Favorite towns

Stayed last year near Bagnols-sur-Ceze and visited many towns-Apt, Nimes, Avignon, Aix-en-provence, L%26#39;Isle-Sur-la-Surgue, Uzes, Marseilles. I%26#39;m returning for 2 weeks early March, and hoping to see Arles and St Remy this time before a short visit in Nice and Grasse. I will also make sure to return to Uzes for market day.

What about Orange, or other towns you have visited? Any favorites to suggest? Thanks,

T

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How long are you going to be in Nice/Grasse area and what sort of towns are you interested in seeing?

There are some amazing places to visit around Nice

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Hi tricia27

From Nice, I recommend Mougins, Biot both lovely hilltop art towns, Villefranche sur Mer for a seafood lunch, Eze for arts, crafts and a magnificent view, Antibes is a lovely old town with an interesting marina, good food, an excellent covered market and the Musee Picasso. However, I would give Grasse a miss. It has very little going for it and has a crime problem. If you want to visit a parfumerie, go the Fraggonard at the entrance to Eze.

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Towns/villages that we visited and loved are Bonnieux, Roussillon (gorgeous!), Gordes, drove up the %26quot;wine route%26quot; from our base in Pernes les Fontaines directly to Vaison la Romaine for the market and then stopped in Seguret and Gigondas on the way back south. The perched villages on the drive up looked sooo charming, but we ran out of time and couldn%26#39;t stop in all on the way %26quot;home.%26quot; We drove through Venasque and St. Didier on our way back from Abbaye de Senanque on day and they both looked worth a stop and walk around. However, we just didn%26#39;t have the time.

We didn%26#39;t make it to Chateauneuf de Pape or Orange either.

Three villages that I still want to see are Lourmarin, Ansouis, and Pertuis. So many lovely places and so little time~!!!

Enjoy!

joy/luvparee

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Forgot to add that Pernes les Fontaines is a charming town/village that boasts of 39/40 fountains. Around each corner is another old fountain that is lovelier than the last! Cobbled streets, streams, and fountains were enchanting!

luvparee

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Thank you all. I have them all written down.

Keep them coming!

T

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St Remy, Cassis and Hyeres. Also liked Fontaine de Vaucluse though you can%26#39;t really call it a town, and Eze, and Entrevaux.

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at the Nice end-

Entrevaux - amazing little town reached by drawbridge opver the river, amazing mountain setting -castle on mountain spike above the town with outstanding views if you walk up the steep zigzag path

Vence - mediaeval town nice restaurants fountains , Roman inscriptions not touristy like st Paul de vence,

la brigue - mediaeval town in the mountains - pretty village with cobble streets and carved lintels above the doors in a special green stone , river running past , ruined castle , baroque churches and mountains round about.

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If you love good markets make sure to be in St. Remy on Wednesday and Arles on Saturday. They are both super. The Arles Saturday Market features a wonderful section at the far end that is dedicated to North African goods - it%26#39;s where I always shop for things like Argan oil and other Moroccan specialty items that are either very hard to find or very expensive at home.

You might want to check out the Camargue also. It is just gorgeous, and totally unlike anyother place in France.

AlpillesGal

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We had a half day in Bonnieux in June 08.Loved it.Unspoiled but hilly.Lots of flights of steps.A resident a Flemish lady who had bought her house from a financially distressed owner was so voluntarily informative.The winters are bitterly cold, and her property couldn%26#39;t be fitted with central heating.Difficult to comprehend that as the car thermometer showed 32C as we drove into the village.Re Entrevaux-we wanted to visit by a recommended narrow-gauge train that departs from North Nice. We arrived too late in the day at the station terminus at the north end Dignes to fit in the return trip.Next time perhaps.

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Head north of Orange to the olive town of Nyons, which has the market used by Patricia Wells when she%26#39;s in residence. Then go up to Dieulefit, a charming small town located near a number of ancient perched villages--our favorite is Le Poët-Laval, a former stronghold of the Knights of Malta, now lovingly restored. The Dieulefit area is known for its beautiful pottery, and you can visit stores and atliers. On the way south, drive through the town of Montélimar and enjoy its wide, shaded streets; it%26#39;s just a quick over-and-back from the Autoroute du Soleil.