Standing in Fountaine de Vaucluse

Hi, my name is Megan Barba, as a travel coordinator here at DuVine Adventures, I was offered the opportunity to travel to the South of France the first week of November to explore this quintessential region, in preparation for the coming year’s bike tours in France. I had only been to France once before, spending only a couple days in Paris and Nice. Everything I had read about this region sounded wonderful so I was very excited to say the least. My plan was to fly into Marsielle and drive up north to a small town called Mane. I was slightly nervous about driving in France, anyone who knows me knows that I have an awful sense of direction and I get lost everywhere! Regardless, I couldn’t wait for my adventure to begin!

After arriving in Marseille, I went to pick up the car. I left the airport and everything was going well but when I was about a half hour into the trip I made a wrong turn. Unfortunately, I turned onto another highway and I had a difficult time getting back to the right road, long story short, I ended up in Marseille’s Port District (not exactly where I wanted to be). I was finally able to find the correct road and make it up north. I stayed at Le Couvent des Minimes, Hôtel and Spa. This hotel was by far the nicest hotel I have ever visited. It is surrounded by mountains and fields as far as the eye can see. The building had been used previously as a hospice since the mid 1800’s and was run by the Franciscan Sisters from the Missionaries of Mary until 2007. Since then the property has been transformed into a place of relaxation and tranquility. The hotel is warm and welcoming, I felt more relaxed just upon walking through the front doors. Many of the original details which make the property so unique such as the arched ceilings and the original oak doors still remain. After a long day of traveling I was looking forward to getting a peaceful night of sleep.

Avignon

The next day I woke up and decided to drive to Avignon. I hated to leave the Couvent des Minimes but I knew there was a lot more to see! The road I took from Mane to Avignon was a little back road that weaved through the mountainside. The drive was stunning with the leaves a bright shade of yellow and orange and the mountains were such a deep shade of red that they looked as if they were on fire. The land was unbelievably pristine with just a scattering of cottages. The homes in Provence are striking.  Most of the properties are built out of stone with a Spanish roof and with splashes of blues on the doors and shutters. There was so much to see and take in that I was in no rush to get to my destination. I was apparently driving too slowly for the French because I was passed by pretty much every car on the road! I arrived in Avignon in just under two hours. I only had about an hour and a half before I had to head back to Marseille. I spent my time exploring the city and having lunch at a café on Avignon’s main square, Place de l’Horloge.  There is a lot to see and do in Avignon and I highly suggest spending a night there before or after a DuVine bike tour.

View while riding along the river La Sorgue

After lunch, I headed back to Marsielle to meet up with the group that would be my traveling companions for the next couple of days. That night we had a delicious welcome dinner at the Chateau Le Moulin de Vernègues. The restaurant and hotel used to be an old flour mill. We ate dinner in the stone cellar where the flour used to be stored. Dinner included truffle soup, lobster ravioli, sea bass, caramel mousse and a scrumptious chocolate cake.

The next morning the group was split up with options for a bike ride, a cooking class or a visit to the Lavender Museum. I choose to go for a bike ride along the river La Sorgue from L’Isle-sur-La Sorgue to Lagnes. The ride was about 22km.Riding a bike through the countryside is such a great way to experience an area. It allows you to be up close and personal with the wildlife and interact with the local people. We passed by horses, pastures of sheep and vineyard after vineyard. I can only imagine how wonderful this area would smell in the spring with the flowers in bloom. As we pedaled down the street we passed by people coming home from the market with baskets of fresh baguettes, fruits and vegetables. The river we rode beside was gorgeous; the water was crystal clear and appeared bright turquoise in the sunlight.  All in all the bike ride was the highlight of the trip for me!

The stunning red cliffs of Roussillon

We then headed to lunch at Hotel Le Mas des Gras where the cooking class took
place. The class had made pumpkin soup, hummus, marinated tomatoes and all sorts of tapenades. The pumpkin soup was so tasty that I went back for another bowl! The chef received rave reviews from the class. Following lunch we visited the paths of the Roussillon and the Academy of the Ocres. The sea once covered this area of land and when it dried up millions of years ago it was slowly transformed into ocre-bearing sands. Ocre is a natural pigment that is used to create paint, ceramics and construction materials. We took a walk through the park which was especially pretty since it was a beautiful day and the sun was bouncing off of the red cliffs. We then went to the Hotel la Coquillade for dinner and a wine tasting.

On my last day in France we went to visit the city of Arles. Arles is known for the wealth of its Roman and Romanesque heritage. My group went on a walking tour of Arles and saw its main attractions such as the amphitheater, the bull fighting arena, Van Gough’s apartment and the Arles Museum of Antiquity. The museum is currently showcasing the Julius Caesar exhibition. In September of 2007 a shipwreck was discovered at the bottom of the Rhone River. The most prominent piece that was discovered was a bust of Julius Caesar. This bust along with many other Roman artifacts is currently on exhibit at the museum.

Julius Caesar bust at the musuem

We had a chance to visit the open air markets while in Arles which I highly recommend if you are visiting the city on a Saturday. The markets offer a variety of items but the highlight for me was the food. You can find an array of cheeses, breads, olives, fruits, vegetables, spices and herbs. I never wanted to leave the vibrant atmosphere, the enticing smells and beautiful colors of the market!

I had a wonderful time while I was in Provence. I was only there for a short time but I was able to get a taste of the cities and countryside of this region. I hope someday to make it back in the spring when the flowers are in bloom! I can’t imagine a better way to see this area than on a bike. I would love to speak with you about the DuVine trip to Provence!

Olives in the market at Arles

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