DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Calais to Burgundy

You start this self-drive touring holiday of France with the crossing on Eurotunnel for your car and passengers. From Calais to your first night’s stop in Burgundy, north of Beaune, it’s a drive of about 6 hours with the most direct route taking you past Reims and the Champagne region, the medieval town of Troyes and the cathedral city of Dijon.

You stop in the village of Gilly-les-Citeaux, surrounded by the vineyards of Burgundy and near the famous villages of Vosne-Romanee and Nuits-Saint-Georges. You spend one night here.

Day 2: Burgundy to Vienne

Today’s drive is just 2.5 hours following the course of the Saone and the Rhone to Vienne, south of Lyon. However, it is going to take you much longer than this to complete the journey today as there is so much to see and do along the way.

You can choose to dally a while in Burgundy itself, perhaps visiting Beaune or any of the wine villages nearby, or veer off the main route to visit the Benedictine Abbey of Cluny, founded in the 10th century, or take a detour into Beaujolais, with its steep vineyards and villages of golden-brown stone.

Enjoy the scenery and continue onwards to Vienne, where you will spend the night. Vienne, in the Rhone valley south of Lyon, was once an important centre of the Roman Empire, and boasts a rich archaeological history.

Take time to see the Temple d’Auguste et de Livie and the amphitheatre, still used as a venue today. The Gothic cathedral in Vienne, a striking building dating back many centuries, is also not to be missed. You spend one night here.

Day 3: Vienne to Bonnieux in the Luberon

Today’s journey south still follows the course of the Rhone for much of the way, but again with only 2.5 hours driving time, all sorts of sightseeing diversions beckon along the way. In addition to the nougat-town of Montelimar, you could take a longer detour to visit the Gorges de L’Ardeches or the Roman town of Orange, before striking out into the countryside of the Luberon to reach one of its prettiest and best-known villages, Bonnieux, where you will spend the next three nights.

Days 4 & 5: In the Luberon

With two days in the Luberon, you have plenty of chance to explore the region as well as to relax in the village of Bonnieux. From the hill-top village of Bonnieux enjoy the views of the Luberon, wander its pretty streets, taste regional specialities in its cafes and restaurants, and visit its Bakery Museum and the famous Roman bridge in the valley below. Just 25 minutes from Bonnieux is one of the finest examples of the famous Provencal lavender fields at the Abbey at de Sénanque, just outside the village of Gordes.

The former Cistercian monastery dates from 1148 and now guests can take tours of the church and cloisters and feast their eyes on beautiful fields of lavender beyond (the lavender is usually harvested by the beginning of August and is in bloom from the end of June).

For a more in-depth view of the history of lavender in Provence, why not visit the Lavender Museum in Coustellet. Gordes itself is one of the most beautiful villages in Provence and nearby is the curious Village des Bories, an open-air museum of stone dwellings possibly dating as far back as the Bronze Age. About 30 minutes away lie the tranquil turquoise waters of beautiful Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Follow the trail of water exquisite in its clarity and colour through the pools and channels created by this subterranean spring, and water that has inspired poets for hundreds of years. Petrarch lived here in the 14th century and his home is now a museum.

There is also a museum of the Resistance, a museum of Provencal ‘santons’, workshops of hand-blown crystal and a mill making paper by hand using 15th century techniques.

Day 6: Drive from Bonnieux to Arles

Today you should not take the most direct route between the two places but enjoy a detour through the Alpilles, a chain of limestone mountains, full of lots of natural scenery and displaying an authentic Provence. This is the land of the authors Alphonse Daudet (you can see his mill at Fontvieille) and Frederic Mistral and of Van Gogh who lived in Saint-Remy-de-Provence. The landscape has limestone peaks, pine and oak forests, fields of olive trees and avenues of cypress.

Dotted around are farmhouses of ancient drystone. Saint-Remy-de-Provence is the place to head for first, where three civilisations are represented in a single site at Glanum, then to Les Baux-de-Provence, a mountain-top village with 22 historic monuments and with outstanding views over the countryside below.

