Please help! I need some ideas for the next four days. After spending 18 days leading two friends though Amsterdam, Brugge and Paris, I just arrived in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue with no plan (which feels strange) and the realization that I left Rick's France guide in the apartment in Paris. I've visited Avignon and Arles previously, and know I'd like to visit some vineyards, but that's all I've got. Any suggestions for vineyards? St. Remy and Roussillon? Would a day/night in Cassis make sense? I fly from Marseille and have four full days and a car. Edit: Yes, I did mean wineries, not vineyards. Thanks to all for the great suggestions. Happily I do have GPS, so should have a fair to middlng chance of finding my way back at the end of the day. I just picked up a five euro container of paella that could feed a family of four at the Sunday market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, so at least I've got provisions for the road. After all, there's no good food in Provence, right? LOL
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
This just addresses one of your questions. Hopefully others will jump in to reply to your other questions, since you left your tour book in Paris. Coming from L'Isle, you're near the Cotes du Rhone Wine Tour described in Rick's book. From L'Isle, drive north through Carpentras and on to Beaumes-de-Venise, where you start the Wine Tour circle drive. The Wine Tour drive basically makes a circle. Since you're coming from L'Isle you'll be entering the "circle" from the south or 6 o'clock position. You enter the circle at Beaumes-de-Venise, then go clockwise to Gigondas, then Seguret and continuing clockwise to Vaison La Romaine (at the 12 o'clock point on the circle); then continuing the circle down (south) to Le Crestet, Suzette, and back to where you started the Tour at Beaumes. A detailed Michelin map, and/or GPS, will be a big help on this route, since you don't have Rick's detailed description that's in his book. In your post you said "vineyards" but you probably meant wineries, places where you can taste and buy wine? You'll find plenty of those on this route, especially at places like Gigondas. They do the wine tasting differently than Napa Valley, will be good if you can explain in basic French what kind of wine you're interested in. They'll know you're Americans and won't expect you to buy a case that you have to haul, but buy a couple of bottles. The Cote du Rhone reds will be different than you're probably used to; and they also have rose wines that can be taken more seriously than the insipid blush wines you usually get here. You'll of course also see vineyards, but it's really the wrong time of year for touring the actual vineyards since the grapes have been harvested in the last month or so.
Posted by
Dallas
1022 posts
You could head North to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, NE to Gigondas and the Dentelles de Montmirail or East to the Luberon. You can go to the cave in C-d-P and in Gigondas for tasting and info on the wineries. In the Luberon, just below Bonnieux is Château la Canorgue an attractive winery which was the location in The Good Year film.
Posted by
Reston, Virginia
403 posts
Kent's suggestion is great and detailed as well. If you haven't visited the Pont du Gard, west of Avignon, you should. How about Les Baux, between Arles and St Remy? What about Aix en Provence?
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10649 posts
Cassis is a nice day-trip. A lot of shops are closed on Monday.
How about going to Aix-en-Provence. You can visit Cezanne's home and studio and see the Mt. St. Victoire which inspired many of his paintings. There is also a major cathedral and important art museum., as well as its namesake fountains (aix means water).
Posted by
Atlanta
3262 posts
I agree that St. Remy and Les Baux are great destinations. I'd also consider spending your last night in Cassis before you fly home from Marseilles. The Sunday market at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is fun--wish I had a container of that paella and a crispy baguette right now! Have a great time!