More time in Vaison la Romaine or Beune?

Three nights equals two days, two nights equals one day for sightseeing. We have been to Beaune several times and always stayed about four nights. It is a nice large town/small city. One day for Beaune and another day for the wine villages, so stay there three nights.
Is a weekly market something that you regularly visit on your trips? I have been to several but it is not a focus for me.

Suki, thanks for your input. Markets are always a fun add-on but I don't typically plan around them. In Provence, we are doing a day trip to Aix-en -Provence, where markets seem to be going on every day practically, so we'll partake of some there. I didn't know if the one in Vaison was particularly unique or something....

Also would appreciate specific suggestions for Beaune area since you've been there before....

Still pondering and seeing if anyone else weighs in on the itinerary question. In Vaison we'll take some time to see the Roman ruins and do the Seguret driving loop RS suggests. We're early risers so can do pretty full days.

I haven't been to Vaison but plan to spend a couple of nights there next fall. I spent close to a week based in Beaune, which is a good base for exploring in Burgundy (Vezelay, Semour, Fontenay, Dijon, Autun, etc.). It has markets twice a week, so you might get your market fix there. The Hospice is very worthwhile, the church and wine museum also interesting, and plenty to see in the surrounding area. I'd say stick with the three nights in Beaune. BTW, for me two nights in Lyon would be too rushed.

Thanks Dick for your input as well. You mentioned some places in the vicinity of Beaune that I am not aware of...but I haven't gotten that far in my research yet either. Helpful information--I will check them out!

I certainly realize that almost any of these places warrant more time--they are all desirable/interesting/beautiful and one could really hunker down anywhere, dig in, and enjoy them immensely!

Lyon wasn't originally on our itinerary, but it is on the way to Burgundy (and back to Paris, from which we depart), so it made sense to get a taste of it. I know it's supposed to be lovely--looking forward to at least seeing it.
We're sort of doing a taste platter of a variety of places on this whole trip...a bit more whirlwind speed...our more usual and comfortable preference is to go for 3 -4 nights in any one place, at the very least.

BTW, we have had several trips to Paris--two literally as hub to get elsewhere. It's a pleasant, direct flight from Minneapolis. In 2018 we were in Paris for 7 days (in combination with a side-trip to Loire Valley), and then in 2022, we did another leg in Loire Valley and an additional 9 days in Paris. One can never "exhaust" Paris--there is so much there--but we appreciated being able to do must-see tourist sites the first time and 2nd and 3rd tier places on our ensuing trip there.

I’ve been in Vaison for the market day, and imo it was pretty spectacular. I had planned around it and was glad I did. The market takes over almost the entire New Town, and everything under the sun is sold. There’s endless food of course, including plenty of fresh-made things for dining, flowers, home goods (a large stand selling colorfully painted drawer knobs,) clothing, art… nice stuff. I ended up buying an array of fine goods as souvenirs, which was entirely unplanned. For me, wandering through the market while snacking on the most incredible strawberries I’d ever had, was perhaps the quintessential French experience. Is it worth planning around? I say absolutely. Do check with your hotel about parking while this is going on. I also visited the market in Arles, and felt Vaison beat it hands down.

But where to pull that night from? I haven’t been to Beaune, but if you’re not planning day trips around it then I think two nights is fair for a city like this. I am wondering more about your time in Avignon though. Four nights is the longest you’re staying anywhere. I’m wondering what day trips you have planned. Would any of them be easier/more efficient day trips from Menerbes or Vaison when you have the car to use? Avignon was my least favorite place to stay. Its primary attraction is strategic location and transportation, otherwise I’d stay almost anywhere else. If it makes logistical sense to move a night there, I would.

I think this comes down to personal preference. The market is huge. It’s in the new town. We stayed in the old town and parked at the bottom of the hill. It was not a problem getting out of town on market day. I thought the market was interesting, but I would personally not plan a trip around it. That said, I’m not a shopper. The strawberries were fantastic (must have been there at the same time of year as the previous poster, which was June.)

I would keep your original schedule.

