The best of Provence

General information

Destination	Category
Avignon, France	Sightseeing Tours

Program details

Take in the highlights of Provence and the Mediterranean countryside in one enjoyable afternoon tour. Visit the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Pont du Gard, dating from the first century, and wander through Les-Baux-de-Provence, with its historical pedestrian centre. Finally lose yourself in Gordes, a hilltop hamlet in the Luberon valley considered one of the most beautiful towns in France, famous for its dry stone houses.

After beginning your scenic tour, the first port of call is a visit is the impressive Pont du Gard. Dating back to the Roman period, the Pont du Gard is a stone bridge aqueduct built by the Romans to supply the village of Nimes with water. One of the most visited monuments in Provence and one of the best-preserved aqueducts of the Roman Empire, it has truly impressive scale. Stretch your legs with a stroll through the historical pedestrian centre of Les-Baux-de-Provence, a glorious medieval village perched in the Alpilles Mountains. Surrounded by olive groves that produce a well-known olive oil, Les-Baux is certainly picturesque.

Winding up the afternoon is a visit to the stunning village of Gordes upon the rocky hilltops on the Plateau de Vaucluse. Gordes is famous for its architecture with dry stones, including a 12th century castle. Perched on the southern edge of the high plateau the buildings are made of a beige stone that glows orange in the morning sun. The view from the village is a southern panorama out across fields and forests and small perched villages of the Luberon Valley.

Meeting/pick-up point: Avignon Tourist Information Centre, 41 cours Jean Jaurès.
Duration: Five hours.
Start/opening time: From April 1 to October 31 tours depart at 1pm on Monday and Thursday. During the rest of the year, departure is at 12.30pm on Monday and Thursday.
Languages: French and English with Spanish on request.