Working on our Fall 2024 (Sept. or Oct.)trip. Lots of ground to cover with 2 weeks. We are looking into flying into Nice, then working our way toward the Provence/Luberon area for a few days before heading back to Paris. We have been to Nice before, but it was rather foul weather, and there was also a train strike that hindered that trip. We will give it another try in the Nice area for 2-3 days. Once leaving Nice, what is the best way to get to the Provence area if we are wanting to base in L’Isle sur la Sorgue? At least, we are thinking there. We have been to Avignon. We didn't make it to St. Remy or any of those areas. To avoid drop-off fees, we thought of taking the train once leaving Nice to Avignon and getting a rental there, exploring our base region and the Luberon, then returning the car to Avignon before making our way back to Paris. Too complicated? Better place to pick up a car? We are also looking at stops in Annecy and Chamonix. That’s where it gets complicated. Tickets have not been bought yet, and obviously, we have a lot to work out. Drop-off fees just might not be avoidable.
Posted by
Seattle
64 posts
Hi. Good morning. We toured the Luberon after the RS Eastern France tour - September 2024
Train from Aix to Avignon. Car rental - Alamo - through Costco Travel. Our base was Roussillon for 5 nights. What a beautiful area. We’d visit 3-4 villages a day. Taking time for a relaxing lunch.
If you are interested. Our itinerary of village ideas. After Luberon - TGV to CDG
Villages of Luberon ~ every village has something to offer, the best sight is the dreamy landscape between the villages.
• Roussillon “a symphony of ochre”. 17 shades of ochre. Roussillon’s ochre quarry was one of the most significant ochre deposits in the world. beautiful sunsets. trendy charm of Sants Fe on a hilltop. Colorado Provencal - where ochre mined 1880-1956, weird rock formations, rainbow colors. Reds and oranges, scarlets and yellows, purples and crimsons.
• Julien Bridge - Pont Julien . three arched bridge named for Julius Caesar. only surviving bridge on what was the main road from N Italy to Provence. 27 BC-AD 14. Mortar not yet invented. Chateau de la Canorgue Winery - between Bridge and Bonnieux. A Good Year filmed here. full range of wines.
• Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (du-va-cluse) “where a river is born”. source of river Sorgue, spring is 1010 ft deep. crystal-clear, a startling emerald color. 1000 year old church- Notre-Dame et St-Veran. a paper museum (Moulin a Papier Vallis Clausa). shop selling all sorts of fancy paper. Our favorite.
• Menerbes (Me-nerb) “a ship in a sea of vineyards”. officially one of the most beautiful villages in France. Mayle wrote A year in Provence here. beautiful, quiet, medieval village. 3 minutes from town - Musee du Tire-bouchon (corkscrew museum). Lunch at Café du Progreś. ask for table on terrace. +33 432501232
• Bonnieux. “officially one of most beautiful villages in France” fortified village early as 972 AD. has a bread museum, Musée de la Boulangerie. Saint-Pierre church. Outside of town is a 2000 yr old Roman bridge - Pont Julien. pleasure here is just to wander.
• Lourmarin (33 min). Good local art, one of the most beautiful villages in France, one of loveliest Luberon villages. art galleries, cafes, etc. Camus buried here. Peaceful and happy. drive there is thrilling - winding through cliffs and forest. surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, orchards, lavender. Renaissance architecture. “The silhouette of Lourmarin in the evening light is too good to be true.” La Cave - wine cooperative. Peter Mayle likes Le Comptoir. Favorite dish is Bresaola, lean top round beef that has been air dried, salted and left to age for 2-3 months until it is hard. sliced beef with olive oil and parmesan.
• Isle-sur-la-Sorgue “Venice of Provence”. water wheels. beautiful old town. *Chez Stephane - wine & cheese shop. antique capital of Provence. See street Rue de la République. dates to 12th century. Art ~ Campredon Centre d’Art.
• Saignon (24 min) “halfway to the sky” lovely village. good restaurant/ Un Jardin sur le Toit. ask for table 201. near Caseneuve - eat at Le Sanglier Paresseux - the Lazy Boar. one of Luberon’s most talked about tables- make reservations.
• Joucas 960 AD. lovely restaurant Bistrot La Terrasse, really good food overlooking vineyard • Saint-Saturnin-les-Apt (15 min) striking doorways, delicious cherries. beautiful architecture.
• Cabrieres d’Avignon authentic Provence village. old golden stones.
• Lacoste - several art galleries/shops. former home of Sade (Sadism).
• Gordes (gard) market on Tuesday. town dates back to Neolithic times (Vordeuses 1st inhabitant) known as “Parthenon of the Luberon”. Incredibly picturesque - scenic queen of the villages. Beautiful sunsets. Chapelle des penitents blancs - art gallery. Look for viewpoint icon, veer right, pull over to admire the view. type “Town View Point Gordes” into Google maps and it’ll bring up the location.
Posted by
Paris
7300 posts
I would just drive from Nice. It is 1.5 hour faster than the train, and drop-off fees are typically zero or minimal in France. You can pick up at the airport to avoid driving in Nice, but the train station isn't that bad either (there's an expressway to get you out of the city).
Posted by
OP
Gulf Coast, usa
1191 posts
Awesome. Thanks for that info.