As an aside, are you sure you want to go to Carcassonne on this trip? That would not be my choice. I would spend an extra day in Avignon. You have a lot to see — Arles, Nîmes, Pont du Gard, Uzes, the Carmargue. You can easily rent a car at the TGV station. Rent a car to go to the Carmargue. If you don’t want to drive into Avignon to park, you could park at the TGV station. I would combine Carcassonne with sites on the west side of France on another trip. That said, this is your trip, so do what you want!

Thank you all for your input! Awrzesinski, it sounds like you really enjoyed the market in Vaison and give good reasons why. Your input was helpful because it caused me to really assess my interest in another market (however spectacular) and for what reasons.

I think 25 years ago (when we were also in Provence, but different people then!) I might have stuck around for the market in the interest of taking home some treasures and memorabilia (which we did do back then, primarily from Aix's always charming markets. I still have and enjoy those linens, some pottery pieces, etc from there).
But today, I must admit that I'm shedding stuff more than acquiring it, and lovely as items might be, I probably wouldn't buy anything this trip, (but I realize you never know!)

I realize also that French markets are as much about delicious strawberries (or-- fill in the blank!) and the overall experience, but if I'm really honest, all told, I think I'll stick with the 3 nights in Beaune.
You asked if we are planning day trips from Beaune, and yes, I think the RS recommended driving tour for one, but also Fontenay and maybe some others. And spending time in Beaune itself.
Also, I agree with you about Avignon, but my rationale for staying 4 nights there is: Our first night is pure convenience after a heavy travel day--flying from the States to Paris, and TGV to Avignon. So I really see it as 3 nights.
Avignon, to us, does not have the cache as other places in the area, I agree....but it is the best home base for the most efficient use of our travel time on this trip.

Our day trips are: a FULL day in Arles (which I love, but it was so long ago really want to re-visit it);
another day taking the 20 min. TGV from Avignon to Aix en Provence for the day;
and a third day trip to Nimes/Pont du Gard, probably. We will spend very little time per se in Avignon itself, which is fine. We also will have more extensive choices for car rental from there.

Eef, your question about Carcassone is a fair one. I debated a lot about it and we're gonna do it.
I know it's kind of a weird off-shoot and will take some time, and better paired with western France area (Dordogne, etc.).
And your suggestion of the Camargue area makes a lot of sense--but it just isn't as appealing to us, for whatever reason.

Again, many thanks to you who took the time to chime in on my questions. It really helped--as always--me to process things!

Sounds like you have thought things through carefully. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

Have you looked into visiting Pont du Gard using public transportation? When I looked into it last year it was not easy and would take a lot of time. We rented a car for the day and also went to Nimes and Uzes to make the most of our day.

Yes Andrea, I did look into the public transportation for Pont du Gard and I agree it is a little finicky and time-consuming outside of the summer season. This may be sacrilege to some, but we may skip it.
From home base in Avignon, we are pretty determined to avoid getting a car until we leave Avignon to go to the Luberon hill towns, Cotes du Rhone villages, and onto Lyon and Burgundy.
From Avignon by train, we have easy day trip options: could do Nimes, or shoot off in the other direction pretty easily to Isle le Sorgue for a leisurely lunch and poking around a bit there.

Or even Orange, perhaps ( but we wouldn't do both Orange and Nimes, as both feature Roman ruins (theater/ampitheater).... and seem similar???) Any opinions as to which would be better?

Our must-dos from Avignon by train are: a full day in Arles (we've seen adjacent and hard-to get to Les Baux--will skip it this time), and will take the TGV to Aix for a day.
And then to Carcassone for a night...and back to Avignon to pick up a car for the rest of the trip (9 days with car).
It all feels okay...lots of ways to slice the cake.... :)

Both these towns are on the RS Eastern France tour that I took I number of years ago. Beane was nice. Vaison was spectacular and a place I wish I had had more time to visit. True, I was restricted by the tour itinerary so my time was not my own. I recall the market in Beane, it does not stand out in my memory as anything spectacular. Now the view from the hotel in Vaison, the hike through and down from the medieval village (where the hotel was) and the Roman ruins, all call me back.