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Provence itinerary with teens - October

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Hello, all! My husband and I will be taking our girls (ages 12 and 14) to Provence in October (also, visiting Paris). I'd love some suggestions on our trip and any tweaks that might be suggested. We have one art loving / shopping child and one that's up for more seeing / doing / adventure.

Saturday - fast train from Paris to Avignon, rent car, drive to St. Remy (to stay for 4 nights) - I imagine we'll just have time to wander around St. Remy late afternoon and dinner there, that night. I wasn't sure if we should hesitate in Avignon at all to explore there / have late lunch and then head to St. Remy?

Sunday - Arles / LaBaux
--touring the Roman sites in Arles, then also doing the Carrieries Lumieres in LaBaux, we're also interested in a stop at the Mas des les Dames winery. Should we plan to come back to St. Remy for dinner? Any suggestions around these stops?

Monday - We have no plans this day - I did think we could consider driving down to Cassis to see the Calanques and maybe a stop in Aix en Provence. But, we could also spend the day exploring St. Remy or going to other towns nearby St. Remy? We'll be so close to the coast that I sort of hate not to go - but, I've read that some people think it's not worth it - especially in October?

Tuesday - Gordes / Rouissillan
-- explore market day in Gordes (get there early), explore Village de Bories
-- hike ochre trail in Rouissillan

We'll have a rental car (that we rent in Avignon). So, on Wednesday, we'll drive back to Avignon and take the train back to Paris.

I know 3 full days is a relatively short amount of time in this region - we are definitely travelers that like some planned things and some unplanned. My husband and I do enjoy wine, so we hope to stop in some wineries in between the towns, as time allows.

I'd love feedback on this itinerary and any changes / additions that we should consider.

Thanks!
Catherine

Posted by
10621 posts

Those are wonderful plans and yes for Cassis and Aix. Cassis is in a stunning setting that you view first on the drive into town from the autoroute. October is a good time to go with fewer people and no French school holidays. Aix is a sophisticated little city that your girls will probably love. It's also has a large university.

Posted by
486 posts

With only a few days I would stay in the area. Love Mas de la Dame. Ordered a case of wine after we returned and some of their olive oil too. You might combine your Arles Roman museum day with the Glanum Roman city very near St Remy. And another day combine Les Baux the castle with the Carrieries Lumiere nearby. Check out the castle website as they do have events like archery and catapult demonstrations but I think only on certain days. Most people do only the castle but wandering the lanes of the town and the church is also lovely. And you also didn’t mention Van Gogh. The asylum he spent a year is also very near St Remy and you can see his room and they have plackards so you can see the views he painted in the surrounding area. There is also a trail through Arles with similar Van Gogh plackards. Enjoy the planning!

Posted by
58 posts

The theme of the exhibit at Carrieries Lumieres will be Egyptian art from Luxor. The short exhibit will focus on a few French painters. The Van Gogh exhibit ends this month, unfortunately,

However, the original Starry Night over the Rhone will be on display in the Fondation Van Gogh museum in Arles. Your kids will recognize that painting,

Posted by
5196 posts

We have one art loving / shopping child and one that's up for more seeing / doing / adventure.

Since you have a limited amount of time, have each of the girls select one thing that she really wants to see, do. or experience. That will contribute greatly to all having a good trip.

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