Provance Itinerary
 

Hi. My girlfriend and I will be going to France next months and plan to spend three nights (2 full days) in Provance. We will be staying in Gordes. Give our time limitations and that we don't want to rush things, I am looking for what people would suggest for us to see during our time. Everything looks so great that we're having a tough time prioritizing. Thanks!

Oops. I noticed a typo. Obviously, we're going to Provence. Thanks.

What sorts of things interest you both? Dining , villages, abbeys, chrurches, antiques, castles, handicrafts, markets?

Stuart, I'd highly recommend a visit to the town of Roussillon, which is fairly close to Gordes. <BR><BR>http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/vaucluse...l/roussill.htm

Consider including Les Baux. We just returned from Provence. Every city we visited was great. We almost missed Les Baux. It is not too far from Gordes. We also loved Arles, but that is a little farther away from where you are. Enjoy yourselves. PJK

The morning markets in the villages are wonderful; find out what day it will be in Gordes, for example. It moves from day to day; the Sunday one in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is especially fun!

Wow thanks everyone for all the great responses! Looks like a plan - 5 or 6 nights in Avignon with day trips all around, maybe 2 nights on the coast, then off to Italy for a week or so. Now the fun begins... obsessing over plane fare, hotels, etc, LOL ... will definitely be counting on you guys for more advice soon : )

Actually I meant to post this to a different thread. Sorry : )

Whatever else you do in Gordes, have one dinner at Comptoir au Victuellier (sp?) owned by Jean Michel Schmidt right on the downtown square in Gordes. The food is terrific--we especially recommend the daube de bouef--and the proprietor is a real showman. We also enjoyed our dinner in the nearby hotel of La Gacholle, served on an open air deck with fantastic views of the adjoining hillsides.

The suggestion of Les Baux is an excellent one. From the top you have a view of olive groves. Another beautiful place is Cassis on the coast; be sure to take a boat ride into the calanques (fiords). Great harbour dotted with cafes and shops.

Stuart,<BR><BR>If you only have two full days, I would suggest the following:<BR><BR>One day go to the Pont du Gard - visit the nearby village of Uzes - return via Tarascon to St. Remy and then Les Baux<BR><BR>Second day, visit the villages of the Luberon: the Abbaye de Senanque (near Gordes) - the lavender will be in full bloom in July and it's spetacular there - <BR>Roussillon, Lacoste, Menerbes, Oppede-le-Vieux <BR>If you're there on a SUnday I'd add l'Isle sur la Sorgue of the huge market and antiques market<BR>PB

Enjoyed the many markets held daily in different towns/villages. My favorite was the Sunday marketplace in L'Isle sur la Sorgue. If you re into antiques, this is the place. For a more extensive list of markets, a great little book is "The Markets of Provence." Check it out in local bookstore. Great photos, too. Also if you are able to get to the village of Paradou, please try the fantastic restaurant of Bistrot du Paradou.