From Les Baux you are just 8 km from Fontvieille, a pretty village with ancient houses and where Alphonse Daudet wrote his famous ‘Lettres de Mon Moulin’. Arles, your destination for today, is just 7km from here. You stay at Arles for two nights.

Day 7: In Arles

Arles is an ancient city on the river Rhone and gateway to the Camargue. Important in Roman times, the amphitheatre is a major landmark of the city today, where plays, concerts and bullfights are held. There is also a Gallo-Roman theatre, an aqueduct and Roman baths.

The city and its surrounds inspired Van Gogh when he lived here for 18 months in 1888-1889 and it was here that he developed his swirling style and colour scheme that we now recognise as being quintessentially Van Gogh and painted ‘Bedroom at Arles’ and ‘Starry Night’ amongst others. Arles was also the setting for his collaboration and subsequent disagreements with Gauguin, as well as the famous act of cutting off his own ear.

Visit the Foundation Vincent van Gogh Arles and view Van Gogh’s work, in dialogue with more contemporary pieces. As an International Art capital, Arles is the home of a series of exciting and colourful festivals throughout the year. For example, from July to September, the Roman Theatre houses the Festival of Photography, in which live music accompanies open-air night projections of the work of local and famous photographers.

From Arles explore the nearby marshlands of the Camargue, at the delta of the river Rhone. The Camargue is approximately a third lakes or marshland and home to more than 400 species of birds. Horses and cattle roam the area.

It is worth heading for the fortified, walled town of Aigues-Mortes which seemingly rises from the marshes and saltpans of the Camargue, although not officially in Provence as it is in the department of the Gard in Languedoc.

Day 8: Arles to Crillon-le-Brave

Today follow the course of the River Rhone northwards to the papal city of Avignon, which you could visit before continuing on your way to Mont Ventoux and the village of Crillon-le-Brave. Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is set on the banks of the majestic Rhone river and was the seat of the Catholic popes for most of the 14th century, only coming under French rule in 1791. Its centre, which is surrounded by high medieval ramparts, houses the imposing Palais des Papes, the largest Gothic palace in the world.

The old town of Avignon is home to numerous other architectural gems including the 12th century cathedral, the ramparts, and the famous Pont d’Avignon. You have three nights in the pretty, hill village of Crillon-le-Brave.

Days 9 & 10: In Crillon-le-Brave

The base of Mont Ventoux is clustered with small market towns such as Caromb or Carpentras. Nearby are the wine villages of Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The region also boasts spectacular scenery that can be explored on foot or by bike.

For the more adventurous visitor, cycle up the winding path to the summit of Mont Ventoux and look down from the rocky, chalky mountain top over the lush green fields below. Crillon-le-Brave is less than an hour’s drive from Sault and also from Valréas, both sites of more famous lavender festivals, with an opportunity for a tour around some botanical gardens in Sault.

Day 11: Crillon-le-Brave to Puligny-Montrachet in Burgundy

After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, travel northwards again along the valley of the Rhone, towards Burgundy and the small village of Puligny-Montrachet, famed for its white wines, and to the south of Beaune, situated at the heart of the Cote de Beaune.

Day 12: Burgundy to Epernay in Champagne

Drive northwards and arrive in the Champagne region for your final night of this self-drive touring holiday in Epernay. Nestling between the Aisne and Marne valleys, Epernay and its nearby rival, Reims, are well situated to see the thriving Champagne vineyards.

Day 13: Epernay to Calais

Depending on the time of your Eurotunnel crossing from Calais to Folkestone, you may want to linger amid the Champagne houses of Epernay and Reims. We can give you suggestions of Champagne houses to visit. Laon and Arras are two historic towns that you also might want to call in at on the way back to Calais.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed & breakfast basis, including Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais. Alternative you can opt for the ferry from Dover to Calais, or one of the other ferry crossing from England to France.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information including recommended routes and suggestions on places to visit, to help you get the most from your holiday.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance, vehicle breakdown cover, a Green Card from your insurance company for taking your car abroad and an appropriate driving licence. All these items should comply with whatever rules are in place at the time of travel. The AA and the FCO should also be consulted.