"Just for Women": Provencal villages with a Truffle twist
4 nights
Come and discover the most charming villages of the Luberon area of Provence as described by Peter Maile and discover the secret world of truffles in the Drome Provencal also known for it’s Lavender cultivation:
Enjoy art, architecture, little villages, captivating landscape, gastronomy and great wines all while relaxing in the sparkling light of Provence.
Cost per person: $1120
Highlights:
- 2 nights at La Bergerie des Sources
- Compact car for 5 days
- Tour of truffle market
- Truffle hunting with a dog
- Truffle dinner
- 2 nights at La Bastide de Gordes
- 1 Gourmet dinner at La Bastide
- 1 Spa or beauty treatment
- Daily breakfast
- Driving itineraries
Day 1:
Pick up your car in Avignon train station
Drive to La Bergerie des Sources for your first night stay. (40 minutes)
La Bergerie des Sources, a charming Bed & Breakfastis located in the heart of Drôme Provencal, with its fields of lavender and sunflowers, as well as vineyards and châteaux. Near Grignan and St. Paul Trois Chateaux, the B&B is blessed with a natural spring, fountain, and a courtyard with 100 year-old plane and mulberry trees making it an ideal refuge throughout the year.
The charming 18 th century farmhouse has been carefully restored to keep the original Provencal architectural style. Upon arrival at the B&B you will be charmed by the open space, and the landscaped garden with Provencal varietal plants, such as lavender, rosemary, oleanders and cypress trees.
Day 2
Morning tour at the truffle market.
Discover the secret world of truffles: Enjoy a morning with a truffle grower and his dogs. Learn all about the art of truffle growing from the training of the dogs to carefully handling of the soil surrounding the truffle bearing oak trees. Visit the world-renowned truffle market of Richerenche.
Black truffles, sometime referred to as Black Diamonds, are often mistaken for being primarily from Périgord. Connoisseurs in Provence will have no such thing. Eighty percent of the French national production comes from Southeastern France. The most internationally recognized truffles tuber Melanosporum are abundant here.
And as to the myth that truffles are an aphrodisiac: as the French writer Brillat-Savarin said “So lets just believe they are an aphrodisiac, and continue to heartily eat them!"
Truffle dinner with your hostes.
Overnight at La Bergerie des Sources B&B
Day 3
Enjoy tasting regional wines including the famous Chateau Neuf du Pape, as you meander through the vineyards on the way to Gordes and the Luberon villages.
Check into your hotel and set of for the rest of the afternoon to discover the charm of Rousillon with it’s 18 shades of okra and Lacoste home of the Marquis de Sade.
Climb the winding narrow streets passing in arched tunnels under house before reaching the 86 steps that lead from the village of Bonnieux to it’s 12C church for an exceptional view of the plains below. Then head to Oppède-le-Vieux, a truly ancient village, sitting with the ruins of the old fortified castle perched on top and surrounded by the rocky cliffs of the Luberon.
Be sure not to miss Vaison la Romaine with its roman ruins. Vaison is also a major truffle center with a world renowned market. This is where Patricia Wells the famous food critic calls home.
Check in at La Bastide de Gordes****
A hotel of your dreams, situated in one of France’s most beautiful villages, in the heart of an exceptional site. Constructed in what was once the old ramparts, advanced from the village.
Gourmet dinner
Gourmandise in the region is renowned as the “Grande Table” where seasonal products and Provençal and Mediterranean products mix with delicateness.
Lunch and dinner are served in a dining room with a felted atmosphere, or on a terrace facing the superb hanging garden with a panoramic view of the Luberon and the Alpilles.
Day 4
In the morning set off for
Cassis, a quaint coastal village just a few miles from Marseille. Here you will discover the famous Calanques, deep narrow inlets, sort of Provencal fiords, in the rocky cliffs along the coast between Cassis and Marseilles. This is the famous bouillabaisse soup is from. Cassis is an ancient fishing port and is an interesting village to visit. The village was rebuilt on the old ruins in the 18th century, resulting in a more regular layout than most other medieval villages.
In the afternoon treat yourself to a Spa treatment:
Découverte aquatique Aquaprima cure (Aquaprima aquatic discovery cure) to revive your whole being; our Escale sérénité Aquazen cure (Aquazen serenity stop-over cure) to immerse yourself in an ocean of peace and harmony; our Instant de bonheur Aquaprana cure (Aquaprana moment of happiness cure) to purify and restore balance to your body, not to mention all the Daniel Jouvance face and body care treatments.
This is somewhere where you can recharge:batteries and recapture your vitality. Come and erience more than a treatment…experience an entirely new sensation.
Overnight at La Bastide de Gordes****
Day 5
Check out and explore the region.
Head into the ‘Little Alps’ to visit
Les Baux de Provence: the Huguenot stronghold. Situated on a precipice, the town will reward you with a view of ‘half of Provence.’ The village itself is simply incredible, carved as it's been almost out of the very rock of the hilltop.
There are few places that truly deserve the description 'unique' but this certainly is one of them. Then head on to
Avignon. Once in Avignon, you won't want to leave, and the town is too interesting to let you go. Avignon is ancient, full of history, life, youth, art, music and activity. Just to "see" the town itself, you could wander the narrow streets inside the fortified walls for days without tiring of them.
Hellas time to go home!
Return your car before 6 pm at Avignon TGV train station
