Provence
 

I am planning a trip to Provence from Paris in May...I've been to Paris a couple of times and would like to explore the Provencial region...

Can anyone suggest what provencial towns to visit?? How long to stay ??

Does anyone know where I can also see the lavender fields and if it's accessible without a car???

Thank you...

Provence covers a very large area...
you could spend weeks here and only scratch the surface.

Unfortunately there won't be any lavender blooming in May -it begins to bloom in late June and it at its peak in mid to late July. Depending on when in May you come, you will be able to see fields of poppies though.

I would suggest that you pick a region - you could do a search here on Fodors and come up with lots of suggestions. You could easily spend two weeks in this area alone - the Alpilles, and visit Arles, St Remy, Les Baux, as well as the Luberon villages, Nimes, the Pont du Gard, etc.

PB

You absolutely should rent a car. The beauty of Provence is not in its large cities but in its small villages, particularly the "villages perches" or "perched villages", on hilltops.

There is something called the "lavender route"...you can google it. It shows the route to take to see the lavender. It's mostly in the Drome, right north of Provence. It is stunning, best in July.

My point of view is to get off the TGV in Valence. Rent a car and have a good map handy. Stop at the small villages all the way down, through the Drome (lavender) and then Provence. I would particularly recommend: Cliousclat (pottery village), Mirmande (beautiful perched village, gorgeous), Poet Laval (midieval perched village) Dieulefit (tons of pottery shops, it's incredible), then Nyons (famous for its olives, and a great open air market that seems to go on forever), Vaison La Romaine with its Roman ruins, Avignon, St. Remy en Provence, Aix en Provence and finally Nice.

DO rent a car. The trains can't get to these wonderful villages.

Thanks for your help...I've been looking at various sites about the different regions of Provence...and a little overwhelmed as to where to go...I've wanted to go to Provence for awhile...

I will be traveling from May 11th for two weeks...Planning to also go to Tours as well..

A car is a must but first read a good travel book to see where you would like to visit in Provence.

allie_allie -

I will be going to Provence for the first time this April, and have been offered much in terms of advice and tips on this and other travel forums. If you type in the name Stu Dudley in the search box of this forum, you will find many many posts he has made about visiting Provence, including recommendations for accommodations, towns to stay in, places to eat and visit and drive. He has visited this part of France often, and has even created an itineray which he emails out to fellow travelers. He is usually posting in this forum, and I hope I haven't pre-empted him. But there is a lot of good and helpful info right here in this forum.

Good luck and have fun planning -

tea

>> He is usually posting in this forum, and I hope I haven't pre-empted him.<<

Nope - I'm here. e-mail me at [email protected] if you want a copy of my itinerary.

Stu Dudley

I don't drive but Stu is a warehouse of routes to chose.
Once you know where you will be staying, we'll all pitch in for dining
favorites and other things.
mimi, who loves Provence

I also referred to Stu's itineraries and they were very helpful. The driving was really not bad at all.

We're seniors and do the Verdon, and mountain drives with no problems, be alert and don't drive too slowly, or they'll ride your bumber.

lol, sorry, bumper!!!

Chasteel has mad esome excellent suggestions for seeing areas that are just a bit off the beaten trackt. Valence is an excellent place to begin, and I would add the pleasant town of Montélilmar to the list. Dieulefit and Nyons are excellent for buying local products.

get the Michelin map. Read some travel books on Provence, I think I read 4 or 5 before making an itinerary. Check out the Relais & Chateaux website for some fab places to stay in the region.

Thanks everyone for your response...I really appreciate it...it's really helpful and Stu--I will be emailing a request for your talked about itinery...

I'm a little nervous in driving in Provence and in Europe in general...I'm traveling with my mother on this trip...and having not been to Provence before...I'm a little nervous about driving there...

Don't be nervous at all, Provence is generally easy to drive, large area...visit Gordes, search for the wonderful places to stay around there, and see the Abbaye de Senanque in late June/early July lavender fields, classic...and the lavender route...

Its very easy to drive in Provence. The roads are very well marked and its not really different than driving on our highways or country roads. The idea of it is scarier than the reality.

SOOOO easy to drive, you won't believe it. The streets are so remarkably well marked. The traffic is not heavy. You will kick yourself if you don't drive it.

I was a little nervous about renting a car and driving in France, but got over it in a hour or two.

Unlike driving in the UK, which I hope to never do again.

Keith

It is easy to drive from village to village. Not always easy to park. Also, some villages were constructed before cars and streets can be very narrow. We had a harrowing experience where we mistakenly continued all the way up into a medieval town and both sideview mirrors were damaged. There was no alternative. The Mercedes in front of us got totally smashed while trying a 90 degree left hand turn. So park at the foot of the village in marked parking lots in some cases. The restaurant we were seeking (it is a Relais a& Chateaux establishment offers to pick you up at the base of the village, but we had no phone card and had no idea at that time had to get one, to call them) We learned why they offer this the hard way.

There may not be parking when you get very close to the center of the village. Flatter villages like Isle-sur-la-sorgue or St. Remy are not a problem with parking. Parking was difficult in Le Baux and Gordes.

Just outside the entrane to Les Baux is a pay parking lot; if you're willing to spend the money you can get close-in spots. Otherwise you have to try and find a space farther down the hill.

In St-Rémy there's a large lot in the center of town, opposite the church. In Arles you can find a good lot on one side of the arena; it's on an elevated section in front of a church (good landmarks, those). Below Oppède-le-Vieux (in the Lubéron) is a pay lot, but there's also a free one some distance away.