Day 1
- Monday Arrive
Arrive at the
Marseille airport where you will
be transported to your lovely 3
-star Provencal hotel in the
quiet countryside of Provence.
There will be time to rest or
take a swim before we gather for
a welcome aperitif with your
personal guide to welcome you to
France & Provence. This
will give you the opportunity to
meet the other clients of your
small group and discuss your
program with your guide.
Dinner this evening awaits you
at the hotel's restaurant
to sample the wonderful southern
cuisine of Provence. (D)
Day 2
- Tuesday
If there is a region
akin to the Far West in France,
it is the "Camargue". Today we
will discover this unique
wilderness with birds, bulls and
the white Camargue horses.
We will visit a Camargue ranch
where pure breed bulls are
raised and worked by the
"guardians" (the equivalent
French cowboy). Watch the
actual work at a manade where
guardians move the bulls from
field to field on their Camargue
horses and brand the bulls, then
enjoy a typical Camargue lunch
right at the ranch.
After lunch we drive to Avignon
taking the picturesque route
around the large Bay of Vaccares
to see the rugged and wild
countryside where you will have
a chance to see some pink
flamingoes feeding and more
bulls. But the venue will
quickly change as we enter the
small city center of old Avignon
as we pass the Rhone River and
the 19th century protecting
outer walls surrounding the
city. Avignon was already
an important commercial center
in the 12th century, but its
modern claim to fame dates to
the 14th century. That is
when the seat of the Catholic
Church was moved to Avignon from
Rome and 9 succeeding Popes
ruled for almost a century.
These Popes ruled from their
famous Gothic Palace, "Le Palais
des Papes" (the Palace of the
Popes) which you may visit and
enjoy its unique architecture
which is classified and
protected by UNESCO. You will
also have time on your own to
visit the famous bridge of
Avignon (from which the song was
made) and the small charming
city center shops with typical artistic products of the
region. Dinner tonight will be
at a restaurant set on the bank
of the Rhone River.
(B, L, D)
Day
3- Wednesday
No
trip to the Provence would be
complete without a visit to an
actual French "market", so today
we will discover one of
Provence's most famous markets
in the town where Nostradamus
was born, St.
Remy-de-Provence. Your eyes will
feast on a market very rich in
its diversity of stands with
numerous varieties of olives,
olive oil, spices, cheeses
(France has over 200
varieties!), breads, jams, and
lots of different
Provencal goods as well. Plus
you will have a chance to visit
a famous shop where
chocolates are made and you can
even sample.
A stop on the way out of
town to see 2 magnificent Roman
monuments known today as "Les
Antiques", which include the "Cenataph"
dating from the 1st century A.D.
and a triumphal "Arch" dating
from 10 B.C . Then close
by we will pass thru St.
Paul-de-Mausole which is a
monastery and hospital founded
in the 11th century where Van
Gogh spent a year, paining over
150 of his most beautiful works.
And hidden behind is an old
Roman quarry where we shall
enjoy a Provence country lunch
in a very unique setting.
To continue our discovery of
Roman architecture in Provence
you will enjoy a visit to a
Roman aqueduct built in 19 B.C.
which is considered a marvel of
Roman engineering. This is the
famous "Pont du Gard" (Bridge of
the Gard) which is a Roman
3-decked aqueduct. You
will be able to walk across the
higher roadway where from
underneath water was once
carried from to the aristocratic
city of Nimes.
Down the road is France's
southeast region's National
Horse Breeding Center (Haras
National d'Uzes) which we shall
visit before we enjoy a horse
show by Lucien Gruss who is
famous in France for his work
with horses in liberty. Dinner
this evening is back at the
hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 4
- Thursday
The day begins with a visit to
the "Chateau de Tarascon" which
was built beginning in 1400 on a
rocky islet off the Rhone River;
it has been restored and has a
unique entrance after crossing
the moat surrounding it.
Then we will return to the
Camargue, however this time
driving thru it completely until
we reach the Mediterranean town,
Stes. Maries-de-la-Mer.
You will be free to discover
this legendary town with its
Romanesque-style church
dedicated to St. Mary Magdalen
and the other Maries who arrived
with her on these shores!
There are several restaurants
naturally specializing in
seafood and fish of the area and
the ever-popular Spanish paella.
There are also several
interesting shops as well for
you to explore to your heart's
delight before we embark on a
boat cruise. From the boat
you will be able to view
the town and its famous church
from the sea, and as we continue
on the "Petit Rhone" river you
will be able to view the unique
nature, the horses, bulls and
bird life. Then before going
back to the hotel for dinner we
will stop for a wine tasting at
a former castle, which is now
the enchanted wine cellar and
Chateau of Romanin. (B, D)
Day 5
- Friday
Today we will again
take in an impressive surviving
Roman monument. In fact Roman
Gaul's largest amphitheater
(arena) is in Arles and is the
best preserved. We will visit
this famous arena and its
adjacent Antique Theatre dating
around 90 A.D. and 1 B. C.
respectively. And since one of
the most famous residents of
Arles was the Dutch painter
Vincent Van Gogh, we will visit
his reminiscent landmarks and
enjoy lunch at the Cafe Van Gogh
in the Place du Forum which has
been renovated to look as it did
in his painting, "Cafe du Soir.
This
afternoon, we are off to the
Iberic Horse Breeder's Show of
Southeastern France, in the city
of Beaucaire. You will witness
some of France's finest Iberic
horses. Along with judges from
Spain, Portugal and France, you
will take pleasure in this
energetic display by individual
breeders to show their new colts
and fillies from1 to 5 years of
age. There will also be a
dressage competition at all
levels for Iberic horses with
offical French judges. You can
wander off in different
directions to watch either of
these two special events or
watch the animations by Camargue
horse riders all going on
simultaneously. There will also
be a horse ball competition for
you to watch as this is an
equine discipline very popular
in France and Europe. Dinner
tonight will be under a open-air
tent, but with all the elegance
and savor that Provence is
famous. (B, L, D)
Day 6
- Saturday
Today we return to
Beaucaire where we will spend
the entire day continuing with
the events at the Iberic Horse
Breeders Show. More dressage,
competition, animations by
Camargue horse riders and horse
ball. Western barrel racing and
riding and other horse
animations through evening.
Dinner again tonight is under
the big tent. (B, D)
Day 7
- Sunday
We'll
get an early start today for a
spectacular day to enjoy the
"Horse Festival of Mejanes"
which takes place on the large
estate, Domain Paul Ricard. This
estate is located in the
center of the Camargue in a
natural park with horses, horses
everywhere. The ambiance will be
very festive with Spanish,
French and Portuguese music.
There will be a horse show in
the morning, followed by horse
animations during lunch and and
again in the afternoon. Take a
train ride through the Domaine
to see exceptional views of
nature and the habitat of the
region. This evening you will
have the pleasure of seeing a
Portuguese-style bullfight (Corrida
du Rejon) and enjoy the
celebrations afterwards.
Tonight's dinner is at the
Domaine and a special farwell
dinner celebrating together with
the afficionados!
(B, D)
Day
8 - Monday
After breakfast you
will be transported to the
airport by and organized
service. (B)
Tour
Dates: July 5 - 12, 2010
Register
Now
Cost $2700
*Price
is based on double occupancy.
Single supplement $600
Includes:
-
7 nights accommodation
-
Daily Breakfast
-
3 Lunches
-
7 Dinners
-
Round trip airport transfers
(Marseille)
-
Daily transportation per
program
-
Admission to sightseeing and
events as indicated on
itinerary
-
Wine included with some
meals
-
Services of an English
speaking host/guide
Not
Included
Deposit
A
deposit of $600 is due at time
of booking. France Journeys
takes visa, mastercard and
American Express. You may also
fill out the reservation form
and mail a check.
Final
Payment
Final
payment is due 60 days prior to
departure. You will receive an
invoice with your final balance.
*prices may adjust as needed due
to currency exchange your final
invoice will reflect these
changes if applicable.
Cancellation Policy
and Responsibility
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Patricia
Kozlowski will be your host for
the week. She is an American who
has been living in France for
10+ years and who through her
own love of horses and Provence,
settled here to train her own
Lusitano horse, Pio. Patricia
has been very involved in many
horse shows throughout France. Patricia and Pio have
riden in some of France's most
amazing ancient arenas and
through some of the most
picturesque towns. Her passion
for both horses and Provence and
her willingness to share this
passion with you, allows France
Journeys to offer this
incredible trip. If you would
like to contact Patricia for
additional information, please
email her at
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