Will be in Provence for a week

One of my favorite things in Provence was the drive to the top of Mt. Ventoux. There are amazing views of the area. One caveat, however, do this on a clear day only. You can pick up the road on one side(Malacene area) and come down the other side to near Sault. From Sault it is an easy drive to the villages of the Luberon.
We did all this in one day including a stop at the market in Carpentras on our way north from Avignon. Picked up lots of goodies at the market for a picnic lunch.

There are lots of other good places to go however. Les Baux, St. Remy (Wed. is market day)are off in another direction.
The market at L'Isle-sur-Sorgue on Thursday and Sunday is quite famous. Sunday is the day for antigues. I bought my favorite market basket there which I use here at all the Farmer's Markets.

There are just so many places to visit in Provence you can be busy every minute. But
do take time for leisurely meals in cafes and just soak in the ambiance.

The market in Arles on Wednesday & Saturday is the best I have even been too! Highly recommended by Rick it doesn't disappoint.

We loved the Cotes du Rhone driving tour in Rick's book. The scenery and villages were beautiful and especially loved Gigondas for some unknown reason. (Maybe the wine?)

Thank you very much. I will keep all the information with me!
kiko

Kiko, one of our favorite day trips from Avignon was visiting le pont du Gard. It is around 25 minutes west of Avignon, and you need a car. Have fun!

One nice thing we did once was to take a short hike--more of a walk, really--in the Luberon and finish with dinner in one of the hill towns.

Fodors has, or had (try a library if out of print), a book of walks in France with several in Provence. Or look for walking itineraries online.

Fontaine de Vaucluse was also worth a visit--skip the obvious tourist traps, but the site is beautiful and the Resistance Museum is well done.

Kiko, since you're so close, Mt. Ventoux is a must. Also the D1 route from Montmoiron to Sault is beautiful. If you can, do the Gigondas loop around the Dentelles. Fontaine-de-Vaucluse has some tourists, but the wackiness of this natural feature is so bizarre it's worth the visit.

The Resistance Museum in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is great if you have lots of time, are not visiting with whiny kids, and can read French (there is NO English explanation on the exhibits.)

Also, wherever you drive around the area...keep an eye out for bories! They are the best un-touristed thing to find.

I agree with Maryann and Ambrosia about the market days in Provence - Arles (Saturday), L'Isle sur la Sorgue (Sunday), Vaison la Romaine (Tuesday) were some of my favorites. If that's of interest to you, there's a wonderful book called Markets of Provence. It wouldn't be something that you would take with you, but it has lots of pictures and tells you what days in which towns. We spent 9 days in Provence and shopped for our lunch at the markets. Then we'd drive to whichever town we were headed to and always found the most picturesque spot for our picnic - a table on one of the bridges in L'Isle (we stayed at a hotel restaurant that didn't serve lunch, so we could use the table), a huge Kodak-moment slab of rock overlooking Gordes, a bench overlooking the lavendar fields in Sault... These were some of our favorite moments.

Definitely Les Baux and something that we really enjoyed on the way there - Cathedrale d'Images - which is an old limestone quarry that has been transformed into colossal screens for an incredible slide show. This year's show is Picasso, which should be phenomenal. Images are shown on the walls, on the floor, everywhere. But be sure to take a sweater, because it gets cold in there.

Hi Kiko, If you are on the road from Avignon to Apt, stop to see Pont Julien, a 2000 year old bridge. Don't expect a museum and gift shop. And be sure to visit the Pont du Gard; you can't imagine how big it is until you see it for yourself. Have fun.

Thank you everyone! I will keep these precios information and will try as many of them.

cheers.
kiko

NY Sunday Times May 17 issue has big piece, "Roman France," all about Arles, Nimes, etc. Be sure and check it out. Pont du Gard a must.

I only have one day to spend in Avignon. I had plan to go to the Pope Palace in Avignon, Pont du Gard, and the Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (for their market).

I really would like to have a taste of the French country market. Is Isle-sur-la-Sorgue a good choice? Any suggestions on how I should spend my day in Avignon and its surronding? I don't have a car.

Your post: "Pont du Gard...I don't have a car.You're aware there's no train to Pont du Gard, right? Bus, sign up for a tour from Avignon, or taxi (share if possible).Sunday & Thursday are the market days in IsleYou said you only have one day: Pont du Gard is about 15 miles west of Avignon, then to get to Isle you have to go back to Avignon, connect with the train or bus, and go about 15 miles in the other direction; both of these, plus the Papal Palace in Avignon, will all take time.

Cathedrale d'Images is a MUST see. It's like nothing you've ever seen. I also love L'Isle sur la Sorgue. Go there, even if it's not market day. Roussillon is nearby, and also very pretty. Pont du Gard is also a must see. Check out my blog for many sites in Provence and south of France. See photos of Cathedrale d'Images http://enchantedtraveler.wordpress.com/category/provence/
Enjoy! You can't go wrong, anywhere you visit will be lovely.

Great! Thanks.
kiko

Here is a website for local markets. http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/tourism/languedoc-markets2.htm

Wow, that's a lot of markets!