Obsessive Planner Would Like Provence Experts' Input
May 3rd, 2007, 12:28 PM
#21
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are no shortages of places for dinner in St Remy from fine dining, casual or ethnic. We were there in July 2006.
SETTE E MEZZO (34 Boulevard Mirabeau) is down a small passage that opens up onto Place Mireille Moatti. There, white tableclothed tables & umbrellas were placed, and strings of lights lit the area! The setting, ambience, food (Italian) & service were excellent! We dined there twice! Reservations recommended.
For simpler fare & a livier location, you can try BISTROT DECOUVERTE (19, boulevard Victo Hugo). For example, they served a cold tomato soup sprinkled with chopped chives & croutons of toasted baguettes with a tepenade spread - oh, so wonderful! Sit at one of their outdoor tables as we did!
I noticed that you will also be in Bonnieux. If you are there mid-day, have a leisurely lunch at IL FOURNIL. Make that your main meal for the day. Take a table near the fountain on Place Carnot and savour the Provence experience!
Chilled rose seems to be the perfect drink to accompany meals on a summer day!
Bon Appetit! Have a wonderful trip!
SETTE E MEZZO (34 Boulevard Mirabeau) is down a small passage that opens up onto Place Mireille Moatti. There, white tableclothed tables & umbrellas were placed, and strings of lights lit the area! The setting, ambience, food (Italian) & service were excellent! We dined there twice! Reservations recommended.
For simpler fare & a livier location, you can try BISTROT DECOUVERTE (19, boulevard Victo Hugo). For example, they served a cold tomato soup sprinkled with chopped chives & croutons of toasted baguettes with a tepenade spread - oh, so wonderful! Sit at one of their outdoor tables as we did!
I noticed that you will also be in Bonnieux. If you are there mid-day, have a leisurely lunch at IL FOURNIL. Make that your main meal for the day. Take a table near the fountain on Place Carnot and savour the Provence experience!
Chilled rose seems to be the perfect drink to accompany meals on a summer day!
Bon Appetit! Have a wonderful trip!
May 3rd, 2007, 01:31 PM
#22
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,423
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think you're spending too much time in the cities & not enough in the countryside - especially since you'll be there in Lavender blooming season. I would not count on shops being open in Avignon on Sun & Mon. The big Les Halles food market is closed on Monday.
Fountaine de Vaucluse is very crowded on Sundays - it's where the French go to wander around on a weekend after lunch, & push their baby strollers. I would not welcome the huge crowds at the l'Isle sur la Sorgue market followed by the crowds in Fountaine de Vaucluse. After the market and if you had a car, a nice day in the Luberon (shops in Gordes & Roussillon are open) or my Lavender Field drive would be my choice. Have you checked to see if bike shops are open on Sunday in l'Isle sur la Sorgue??? Check with the tourist office.
At the market, we buy Provence fabric, soap, herbes de Provence & lots of other herbs, olives, tapenade, Olive oil for picnics & cooking (we rent houses with kitchens), pottery, & we usually pick up a pizza slice or paella for lunch/picnic and chicken, quail, potatoes for dinner. My wife peruses the antique places for enamelware.
Near the Uzes, there is an entire pottery town - St Quentin la Poterie. Pick up a map of the potters studios at the TI. There is some wierd stuff there, but we bought a set of 6 dishes plus some amuse bouche plates at Patrick Galtie. The museum at the Pont is very interesting - it demonstrates the "whys & hows" of Roman aqueduct building. A quick walk through castillion du Gard is interesting - see my itinerary
See my itinerary for Gordes & follow the walk down to the wash basin (lavoire) at the base of the town - quite interesting, IMO. Neat houses along the way.
In the Luberon, for a short trip I would visit Gordes, Bonnieux, Roussillon, Menerbes (that will be a quickie), and Goult. Oppedde can be a drive by. Follow the description in my itinerary to follow the most scenic route. Add in Saignon if you have time. If you have even less time, Bonnieux could be a drive by, and Goult is actually better from the inside than the outside - so a "miss" would work there. However, I would not advise shortchanging the Luberon. There will be several lavender fields blooming & sunflowers too(unless they have been replaced by the increasing wheat fields). No Lavender fields arond St Remy that I've found - there is/was/perhaps will be Sunflower fields there, however. Many first time visitors to Provence find the Luberon to be their favorite spot.
I would definately either do my Lavender Route or the Dentilles on the last day. The St Remy area is quite arid, rugged, and a little too much commerce in some areas (around Terrascon, and east & north of St Remy). The Luberon (once past Coustellet & away from Apt), the lavender fields around Sault, and the Dentellies & vineyards will provide a change from the St Remy terrain.
