Logistics Dijon to Provence
 

We've been invited by friends for a special wine weekend in Burgundy next June (a private wine tasting at Domain Ponsot one night and a banquet at Clos de Vougeot the next- I'm very excited!). We'll probably fly to Paris, spend a few days there and then take a TGV from Paris to Dijon.
After the weekend we want to visit a bit of Provence. Since my husband likes cities, I thought of basing ourselves in Aix for 3 nights (with a day driving around the Vaucluse villages, another for Pont du Gard, etc) and then 2 night in Cassis for some sun. Then fly back to US from Marsailles-Paris-USA
Questions: Is it better to take the train Dijon-Aix (how long?) or drive? I've driven in France several times but often find it stressful.
Any better base in Provence than Aix?

Your best bet would be a train from Dijon to Avignon [the TGV station outside of town].

I would not recommend Aix as a base.

St Remy is a popular one--small and easy to get in and out of.

I'm interested in why you think Aix is not a good base. Sounds like you know the area well.

If I can step in, a lot of people recommend St. Remy as a base because it is centrally located while Aix is sort of on the far southeast flank of Provence and not as close to many of it's most popular sightseeing destinations (including the ones you mention).

While this may make sense for logistical reasons, I found St. Remy not nearly as pretty or vibrant or interesting as Aix.

Based on my recollections from previous visit, I agree with Cimbrone. St. Remy held my interest for a few hours. If I were to stay in a small town or village I would want less commercialism than I recall in St. R.
I spent an idyllic week in a rented home (villa) in Bonnieux a few years ago and loved the very local character.
Can anyone recommend another gem of a village/town that is easily accessable to regional points of interest. We could do a full day trip to Aix.

The Luberon is my particular favorite, and I've enjoyed staying in Bonnieux, which is well-located for touring the area, which can be easily seen by looking at a map. Roads branch off in various directions, making it posible to loop around vs. going back and forth on the same road.

The problem I have with Aix is traffic and parking.

St Remy I find unimpressive as a town, but it is convenient for visiting places on either side of the A7.

We stayed in St Remy and found it fantatic for visiting provence. Its large enough to have some good dinner places, somethign goign on all the time. Plus it was easy to get to places like Luberon villages, Avignon, Les Baux, Pont du gard, and Camargue.

Jamie

I'm in the midst of planning a stay in Uzes, on the opposite end of Provence from Aix, and it is coming highly recommended. Since you will be in Cassis, you could do a daytrip to Aix from there (maybe extend your time there) and the rest of your time in Uzes exploring that end of the region. It's not far from Avignon or Arles or Nimes.

I'll "top" the thread on Uzes, and you can click my name for it to appear, if you're interested.

We've vacationed in Provence for over 20 weeks, and agree that Aix would not be a good base - an excellent day-trip, but too remote to visit the popular sites. For a first timer, St Remy or the Luberon (Gordes, Bonnieux, Menerbes, Roussillon) would be a great choice.

We just retuned from 4 weeks in the Beaujolais & Burgundy region. I agree with others that it would be best to take the TGV to Provence. The freeway south is not scenic, and it is a killer around Lyon (lots of traffic). In mid July on a Saturday, there wwas a 10K backup at a toll booth. Luckily we were heading north & the backup was south.

You'll love Dijon - perhaps our favorite city in France after Paris.

I have a 20+ page itinerary for the Cote d'Azur & Provence that I've e-mailed to over 300 peple on this travel board & the aol board. E-mail me at [email protected] if you want a copy.

Stu Dudley

>You'll love Dijon - perhaps our favorite city in France after Paris.<
I love you Stu! ;;)