We land in Marseille on the 13th August and leave from Nimes Aiport on the 19th August. Any suggestions of where to visit inbetween so that we can have both relaxing and sightseeing days? We will probably be hiring a car.
My wife wants to visit monte-carlo (etc) so was wandering is this feasible to do and what%26#39;s the best way to get there? Going along the coast or visiting various towns/villages in land?
Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks in advance.
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Monte Carlo is doable but about 3 hours by train from Marseille. Other people can advise you better on driving cos I don%26#39;t drive, myself, but from what others have said driving there in August would be difficult because of congestion. You might be a bit disappointed in Monte Carlo too. It is very built up.
Since you are only in Provence for six days I would stick to the western end this time. There is enough to keep you happy for several weeks, let alone a few days. If you%26#39;re anything like most of the people on here, once you%26#39;ve been to Provence you%26#39;ll be hooked. Definitely hire a car if you are happy to drive. Here are a few of my favourite things in Provence:
The Alpilles area, esp St Remy and Les Baux (a ruined hilltop village and world heritage site). A Roman site Glanum is nearby (walking distance) and just by it is the monastery of St Paul de Mausole where van Gogh spent several months and which has a lovely garden. The Wednesday food market in St Remy is unmissable. Arrive early to get a parking place. I stayed in the Hotel du Soleil last year and have reviewed it on here.
L%26#39;Isle sur la Sorgue, which has a famous Sunday antiques market. Also get there very early (about 8am) to park near the town. The town is surrounded by the river Sorgue (built on islands in the middle) and there are waterwheels that were used in the paper industry. A couple of miles up the road is Fontaine de Vaucluse where you can see the emergence of an underground river and Petrarch%26#39;s cave and a museum about paper making. If it rains, head up to Fontaine as it%26#39;s best after rain ie there%26#39;s more water in the river.
The Luberon, which is the bit made famous by Peter Mayle, for its hilltop villages. I love Roussillon which is packed with art galleries and built on beautiful red brown ochre cliffs. There are marked walking trails if you like a ramble. Also a favourite of mine is Apt, which is relatively untouristy and has an excellent Saturday market. I%26#39;ll put in a word for l%26#39;Intramuros, a resto there that I liked very much.
Aix en Provence, which I find a bit like a little Paris in Provence, it%26#39;s a university town with a great passegiata in the evening. It%26#39;s built on thermal springs and one of the fountains on the cours Mirabeau (the main street, sort of) is warm. Or rather not freezing cold. You can pick it out cos it%26#39;s mossy. Aix has a cathedral and to the north of the town is Cezanne%26#39;s studio where you can look out of the window and compare the view he saw with the one there is now (there are more trees). Aix has many cafes and restos, the most famous being the Deux Garcons. I stayed in the Hotel Mozart and would (and often have) recommended it, reviewed it on here.
Are you into Roman ruins? There are several things of interest in Nimes: the Maison Carree, the tour Magne, and the arena.
Arles has Roman ruins: an arena, the %26#39;thermes%26#39;, a necropolis, a theatre, and also van Gogh connections: the maison jaune, the cafe said to be the one in %26#39;starry starry night%26#39; the bridge over the river, also a cathedral and cloister. Full of good restaurants too, and you can walk along the river.
South of Arles is the Camargue, across which you can drive to Stes Maries de la Mer. If you are lucky you see wild horses, bulls and flamingoes. You can also take boat trips.
Tarascon is a small town between Arles and St Remy with a great castle right by the Rhone. Well worth a visit and the town centre is also interesting as it%26#39;s mediaeval. Tarascon has it%26#39;s own legendary beast, the Tarasque.
The pont du Gard, huge Roman viaduct that you can walk across, again not to miss and if it%26#39;s a hot day lunch by the river. A few miles from it is Avignon, with the Pope%26#39;s palace and the bridge featured in the song.
If you like the sea (who doesn%26#39;t!) you might want to visit Cassis, a small and pretty town just east of Marseille. In August you will have to leave your car in the park and ride car park but it%26#39;s worth a visit to do a boat trip along the calanques (cliffs) and try one of the wonderful fish restaurants. My favourite is in the rue du General Bonaparte and it%26#39;s called the Bonaparte or the Napoleon, I can%26#39;t remember which and if you want to eat there in the evening get there for 7pm as it%26#39;s popular with the locals.
A bit further along is Hyeres, which has a lovely mediaeval town centre and some good foody shops, and a walk up to the castle and Villa Noailles. Definitely worth a half day. The other half you could spend on one of the beaches on the Giens peninsula or on the island of Porquerolles off the end of it (park at tour Fondue and get the ferry).
Hope this gives you a start!
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Thanks for all that Chicchantal that has given us plenty of ideas!! We like the sound of pretty much all of them and so just have to sit down now and plan the week! Thanks again!
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