Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 – Avignon
Scheduled flight from your preferred airport to France – transfer with our tour manager in our private executive coach to the 4* Bristol Hôtel in Avignon – dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 2 – Avignon, Le Palais des Papes & Pont d’Avignon
Guided walking tour of the UNESCO listed town of Avignon takes in the ramparts, the Petit Palais and the Cathedral – guided tour of Le Palais des Papes, the Pope’s Palace, the largest and most important Gothic palace in Europe testifying to the leading role played by Avignon in 14th century Christian Europe – Pont St Bénezet, or Pont d’Avignon, was built in the 12th century and put out of use by a flood in 1668 and today only four of the original 22 arches remain.
Day 3 – Aix-en-Provence, ‘In Cézanne’s footsteps’ & Musée Granet
Guided walking tour of Aix-en- Provence, Cézanne’s birthplace, introduces us to its beautiful buildings and magnificent squares and follows ‘In Cézanne’s footsteps’, discovering his life and the landscapes that inspired the great painter including a visit to his studio which has been preserved as he left it – an audio guided tour of Musée Granet introduces us to one of France’s richest provincial art galleries with works by French painters from the 16th to 20th centuries (including works by Cézanne).
Day 4 – Arles, Espace Van Gogh & Clinique Van Gogh
Guided walking tour of Arles takes in the magnificent Romanesque cathedral of Sainte-Trophîme, the two-tiered Roman Amphitheatre, one of the best preserved monuments of Roman Provence, and the remains of the Roman Theatre – it was in Arles that Vincent van Gogh experienced his first bout of insanity and we visit the Espace Van Gogh, the hospital where he painted some of his most famous works – in 1888 in St Rémy de Provence Vincent van Gogh institutionalised himself at the asylum at St Paul de Mausole, now known as the Clinique Van Gogh, and during his year there produced 146 oil paintings and 150 drawings!
Day 5 – Nîmes, La Maison Carrée & Pont du Gard
Morning at leisure in Nîmes, a town with 2,000 years of history, architecture and art – explore the stunning Roman temple known as La Maison Carrée, one of the finest remaining examples of a Roman temple in the world – reaching a height of 49 metres, the Pont du Gard is the major structure along the Nîmes Aqueduct and is the highest aqueduct bridge ever built by the Romans.
Day 6 – Marseilles & Musée Cantini
After a short walking tour of Marseilles this morning, visit Musée Cantini, housing the 20th century art collection of sculptor Jules Cantini, and Surrealist, Cubist and Fauve paintings – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.
Tour Features
4* central Avignon hotel
All excursions & guided tours included
Welcome dinner
Professional local guide in France
Scheduled flights to France
Executive coach in France
One free place per 10 paying passengers
Guided tour of Avignon
Le Palais des Papes - guided tour
Pont d’Avignon
Guided tour of Aix-en-Provence - ‘In Cézanne’s footsteps’
Musée Granet - audio guided tour
Guided tour of Arles
Espace Van Gogh
Clinique Van Gogh
Nîmes
La Maison Carrée
Pont du Gard
Walking tour of Marseilles
Musée Cantini
Hotel
Five nights at the centrally located 4* Bristol Hôtel in Avignon. Located within the city walls and a ten minute walk from Le Palais des Papes, facilities at the hotel include a lounge and bar and all rooms are en suite. Dinner is included the first night and the remaining five nights are on bed and breakfast basis.
Tailor-make this tour
TAILOR MAKE YOUR GROUP TOUR
Here are some more suggested places of interest:
- Château de la Barben - the painter Marius Granet described La Barben as ‘the most ancient and the most picturesque castle in Provence’
- Château d’Ansouis - this lovely château and fortress gardens have been owned by the same family since the 11th century
- Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence - Henri Matisse himself described this as his masterpiece; he designed every element of the chapel including the architecture, the stained glass and even the priests’ vestments
- Musée du Petit Palais, Avignon - an outstanding collection of Italian and Provençal paintings
Tour Reviews
Reviews for Provence - in the footsteps of Cézanne & Van Gogh
Date of tour: June 2015
Judging from all the feedback we have had, this holiday was probably the best one we (or do I mean you) have organised. Terence Rodrigues, the Tour Manager, who was superb. He had a very clear voice, his French was fluent, he managed to charm everybody he came into contact with, he has a degree in the history of art and a detailed knowledge of Provence. The whole atmosphere of Aix and the other towns we visited, with their antiquity and light and inspiration to Cezanne and Van Gogh was just perfect. The Hotel Aquabella was excellent for our purpose: in the middle of Aix, just near the Cathedral, a beautiful garden and swimming pool. The rooms were good and the staff were incredibly helpful and kind. So far as the actual itinerary was concerned it worked like a charm. All the guides were good, especially the guide in Avignon who was absolutely excellent, a very good speaking voice and very humorous. We are indebted to Tailored Travel for a really brilliant trip, and I would like you to pass on my personal thanks to Nicola for all her kindness, patience and attention to the smallest detail, she did a first rate job.
MR, Stourbridge
Date of tour: May 2014
We had a terrific time in Avignon: the arrangements were faultless and everyone raved about the hotel, which was spotless and extremely well run. The owner was always in evidence, taking a personal interest in service and clients, and that of course is why it is such a well run ship. The train journey worked very well too, and our connections were very well handled. Our guide, Françoise Audibert was a delightful warm person who knew her stuff. We were all delighted, and you cannot wish for more. I got so many compliments for brilliant organisation, and had to keep saying: “it is all thanks to Tailored Travel!”
PE-H, Charing
Date of tour: May 2014
A very belated thank you for all you did to make our Provence Tour so enjoyable. The weather was good, the roads not crowded and everything went according to plan.
AG, London
Date of tour: March 2013
We came back from Aix today, all very satisfied with an enjoyable holiday break. The arrangements made by Tailored Travel were excellent. The hotel was much liked by all the group, having a good French ambience, with friendly, helpful staff and a particularly good restaurant: highly recommendable. Our guide, Isabelle, did a splendid job and her presence was much appreciated by us all. The arrangements for picking up the concert tickets materialised just as you planned. The transport from and to the airport and on our excursions went very smoothly and the drivers were efficient, friendly and cooperative. So 10 out of 10 to all concerned – very many thanks.
MB, London
Date of tour: May 2012
On behalf of all who went on the holiday to Provence, I want to say many thanks for making the holiday such a success. The proof of the pudding is that the members of the group, not me but they, are organising a dinner to go over the many memories they have - armed with a myriad of photos - and it is a lovely gesture on your part to make such a generous contribution to it. There is no doubt that the first toast of the evening will be to ‘Tailored Travel - may God bless her and all who sail in her.’
RG, Malvern
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor this tour
for your group
Tailor make your group tour
Remember this itinerary is just our suggestion. Tailor make this tour exclusively for your group to suit your members’ budget or preferences. You could:
- stay at a 3* hotel
- travel by Eurostar
- with more (or less) dinners included
- for more (or fewer) days
- include different excursions – see ‘Tailor-make this tour’ tab for suggestions
- include UK airport coach transfers
- bring a specialist lecturer
- include all entrance fees & gratuities
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor make the perfect tour
for your group
