"BIG GASTRONOMIC TOUR"

AN EXAMPLE OF GASTRONOMIC TOUR IN PROVENCE (7 DAYS / 6 NIGHTS)
Accommodation in Avignon.

THE 1ST DAY

In the morning:

MASTER CLASS WITH ONE OF THE BEST CHEFS (9:30-13:30)

• Choice of menu
• Presentation of the market and local suppliers, purchasing products with the chef
• Master class with the chef

Lunch: tasting of your own made dishes.
Lunch includes: appetizer, main course, dessert, wine and coffee.

The price of the master-class, depending on the chef and selected menu is about EUR 100.00 per pers.

Optional:

THE VISIT OF THE CENTRAL MARKET:

• Presentation of local suppliers
• Degustation of cheese, olive oil & oysters
• Story about traditions of local cuisine

After the lunch:

WALKING TOUR OF AVIGNON "Incredible story of the Pope’s city", 3 hours

During the walking tour through the old town you will see:

• Place de l'Horloge
• The oldest house in Avignon (XIV cent.)
• Basilique Saint-Pierre d'Avignon (built in XIV cent.)
• The square of Palais des Papes
• The Papal Mint (the beginning of XVII cent.)
• Petit Palais, Palais des Papes (XIV cent.)
• Avignon Cathedral (XII cent.)
• Rocher des Doms Park with a picturesque view over the famous bridge of Saint-Benezet (XII cent.)
• 2 branches of the river Rhone, Barthelasse island
• Mont Ventoux mountain – the highest point of the Southern Alps.

Avignon is the centre of Christianity during 70 years of the XIV cent., 9 papas of Avignon.

THE 2ND DAY

In the morning:

ORANGE

Arausio (modern Orange) was a Roman colony in the province of Gallia Narbonensis. The city is famous for its two outstanding and exceptionally preserved monuments, the Triumphal Arch and the Theater, which became UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981.

Lunch in Orange.

After the lunch: the visit of the private dairy, production of the goat cheese, degustation.

THE 3RD DAY

In the morning:

EXCURSION TO CAMARGUE

During the excursion you will see:

• Sainte Marie de la Mer – little town right on the sea. The Church in the centre of Les Saintes, contains the statue of "Black Sarah", venerated by Romany Gypsies, who gather here every year (May 24-25) for a religious festival
• The Camargue Natural Park area, which includes a large UNESCO designated biosphere reserve. Visitors come to the area throughout the year to admire its wildlife, and in particular the thousands of pink flamingos.

Lunch in Sainte Marie de la Mer. On the Menu – seafood & local traditional dishes.

After the lunch:

ARLES

Arles was one of the most important cities of the Roman colony called "Gaul," founded by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. This classical city displays wonderfully preserved ruins, including the ancient Arena, Roman Theatre, the Forum, and the Baths of Constantine. Art lovers will want to follow the Van Gogh Trail to see the scenes of the artist's famous paintings and then visit the Foundation Vincent van Gogh to admire the actual masterpieces.

MOVING TO PORT-SAINT-LOUIS-DU-RHONE (20 min)

Visit of the private farm of oysters and mussels. Degustation.

This day can be divided into 2 days:

• The 1st day: in the morning - Camargue and after the lunch – the visit of the factory of Camargue rice production
• The 2nd day: in the morning - Arles and after the lunch - Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône

THE 4TH DAY

In the morning:

SAINT-Rémy-DE-PROVENCE

Excursion to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence will include the following places of interest:

• Saint-Rémy – the native land of Nostradamus, the house where Nostradamus was born
• Van Gogh Creativity: the Saint Paul monastery - a psychiatric health institution, where Vincent Van Gogh spent 8 months and where he wrote his best paintings ("Iris", "Vase with 12 Sunflowers", "Starry Night", etc. )
• The ancient city of Glanum founded in the VI century BC with the most ancient monuments, the Triumphal Arch and Mausoleum.

Lunch: in

LES BAUX-DE-PROVENCE

On the menu: traditional dish "all-i-oli", homemade mayonnaise with garlic, fish and vegetables.

After the lunch: the guided-tour of Les Baux-de-Provence during which you will discover:

• The history of Les Baux-de-Provence inhabitants
• The Museum of Santons
• Saint Vincent's Church – the patron of winemakers

You will have a chance:

• To taste the tapenades, olive oil, and Provence traditional sweets
• To visit the olive oil mill followed by degustation.

Optional: the performance in the former quarries – the grates lightshow of paintings accompanied by classical music.
Ticket price: EUR 11.00, to be paid on the spot.

THE 5TH DAY

In the morning:

LUBERON: "IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PETER MAYLE"

• Lacoste with the Castle of Marquis de Sade (French: Chaâteau de Lacoste)
• Roussillon – the ocre-red village

Lunch:at "La Maison de la Truffe et du Vin du Luberon" in Ménerbes.
Price of the lunch: EUR 85.00 per pers.

After the lunch:

• Gordes – considered as one of the most beautiful cities of France.

THE 6TH DAY

In the morning:

L'ISLE-SUR-LA-SORGUEГ

L'Isle sur la Sorgue is one of those places in Provence that one has to see. The river Sorgue surrounds the city as if to hug it. Walking along the canals you will notice how they run between the narrow ancient streets. More than 500 antique dealers and second hand dealers gather here to show their treasures to customers from all over the world. The L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Sunday market is the largest outdoor market in the idyllic Luberon area within the Provence region of France.

The market is only on Sundays.

Lunch: at the restaurant "Pescador" on the bank of the river Sorgue. On the menu - trout with almonds.

After the lunch:

FONTAINE-DE-VAUCLUSE

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is an attractive medieval village surrounded by the dramatic high cliffs of the Vaucluse - this setting plus the emerald green river help to explain why this is one of the most visited villages in Provence. Historic monuments in the village include the remains of a medieval castle and an 11th century church.

THE 7TH DAY

All day long:

CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE

Châteauneuf-du-Pape – the largest and most important appellation in the southern Rhône, with more than 3,200 hectares of vineyards and over 80 growers, Châteauneuf-du-Pape produces more wine than the whole of the northern Rhône combined. The gloriously rich red wines, redolent of the heat and herbs of the south, are enhanced by the complexity which comes from blending several of the 14 permitted grape varieties including Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah.

Lunch: at Châteauneuf-du-Pape gastronomic restaurant "Fines Roches" with incredible view over the vineyards.

After the lunch:

• Degustation of different wines of Cotés du Rhône
• Visit of Castelain chocolate factory - the history of chocolate, tasting lesson "Wine and Chocolate", degustation of local liqueurs and brandy.

During each degustation 3-5 different wines are offered.

All entrance tickets are at extra charge, to be paid on the spot.

GUIDE SERVICES

Duration: 4 hours. Price EUR 200.00
Duration: 8 hours. Price EUR 375.00

GUIDE-DRIVER SERVICES

Duration: 8 hours, (1-4PAX). Price EUR 690.00
Duration: 8 hours, (5-8PAX). Price EUR 1,000.00
(Transport cost included. Category standard)

Maximum commission to agencies 15%

For more details about transfers from Avignon - please read here.