Remy de Provence
Les Baux
Fontvieille
Arles
Tuesday:
Orange
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Avignon
Wednesday:
Pont du Gard
Nimes
Arles Or Avignon (encore)

Thursday:
Aix-en-Provence
Friday:Stay put in Menebres and surroundings.
Each day starts and ends in Menebres.
Provence experts,How does that look?
Anything else to add or remove.
Thanks for all the info I received from this site.
Nono

ttt

When are you going? There's really not much to see at the Fontaine de Vaucluse in the summer/early fall months, when the water is nearly gone.

You have too many places on Monday if you include Arles. Keep it on the Wednesday and eliminate Nîmes.

On Tuesday, you could substitute Avignon for Orange, which is a bit far for your other itinerary choices.

Many shops will be closed in St Remy on Monday morning.

Where are the excursions into the countryside??? You have a huge list of villages & towns - but it's the beautiful coutryside/mountains/gorges/lavender & sunflower fields that brings me back to Provence year-after-year.

On Wendesday, go to Uzes instead of Nimes to see a city that's a little different from Arles/Avignon/Nimes/Aix/Orange.

If you're traveling in late June through July, visit Senanque abbey near Gordes on Sunday.

Stu Dudley

Underhill,I'll be there in the last week of April,renting a house in menebres.Tuesday is the wine tour day in chateauneuf-du-Pape.I should eliminate Orange then.
Thanks

Thanks Stu for the info on ST-Remy.
What specific village am i missing?
I thought that my selection will allow me to have a general tour of Provence.
Please advise specifics.
Thanks,Nono

Two more interesting villages in the Luberon are Oppède-le-Vieux and Ménerbes, of Peter Mayle fame. You can just add them on to Gordes and Roussillon.
Near St-Rémy, Maussane-les-Alpilles is worth a visit. Fontvielle is a pleasant town in which to stay, but there's not really that much to see compared with other places in the area.

nono,

I don't know your interests and normally I wouldn't recommend Orange as I found it a tired looking town, BUT, there is a UNESCO World Heritage site there...the best preserved Roman theatre in Europe, with an intact stage wall..also a large Roman arch...both were really something to see and worth the visit...would that interest you?? I always try to visit as many UNESCO sites as possible...

Traviata,
I have never seen a UNESCO bldg yet.That sounds interesting.I am travelling with my 52 yr old husband and my 21 year old daughter.
I'm trying to allow for long coffee breaks and relaxing pace .

I agree with Underwood that Fontvielle is not worth spending time in, unless you are having dinner there.

Here is what I would do:

Sunday
l'Isle sur la Sorgue market, Roussillon & Gordes. Fountain de Vaucluse gets very crowded on Sundays, so I would hit it on another day. Also include Senanque Abbey.

Monday
Take my "lavender route" and visit my favorite section of Provence - even if there is no lavender. End the drive through the Gorges de la Nesque and head over towards Bedoin. Monday is their market day, but you will get there too late for the market. Continue through Bedoin on the very pretty D19 & D938 to Malaucene. Continue to le Crestet & explore on foot. Visit Vaison - especially the medieval section across the river from the Roman area. Loop counterclockwise around the Dentelles & visit pretty Seguret, and then drive through vineyards to Sablet, up & back to Gigondas, Vacqueyres, Beaumes de Venise, then back to Menerbes via Venasque (visit if you have time) and the pretty gorges des Murs to Murs.

This entire day takes you through some very scenic areas. I've taken this route and completed it in one day.

Tuesday
Your wine tour
Pont du Gard
Uzes
Castillion du Gard.

I'm not a big fan of Orange, because all 3 times I've visited the Ampitheater it was covered by something, or they were doing repairs. Orange itself is nothing special.

Wednesday
9-11:30 St Remy - it's market day. Pick up a pizza for lunch
12-2 Les Baux
2-3 Drive around the Alpilles - visiting Maussane, and Eygaliers (see the Michelin Green Guide for an itinerary)
3-6:30 Avignon in the afternoon & early evening.

Thursday
Aix - market day again
Lourmarin
down time

Friday
head off to Vidauque, and take the very scenic one-way road going up to a Tete des Buisses. Do this in the morning - otherwise the sun will be in your face.
The remaining villages in the Luberon, Oppede le Vieux (not the other Oppede)
Lacoste
Bonnieux
Saignon
Goult
Fountaine de Vaucluse
Pernes les Fontaines if you have the time (get the excelling walking guide from the tourist office)

I have ommitted Arles & Nimes. If you visit Avignon, Uzes, Vaison, Pont, les Antiques near St Remy, and Aix - you won't see too much new, except that you have not seen a coliseum yet (the one in Vaison isn't that great). If you want to see more Roman stuff - visit Arles - it's easier to get in/out.

I added some "scenic" stuff with the lavender route, the loop around the Dentelles & Alpilles. Except for driving to/from the Luberon villages, I don't think your original itinerary goes through many areas that I consider to be scenic.

If you want my 20+ page Provence & Cote d'Azur itinerary that describes the lavender route, Dentelles loop, Alpilles loop, & Luberon drive in more detail, e-mail me at [email protected].

Stu Dudley

Thank you Stu very much for redoing my itinerary.I'll reread your lavender route and include it in the trip.
Trying to mix towns villages to get the feel of all Provence,
To be continued.More research over the weekend and hopefully all plans will be finalized before i get to France.
Thank you all for the great responses I've received thus far.
Will appreciate recomendations for small eateries .