Thinking about Avignon, Nimes, Arles, Aix de Provence, Saint Remy.
About a week in those places and then heading into Paris, with an overnight in Bruges.
Any and all comments are welcome.

In addition to these cities - consider the hilltop villages, Lavender fields, pretty countryside, Roman ruins, scenic gorges, underground caves with stalactites & mites, farmer's markets, etc.

Get the Michelin Green Guide for Provence as a reference.

Stu Dudley

I'm confused about the "overnight in Bruges". Where does that fit in, in relation to Provence & Paris? Maybe a side trip from Paris?

Also, do you know yet where you'll be staying in Provence?

Hi PM,

You might find the Provence part of my trip report useful

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-europe.cfm

I can highly recommend the Cadran Solaire.
http://www.hotel-en-provence.com/uk/index.php

Enjoy your visit.

Thinking of a night in Bruges from Paris. Train is 2 and a half hours.
Stu,
We want to see all those things you mentioned, lavender fields, Roman ruins, markets, all of it.
What do you think of Nimes, Arles and Saint Remy? Is a car necessary?

A car is VERY necessary.

When is the trip?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ugh-france.cfm

You'll need a car. I like staying in St Remy.

Do you have my 27 page itinerary for Provence & Cote d'Azur. I've sent it to over 3,000 people on Fodors. If you would like a copy, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail.

Stu Dudley

Nîmes - IMO the best Roman ruins - the best amphitheatre, the best temple. The town feels a bit like a small Paris.

Arles - more small town feeling, also very impressive Roman ruins (the second best amphitheatre), also medieval buildings

Pont du Gard - a most impressive Roman viaduct. Also swim in the river beneath it.

Les Antiques - two outstanding Roman monuments. A quick and easy visit, just roadside.

Orange - the best "Greek" theatre and a triumphal arch.

Avignong - the Papal Palace, a historic city and a charming ruin of a bridge.

Vaison-la-Romaine - extensive fields of ruins of a large Roman city.

Glanum (near St. Remy) - a smaller, but still impressive field of ruins of a small Roman city.

Les Baux - very picturesque ruins of a medieval town.

Aigues Mortes - a completely walled medieval city.

Uzès - a charming historic city.

Gordes - a charming village and little stone huts on the surrounding fields (Village des Bories). Also a charming abbey nearby (Senanque).

Roussillon - ocre hills (probably not overly impressive if you have been to Arizona).

And the scenery. Drive leisurely the small scenic roads. It is part of the adventure.

For pictures of what you can see, here are references to our two Provence trips, showing locations, the heavily annotated photo travelogues in Google+, and the original Fodors report references:

Provence [Venasque, Uzes, Pont du Gard, Gorges de l’Ardeche, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Gordes, Roussillon, Apt, la Ciotat, Cassis, Stes-Marie-de-la-Mer, Aigues Mortes, Avignon, Villeneuve-les-Avignon, Arles, Les Baux, St. Remy, Gigondas, Seguret, Vaison la Romaine, Crestet, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Menerbes, Goult, Oppede-le-Vieux, Malaucene, Mont Ventoux, Sault, Brantes, Marseille]
May, 2009
https://plus.google.com/photos/10147...52951844202705
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-provence.cfm
--------------------
Cote d’Azur [Gourdon, Pont du Loup, Vence, Antibes, Eze, Villefranches-sur-Mer, Cannes, Sainte-Maxime, Saint-Tropez, Menton, Sospel, Nice] & Provence [Fayence, Gorges du Verdon, Sainte Croix du Verdon, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Venasque, Arles, Saint-Didier, Pernes-les-Fontaines, Aix-en-Provence, Gordes, Lourmarin, Saignon, Roussillon, Beaucaire, Tarascon, Orange, Mont Ventoux]
September, 2011
https://plus.google.com/photos/10147...01670739516097
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...azur-again.cfm

I'm looking at a week in Provence (or that general area) for May so this is all really helpful. Semimike - your photos will be VERY helpful for DH and me to narrow down our options. Thanks!

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You have only a week to see all those sights and places in Provence? Sorry, but not very feasible. You need to get a map, the Michelin Green Guide, and do some pruning. Also, look at the viamichelin.com web site to see about travel distances and time estimates, although it's a good idea to add about 25% to what's given.

Thanks everybody! Those pictures are beautiful! Thanks SeniMike

If you plan on visiting the perche villages, you need a small car.Streets are narrow and parking would be a problem with a large car.

Bookmarking!

Bookmarking.

Only a suggestion. You will already be in Provence, so consider adding a day and night there and save Bruges for a time when you are seeing more places in that area - more sightseeing time, less travel time. There are so many places to see in Provence, you will run out of time before you run out of places.

Another suggestion, may/may not appeal. Rather than trekking up to Bruges, stay overnight in the walled city of Aigues Mortes while you are so close. Not a great day trip, IMHO, too touristy, but night is quiet and romantic

I think the trip was a couple years ago