On this journey, you have a wonderful opportunity to experience French life in Provence and surrounding areas. Experience the Provence that artists and authors have celebrated on canvas and in writings for decades. Explore beautiful hilltop villages, browse through colorful markets, enjoy the tastes and smells of Provencal foods and wines,, and immerse yourself in the romantic lifestyle of this extraordinary region.
Your home for this journey is a marvelous farm/chateau near Provence. You will spend this journey in a leisurely exploration of the market towns, castles, villages and wineries in this wonderful part of France. Throughout this journey, you'll enjoy regional meals in special restaurants and at the villa. The unique architecture, rich history, and magical scenery will be your backdrop for this fantastic adventure!
Accommodations
Your chateau for this journey is located in the Enclave des Papes, the heart of a charming hamlet of winemakers. This 18th century restored farm house has retained the stamp of authentic old houses of the region. It has a lovely central courtyard, a small pool in the back yard and sits in a veritable oasis of greenery. The main house and a smaller home will be your place of rest for the entire time as you explore the region. The property is surrounded by vineyards and has a nice view of Mont Ventoux and the surrounding countryside.
Places you will Experience on this Journey
Montpellier is the capital of the Hérault department as well as the Languedoc-Rousillon region. The old city is lovely, bursting with history from Roman times.. There's a market every morning on the Place de la Comédie: farmer's market + clothing, etc. To the south, there are the beaches of the Mediterranean. In the summer, there are boating jousts in Palavas - an event that dates back to Medieval times.
Montpellier is a gorgeous, shining and welcoming city, with a history kept within each of its stones. Founded from the 10th to the 12th century by Jews, Muslims, and Christians, it values tolerance and fraternity and has since developed a very special Mediterranean "art de vivre".
In Montpellier you will find interesting architecture from all periods of France's history. Sights include an 18th- century water tower, an aqueduct, narrow streets lined with tall narrow houses and a medieval-styled Ancient Courrier (where the shopping's great).
Avignon is a city of history and a city of theater. Avignon's architecture is marked by papal history. Going through any of the seven doors of the superbly preserved walls one discovers the city of the Popes. The Palace of the Popes built in the 14th century overlooks a lively square. Nearby are the museums the Petit Palais and Palais du Roure, not too far away stands the famous Pont d'Avignon.
The ancient streets, the courtyards of the private mansions, the renovated facades will all charm you! One of the most elegant streets is the rue Joseph Vernet, adjacent to the Calvet museum and the RequienMuseum. From the top of the ramparts you can understand why the site was chosen for a fort: Avignon stands high above the immense plains of the RhôneRiver and is the strategic point of the whole valley.
The foundation of the Aigues-Mortes is attributed to Marius Caius, around 102 BC, but the first document mentioning a place called "Ayga Mortas" (dead waters) dates from the 10th century.
Louis IX of France (Saint Louis) rebuilt the port in the 13th century as France's only Mediterranean port at that time. It was the embarkation point of the Seventh Crusade (1248) and the Eighth Crusade (1270). The town is actually several miles inland and the port, as such, would have been in nearby lagoons and estuaries, linked to Aigues-Mortes.
In 1893 a conflict between the French and the Italians who worked in the salt evaporation ponds of Peccais erupted, killing nine and injuring hundreds on the Italian side (Enzo Barnabà, Le sang des marais, Marseille, 1993).
The 1,650 metres of city walls were built in two phases: the first during the reign of Philippe III the Bold and the second during the reign of Philippe IV the Fair, who had the enclosure completed between 1289 and 1300. The ConstanceTower, completed in 1248, is all that remains of the castle built in Louis IX's reign. It was almost certainly the gatehouse tower, designed to be impregnable with its six-metre-thick walls. A spiral staircase leads to the different levels of the tower.
From 1575 to 1622, Aigues-Mortes was one of the eight safe havens granted to the Protestants. The revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 caused severe repression of Protestantism, which was marked in Languedoc and the Cévennes in the early 18th century by the "Camisard War". Like other towers in the town, from 1686 onwards the ConstanceTower was used as a prison for the Huguenots who refused to convert to Roman Catholicism. In 1703, Abraham Mazel, leader of the Camisards, managed to escape with sixteen companions.
St. Maries de la Mer is situated on the Mediterranean coast in the Heart of Camargue's Parc Naturel (nature park). Surrounded by immense plains filled with ponds and wild lands the city has many activities to offer all within the framework of a protected environment. St. Maries is especially famous for its oldest tradition which consists of being the meeting place for the gypsy people. Their rich folklore and music attract many visitors all throughout the year. There are many ranches (called manades) where both bulls and horses are bred. Don't miss the fauna and flora ot Camargue at the Launes Pond and do take a walk along the Port Gardian, the fishing and boating port of St. Maries.
