We have 7 nights to see as much a spossible in Provence and the Cote before heading off to Italy. We are thinking of basing ourselves in one of the many lovely villages near Avignon for 3 nights and then in Capris near Grasse for the next 2/3. We will have a car. Does this seem sensible when wanting to take in many villages but also a trip through the Canyon and drop down to the coast a couple of times. Is this achievable - any advise?
Posted by
Fort Dodge, United States
54 posts
We spent 3 weeks in Provence last summer. You will definitely want a car (or phone) with navigation. You can just get in the car and plug in the town you want and then go there. So many amazing little tiny villages that we found that way. I loved the little town of Bonnieux would recommend maybe 1 night there? A couple of GREAT restaurants there and a cute little village. One of my favorite places to stay was Domaine De Cabasseyou need to stay there for at least one night amazing food and staff. Mont Ventoux area was nice as well. Menerbes was another very very small village that was fun to walk through and picnic in. Rick Steves guide book for his area was amazing. You cannot go wrong with his accommodations. I would stay away from the bigger cities in Provence as you miss the feel of the area the smaller villages offer so much more:) Les Baux would be a great place to stay. Check out the lodging for Les Baux in the guidebook very good. Sorry my info is just bits and pieces:) I am enjoying reminiscing as I type!
Posted by
OP
Auckland, NZ
3 posts
Thank you for that. We will look at the villages you recommend as well. Do you think in your experience if we based ourselves near St Remy (have found a lovely B and B we might choose) that we would see most of these places from there as day trips?
Posted by
Boston
4132 posts
We spent a week in St. Remy and found it a great base. However, if your focus is the Luberon towns in M's post, you might do better to stay in the Luberon hills. (Les Baux is even farther from that point of view.) Otherwise it is admirably situated (and well withing striking distance of Luberon despite what I said).
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10189 posts
I don't know where Capris is located, but Grasse is in the hills and close to Cannes which is really at the western edge of the Cote. For the Cote d'Azur you might want to be in a town closer to Nice or Monaco in order to make day trips to the different sites. Yes, it is do-able to go via the Gorges du Verdon. You'll come out in the hills behind Nice, which is east of Cannes and Grasse, but can then visit all the coastal towns from Nice eastward. The freeway from Avignon/Aix to Nice doesn't hit the coast until just west of Cannes anyway. You are inland unless you drop down to the coastal road. In your other post, you asked about a town to stay between Avignon and Nice if you went via the coast. You could look at Cassis or Bandol. If you go via the Gorges, you should look at Moustier St. Marie.