Stu Dudley
Fountaine de Vaucluse is very crowded on Sundays - it's where the French go to wander around on a weekend after lunch, & push their baby strollers. I would not welcome the huge crowds at the l'Isle sur la Sorgue market followed by the crowds in Fountaine de Vaucluse. After the market and if you had a car, a nice day in the Luberon (shops in Gordes & Roussillon are open) or my Lavender Field drive would be my choice. Have you checked to see if bike shops are open on Sunday in l'Isle sur la Sorgue??? Check with the tourist office.
At the market, we buy Provence fabric, soap, herbes de Provence & lots of other herbs, olives, tapenade, Olive oil for picnics & cooking (we rent houses with kitchens), pottery, & we usually pick up a pizza slice or paella for lunch/picnic and chicken, quail, potatoes for dinner. My wife peruses the antique places for enamelware.
Near the Uzes, there is an entire pottery town - St Quentin la Poterie. Pick up a map of the potters studios at the TI. There is some wierd stuff there, but we bought a set of 6 dishes plus some amuse bouche plates at Patrick Galtie. The museum at the Pont is very interesting - it demonstrates the "whys & hows" of Roman aqueduct building. A quick walk through castillion du Gard is interesting - see my itinerary
See my itinerary for Gordes & follow the walk down to the wash basin (lavoire) at the base of the town - quite interesting, IMO. Neat houses along the way.
In the Luberon, for a short trip I would visit Gordes, Bonnieux, Roussillon, Menerbes (that will be a quickie), and Goult. Oppedde can be a drive by. Follow the description in my itinerary to follow the most scenic route. Add in Saignon if you have time. If you have even less time, Bonnieux could be a drive by, and Goult is actually better from the inside than the outside - so a "miss" would work there. However, I would not advise shortchanging the Luberon. There will be several lavender fields blooming & sunflowers too(unless they have been replaced by the increasing wheat fields). No Lavender fields arond St Remy that I've found - there is/was/perhaps will be Sunflower fields there, however. Many first time visitors to Provence find the Luberon to be their favorite spot.
I would definately either do my Lavender Route or the Dentilles on the last day. The St Remy area is quite arid, rugged, and a little too much commerce in some areas (around Terrascon, and east & north of St Remy). The Luberon (once past Coustellet & away from Apt), the lavender fields around Sault, and the Dentellies & vineyards will provide a change from the St Remy terrain.
Stu Dudley
May 3rd, 2007, 02:12 PM
#23
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There's a great little wine bar on Rue des Teintures in Avignon, not far from Cafe Wooloomooloo. I can't remember the name, but it would probably be a nice place to hang out in the evening in Avignon.
Les Dentelles is a beautiful area. My husband and I did a relaxed day tour of the area, starting in Segueret, up to Vaison and then back down the eastern edge, ending in Beaumes des Venise. We even managed to fit in a mini-hike somewhere between Segueret and Vaison.
On our trip last year, we went back up to Vaison to watch the World Cup and had a great time! In Vaison La Romaine, I can recommend Bistro d'O for dinner if you are there in the evening.
Les Dentelles is a beautiful area. My husband and I did a relaxed day tour of the area, starting in Segueret, up to Vaison and then back down the eastern edge, ending in Beaumes des Venise. We even managed to fit in a mini-hike somewhere between Segueret and Vaison.
On our trip last year, we went back up to Vaison to watch the World Cup and had a great time! In Vaison La Romaine, I can recommend Bistro d'O for dinner if you are there in the evening.
May 8th, 2007, 02:45 PM
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks everyone. I'm taking all advice into account and making adjustments. I'm so grateful to all of you for the very specific information given.
I realize I've focused on towns and cities in an area known for nature and small villages. DH hates cities (travels 50-70% of every work week) and doesn't appreciate art or achitecture AT ALL so all of our trips involve biking, hiking, or skiing.
We have biked in the area around Mt. Ventoux and in the Alpilles during lavender season and DH will happily return for more of the same.
Since I'm going with a girlfriend instead of DH on this trip I thought I'd go to the kinds of places DH won't be interested in seeing. Also, I hate to drive and due to vision issues don't drive at night but I guess that won't be a huge factor as it will be light very late in mid summer.
I'm going to come up with a "Plan B" for several days so we can just decide day by day if we want nature or towns.
I realize I've focused on towns and cities in an area known for nature and small villages. DH hates cities (travels 50-70% of every work week) and doesn't appreciate art or achitecture AT ALL so all of our trips involve biking, hiking, or skiing.
We have biked in the area around Mt. Ventoux and in the Alpilles during lavender season and DH will happily return for more of the same.
Since I'm going with a girlfriend instead of DH on this trip I thought I'd go to the kinds of places DH won't be interested in seeing. Also, I hate to drive and due to vision issues don't drive at night but I guess that won't be a huge factor as it will be light very late in mid summer.
I'm going to come up with a "Plan B" for several days so we can just decide day by day if we want nature or towns.
