Roman and medieval Provence day tour
Your immersion into the fascinating history and culture of Provence starts when you meet your local expert guide at 9.30am in Avignon. Sharing his wealth of knowledge on the region as you go, your guide will take you on a 3-hr walking tour of the historical center of Avignon.
You will see all the best sites in Avignon! Climb to the top of the fortified medieval city walls to reach the "Rocher des Doms" garden, discover Avignon stretching out in all its beauty along the Rhône River. Discover the rich historical past of Avignon where the papacy was established in the early 14th century.
Follow your A la Francaise guide inside the Pope's Palace (entrance ticket included), the largest gothic-style palace in Europe. In this maze of galleries, chambers and chapels, imagine its luxurious furnishing and sumptuous decoration from the medieval period. Enjoy genuine explanations and anecdotes from your local guide as you go.
Your walking tour continues along the cobbled streets to the Place de l'Horloge where you will find out about the secrets of its painted windows. See the town hall topped with its clock tower, and the theatre.
The end of your walking tour in Avignon will be toasted with a glass of Côtes du Rhône wine served in a local place close to the Pope's Palace.
You can enjoy free time for lunch on your own in Avignon following the walking tour.
Please note: You will walk over paved streets, then climb a series of steps to reach the Pope's Palace so please wear good shoes (like sneakers).
After lunch in Avignon it's time to depart the city and head with your guide to the village of Saint Remy de Provence for a walk in the city center. The landscape around the town was painted several times by Van Gogh!
Next stop on your tour is a visit to Les Baux de Provence, a village located high upon a rock at 245 meters. Walk through its historical pedestrian center and see the Museum of Santons, the Hôtel des Porcelets (a beautiful 16th century house), the St Vincent Church (pretty romanesque building) and listen to your local guide and his passionate explanations about the Provence region.
After your visits to these wonderful villages it's time to visit the famous and exceptional site of the Pont du Gard bridge which dates from the first century and is classified by UNESCO. Did you know? It is the most amazing and well preserved part of the Roman acqueduct which supplied water to Nîmes.
You'll return to Avignon at 7pm full of new knowledge and an appreciation of the historic wonders of Provence.
