Explore Mediterranean Life With Provence Tours

By Maryanne Goff


If you're looking for a great holiday destination, the south of France should be high up on your list. The sunny climate, stunning beaches and breath-taking landscapes make for a perfect vacation, which is why the famous and fabulous flock here in summer. Before you buy a chateau in the area, however, you may want to get to know the region through some Provence tours.

Provence lies in France's south-east. The region is located between the Italian border and the Rhone River. It also includes the Cote D'Azur in the south.

Tours of the area often start in Marseilles, one of France's biggest and most cosmopolitan cities. Avignon is a popular starting point too. Aix-en-Provence, Nice and Arles are just some of the other cities and towns that may be included in an itinerary. The best way to see the area is to spend at least a few days here so that you'll have time to explore the villages and rural landscapes.

A general tour is a great introduction to the region but you may also want to consider a themed tour to focus on only one aspect of Provencal life. Since it's one of France's important wine regions, especially for the production of rose wines, a wine tour here is a must if you're an oenophile. Include a trip to a pastis distillery as well if you can, so that you can try the local anise-flavored liqueur.

Foodies all know that Provence is the first and last word in flavorful cuisine. The area has an abundance of fresh produce that have become the main ingredients in dishes like ratatouille, which originated in Nice, and bouillabaisse, the seafood soup from Marseilles. A food tour will give you the opportunity to learn more about regional specialties and Provencal traditions like the thirteen desserts served at Christmas. Try to include a visit to a market as well, so that you can stock up on essentials like Provencal herbs.

The region is not only known for its fragrant cuisine but also for fragrances themselves. Lavender, roses, jasmine and other flowers flourish especially in the area around Grasse, which forms the heart of the perfume industry. A tour of the perfumeries in this charming town is an unforgettable, sweet-smelling experience.

Provencal history dates back many centuries and you can tour the Roman and prehistoric sites for a journey back in time. A more colorful option is to explore the areas like Arles that have been immortalized on canvas by painters like Cezanne, Matisse and, of course, Van Gogh. Many writers have lived and worked here too, including Edith Wharton, Colette and F Scott Fitzgerald. Robert Louis Stevenson even wrote a travel book on the region and it's a great idea to follow the trails that he traveled.

When it comes to finding Provence tours, you're spoilt for choice. Simply do a quick online search for a package that suits you. Alternatively, have a travel agent create a personalized tour for you. Just remember that it's very easy to lose your heart here and never want to go back home.




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