Nimes…On the border between Provence and Languedoc, the name of NÎMES is inescapably linked to two things – denim and Rome. The latter's influence is highly visible in some of the most extensive Roman remains in Europe, while the former (de Nîmes), equally visible on the backsides of the populace, was first manufactured in the city's textile mills, and exported to the southern USA in the nineteenth century to clothe slaves. It's worth a visit, in part for the ruins and, nowadays, for the city's new-found energy and direction, enlisting the services of a galaxy of architects and designers – including Norman Foster, Jean Nouvel and Philippe Starck.
Les Baux-de-Provence is a small village and commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône département in southern France, in the province of Provence. It has a spectacular position in the Alpilles mountains, set atop a rocky outcrop crowned with a ruined castle overlooking the plains to the south. Its names refers to its site — in Provençal, a baou is a rocky spur. The village gives its name to the aluminium ore Bauxite which was first discovered there in 1821 by geologist Pierre Berthier.
Admirably integrated into a natural site that has preserved its wild charm, The Pont du Gard fascinates each of its visitors with its elegance and majesty. Two thousand years after its construction, this ancient edifice is still a veritable masterpiece, as much for the technical prowess involved as for its simple beauty. It was constructed entirely without the use of mortar. The aqueduct's stones – some of which weigh up to 6 tons – were precisely cut to fit perfectly together eliminating the need for mortar. The masonry was lifted into place by block and tackle with a massive human-powered treadmill providing the power for the winch. A complex scaffold was erected to support the aqueduct as it was being built. The face of the aqueduct still bears the mark of its construction, in the form of protruding scaffolding supports and ridges on the piers which supported the semicircular wooden frames on which the arches were constructed. It is believed to have taken about three years to build, employing between 800 and 1,000 workers.
Arles is the largest city in France with the surface area being 758km2. It is encircled by an environment of exceptional beauty: the banks of the Rhône river, the arid plains of Crau, the Alpilles and the untamed land of Camargue. Once a metropolis of Roman Gaul, then Arles became a symbol of ardent Christianity as can be seen through the arena, the Alyscamps burial grounds, the amphitheater and the Roman baths of Constantin.Arles is now the gateway to Camargue, land of the Gypsies and meeting place of the Camargue cowboys.Today the ferias or bull runs and bull fights are held in this very same arena (12,000 seats) that was the scene of the Roman games in the first century!
Situated in the heart of the Alpilles, Saint Rémy is one of the "must-sees" in Provence. Surrounded by lush green perfumed valleys, its ancient streets are lined with beautifully restored old houses... you will soon be seduced by Saint Rémy's charm! While strolling through the narrow winding streets you will discover fantastic old fountains, shady squares, picturesque restaurants and elegant boutiques. From the place Jean Jaurès to the gates of the old town, you will come across a long succession of "hôtels particuliers" (often converted into museums or art galleries), convents, chapels, and ornate houses from the 17th and 18th century. The beauty of the countryside and the quality of light has inspired many artists, writers and painters.
Your Hosts
for this journey…
Franco was born and raised in Italy and is quite at home throughout Europe. He has been in France upon several occasions and delights in the beauty of the countryside as well as the magnificence of the towns and cities. Kay lived and worked in Florence for several years and because of its proximity, became very connected with France…the food, the wine, the art, the architecture and of course the people are very dear to her heart.
Our vision is to provide personal growth opportunities for you while you are exploring France and to offer experiences that encourage celebration of other cultures. There are so many wonderful things we can all learn from each other as we visit people and places around the world. We provide safe and quality travel that allows you to be in another country not simply as a tourist but more as a compassionate individual interested in connecting with others in the world.
Cost, Refunds and Support
Airfare Support: If you would like assistance with booking an air fare, call: Global Journeys @ 516 343 3210 and we will be happy to assist in any way we can. Cost: $2,450 per participant (double occupancy)
Includes: pick up and return to the airport, all internal transportation, all accommodations, all breakfasts and two dinners.
Does not include: air transportation, and meals as stated
Deposits and Payments: A $500 deposit will hold your place. Half of the remaining balance is due 60 days prior to departure, and the final balance is due 45 days prior to departure. Please note: If paying by credit card, a one time processing fee of $50 will be charged to the credit card.
Cancellations and Refunds: A $300 per person cancellation fee will be assessed for cancellations received 60 days or more prior to departure. A 50% cancellation fee will be assessed for cancellations received between 45 - 59 days prior to departure. A 100% cancellation fee will be assessed for cancellations received 44 or fewer days prior to departure. Travel Package: Upon registration you will receive a travel package including information on: a suggested packing list, baggage allowance, credit cards, customs, passport information and other details.
To register or for more information, you may call us at 516 343-3210 e-mail us at:info@globalj.org or fill out the form below and send it to us
Global Journeys Inc. 516 343-3210 www.globalj.org info@globalj.org