lundi 29 juillet 2013

Choose Provence Tours For A Perfect Holiday

By Maryanne Goff


With its sunny Mediterranean climate, the south of France is the ultimate destination for a summer vacation. Beautiful people from all over the world flock to the French Riviera to enjoy the gorgeous beaches while those who want to experience country life head to the towns and villages a little more inland and rent a chateau. If you're pressed for time, however, you may want to consider one of the Provence tours on offer to explore this magical region.

Provence is the region that covers the south-eastern part of France. The Rhone River forms its western border while the region extends eastwards all the way to the border with Italy. It also stretches southwards to the coastline known as the Cote D'Azur.

Many tours of the region start in the historical port city of Marseilles. Other cities often included in the itinerary are Avignon, Nice, Arles and Aix-en-Provence. There are packages that will let you see the area in a day but to really appreciate the beautiful landscape and the little medieval villages, it's best to spend at least three days here.

Several travel companies offer specialized tours focusing on a specific aspect of life in the region. If you're a wine enthusiast, for instance, you'll definitely want to explore the local wineries, famous for their rose wines. It's a good idea to also include a pastis distillery in the itinerary. Pastis is the local liqueur with an anise flavor.

Many of the world's top chefs cite Provence as a favorite for its variety of fresh produce and its rich culinary tradition. This is, after all, the birthplace of dishes like bouillabaisse and ratatouille and people here are so serious about food that at Christmas, they traditionally serve no less than thirteen desserts. You may want to get some Provencal herbs from the local market and go on a food tour that will tantalize your taste buds.

The region is not only known for its fragrant cuisine but also for fragrances themselves. Lavender, roses, jasmine and other flowers flourish especially in the area around Grasse, which forms the heart of the perfume industry. A tour of the perfumeries in this charming town is an unforgettable, sweet-smelling experience.

The area is steeped in history and if culture or art is your passion, you may want to go on a cultural tour. For example, a tour of ancient Roman sites can be fascinating. You can also follow in the footsteps of artists or writers who spent time here, from Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse to F Scott Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Several companies offer a variety of Provence tours. A quick search online will guide you to a package that suits your needs and your budget. Any good travel agent will also be able to create a tailor-made package especially for you. All you need to do is enjoy the journey and save up for that chateau, because once you've visited the region, you'll want to stay forever.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire