With a whole week in Aix we had plenty of time to explore the entire Provence region. Booking day trips allowed for flexible, economical adventures with a return to our home base each night.
Our first choice, because we were in Provence after all, was a wine tour. The region is renowned for its roses and reds. Our half day tour took us on a drive through the foothills of St-Victoire Mountain, with a stunning stop for photos, followed by a visit to two traditional wineries. We fell in love with the variety of rose wines available. Each of the tours were offered by employees of the wineries who could answer our questions and provide a personal perspective on this long tradition. A wine tour is always a great way to get to know fellow travelers.
Our second full day tour took us to the towns of St. Remy, Les Baux and Arles. Touted as following in the footsteps of Van Gogh, we explored the Provencal towns where Vincent van Gogh lived and St Paul de Mausole, a monastery that once treated van Gogh as a psychiatric patient. St. Remy hosted an open air market full of fresh food, textiles and handicrafts. We spent much of our time there but left to give ourselves time to walk through St Paul de Mausole, formerly a hospital but now a museum offering insight into the work created by Van Gogh during his time there.
Our next stop was Les Baux de Provence for its sweeping views over the countryside. To say the scenery was breathtaking seems to minimize The final stop was the larger city of Arles. Our guide took us on a walk through the old town to see the Roman ruins as well as a number of places that Van Gogh painted during his time there. Located on the Rhône River, the old town still has all the charm of a small Provencal village. Our time there was limited but we could tell it deserved a return visit.
Our final half day tour was to the Luberon area to explore three of its most picturesque villages; Loumarin, Roussillon and Gordes. The best part of this tour was the six hour drive through the region admiring its mountains and valleys and rich green landscapes. We were given at least an hour of free time in each village to explore, climb and shop. We saw a 12th century church, admired the Renaissance architecture while visiting the ramparts of the Lourmarin Castle, and passed by the Roman arched bridge of Pont Julien.
All three of these excursion were booked through the same company, Tylene Transports Tourisme, through Viator but are also accessible through the Aix-en-Provence Tourism website to purchase direct. There were a number of other options available as well so you can customize your visit to suit your travel preferences. The meeting place for all the tours was the Tourism office located at the end of Cours Mirabeau just behind the Rotunda. It was easily accessible, small group and had great guides.
Whether you choose Aix-en-Provence for your home base or another amazing city in Europe taking the time to immerse yourself in the culture and the region makes for an exceptional travel experience.