A Week in Provence Walking Tour

Day 1: Avignon / Vaison La Romaine

From the moment you set foot in Avignon, our meeting point, there's no question you're in Provence. The Rhone churns past the city's walls. Dominating it all is the Palais des Papes, home of the breakaway papacy from 1316 until the 15th century. Today, its sweeping forecourt is sprinkled with lovely cafes and it's a stage for street performers who vie for your attention. We'll see it all—including the Pont d'Avignon, the bridge to nowhere—on a get-acquainted walk. And we'll rove, as well, through twisting streets where the region's trademark geraniums overflow the numerous window boxes. 

Day 2: Le Barroux / Vaison La Romaine

After a classic provencal breakfast, we take a brief ride to the village of Le Barroux and the start of our walk at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail. With these jagged peaks in the background, our first countryside walk lasts a little over an hour. The easy, beautiful trail passes through apricot groves, olive trees and vineyards. It delivers spectacular views and ends at a Romanesque-style monastery where about 60 monks live and work the property. We're welcome for a respectful visit and if our timing is good, we may hear the monks chanting. 

Day 3: Séguret / Châteauneuf-du-Pape

This morning, we'll shop with the locals at Vaison's weekly market. Your delicious goal: to assemble a pique-nique from local cheeses, fruits, breads and wines. Then we head out on foot into the lovely countryside. You'll have the option of an easy 1.5-hour route or a moderate 2.5 to 3-hour walk. We'll pause for a picnic and meet back up in Seguret where we observe a santonnier at work. Santons (little saints) were originally clay figurines in 17th century nativity scenes populated by local characters such as the baker, innkeeper and shepherd. It's a fascinating traditional craft. This is also one of our guests' favorite chances to shop for distinctive Provençal mementos. 

Day 4: Uzes

The breakfast table will include bowls of seasonal fruit. And preserves and warm croissants and blood-orange juice and…well, you get the picture. Eat hearty, because today begins with a beautiful countryside walk beginning on the grounds of hotel. At the end: the Pont-du-Gard, one of the surviving Roman wonders of the world. Remnant of an aqueduct system built over 2,000 years ago, the arched structure soars over the Gardon River. It's a classical treasure...and a monumental lesson in the vivid history of the region. 

Day 5: Les Baux / St. Remy

Crossing to the opposite banks of the Rhone, we stop in Tarascon to select picnic victuals at the market. Then it's on to Les Baux, a gorgeous medieval village perched on a rocky crest that juts up abruptly from the plains below. We'll walk (or ride along in the mini van if you'd like) to St. Remy. En route, we'll spread out our picnics at a little lake near St. Paul de Mausole. Near St. Remy lies the 12th century cloister where Van Gogh spent the last year of his life. Using reproductions, the caretakers make it easy to see how much of the local landscape appeared in his paintings. 

Day 6: Rousillon / Gordes

After a relaxing start to the day over croissants and cafe au lait, we visit the village of Rousillon. It's a startling sight, constructed as it was from 17 different shades of red sandstone. We have a short, enjoyable walk through the ochre quarries, then depart for Senanque Abbey, set in an isolated valley surrounded by a field of lavender and oaks. One of only three Cistercian monasteries in Provence, it is still occupied by the monks.

After lunch and a visit, we take an easy stroll to Gordes. Our trail winds past one of the trademark structures of Provence, a borie. Bories are amazing corbelled vaults of flagstones, stacked high with no mortar to secure them. Similar to Neolithic examples found elsewhere in Europe, these are believed to be from the 18th or 19th century. They're remotely located and some experts speculate that they were built to escape the plague. If you'd prefer to skip this walk, you can ride ahead in the van and arrive in Gordes early, with time to go people-watching and shopping. Overnight: St. Remy Meals: B, D

Day 7: Aix-En-Provence

From farm country, we venture to the elegant university town of Aix-en- Provence, home of Cezanne. A guided walk retraces many of the artist's footsteps, and includes the beautiful Cours Mirabeau Boulevard with its outdoor cafes, sculpted plane trees and fountains, as well as the flower and vegetable market. At the end of our visit, we'll deliver you directly to the city's new TGV rail station. Meals: B