Cuisine & Culture of Provence

Sample itinerary – the weekly schedule will change by season and local events. 

• Arrival at Avignon TGV train station and transfer to your accommodation.
• The schedule for the week is flexible, but in the afternoon, you might a visit to Vaison-la-Romaine, with its picturesque “upper city,” where refuge was sought during conflicts of the Middle Ages, and its “lower city,” which runs along the river. It has some of the most important Roman antiquities in France, and its ancient bridge dates back to the First Century!
• Welcome dinner either at your accommodation or at a local restaurant, depending on the week.
• Overnight.

• Breakfast.
• This morning enjoy a market visit, most weeks visiting one of the most famous markets in the world, that of l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a “mini-Venice” full of canals. It was originally a silk and textile-making center, and many of its quaint water wheels, which powered the mills, still work. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is now the most well-known place in France to shop for antiques, and its market provides colorful arrays of fresh fruits and vegetables, sausages and jambon, cheese, meat, fish, in addition to textiles and pottery. During your morning’s excursion you will buy ingredients for your first Provence cooking class, to be held later in the day.
• Enjoy lunch out, perhaps an elegant picnic.
• Next, you might explore the lovely Luberon Valley and its charming villages, where time seems to stand still. You might visit the Chateau of the Marquis de Sade and walk through its sculpture garden and courtyard, or stop at the medieval moulin (windmill) in the village of Goult; other stops are also possible, depending on the week and your interests. 
• This afternoon, you will enjoy hands-on cooking classes in Provence in which you prepare a full meal. The week’s classes will teach you new recipes and techniques for aperitifs, soups, appetizers, main courses, and desserts. You will also learn about cheese and wine pairings during the week. 
• Overnight.

• Breakfast.
• This morning, you will likely head to the Vaucluse, the southern part of the Cotes du Rhone wine region, which beckons with its variety of superior private and cooperative wineries. The Cotes du Rhone wine region runs over 200 kilometers through the Rhone River hills, and boasts a hot, sunny, but constant climate. The milder climate translates to complex wines, as well as elegant sweet wines. Your exploration will include tastings of these superb local vintages.
• Next, you might enjoy a walk among the Dentelles (the French word for lace), whose jagged peaks were formed as the limestone strata was worn away to form sharp-edged spikes and ridges. Rising from the Dentelles Mountains is the famed Mont Ventoux, called the “Giant of Provence,” which affords one amazing views of the nearby hilltowns and surrounding vineyards.
• Dinner either at your accommodation or at a local restaurant, depending on the week, and overnight.

• Breakfast.
• This morning, you will have another local visit, usually to Vaison-la-Romaine and its historic market (depending on the day of the week), an internationally famous 600-year-old market among the Roman antiquities and medieval architecture.
• After gathering supplies at the market, enjoy another Provence cooking lesson, lunch to follow.
• A bit of time to relax, and dinner out tonight!
• Overnight.

• Breakfast.
• Today you will visit Avignon, capital of Christendom during the medieval “Great Schism” that saw the French papacy established in this lovely town. Avignon boasts a unique architectural history that sets it apart from modern towns. Walk in the opulent square of the Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace), and explore the monuments along the ramparts. (If you want to enter the Palais, or have extended time for shopping, just let Mark know.)
• For lunch, taste traditional and original Provencal cuisine at one of Avignon’s many charming restaurants.
• After lunch, cross the Rhone River to visit Ville Nueve les Avignon, a picturesque medieval town where many cardinals of the 14th century chose to live, or another local village depending on the season. Head also to the former papal castle at Chateauneuf-du-Pape, a town famed for its wineries, which you will visit.
• Dinner either at your accommodation or at a local restaurant.
• Overnight.

• Breakfast.
• Today, more explorations of Provence! Most weeks will include Nyons, another quintessential Provencal town, lying at the foot of a rocky spur near Mont Ventoux and surrounded by hills and small mountains. Its location shields it from the Provencal winds and keeps it sunny and warm year round, making it an excellent producer of olives and one of France’s most famous olive towns.
• Depending on the time of year, you might visit an 18th- and 19th-century olive oil mill to see the fresh production, or a lavender distillery to learn about this quintessential Provencal product, before venturing to the two hundred and fifty year old market to choose foods for your next cooking class.
• Your afternoon will include more explorations of France based on season and your discussions with your host.
• This evening, dinner will be in a charming medieval village.
• Overnight.

• Breakfast.
• This morning you will have the chance to enjoy your final hours in Provence. 
• Transfer around noon to the Avignon TGV train station. A bientôt!