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Explore Mediterranean Life With Provence Tours

By Maryanne Goff


If you're looking for a great holiday destination, the south of France should be high up on your list. The sunny climate, stunning beaches and breath-taking landscapes make for a perfect vacation, which is why the famous and fabulous flock here in summer. Before you buy a chateau in the area, however, you may want to get to know the region through some Provence tours.

Provence lies in France's south-east. The region is located between the Italian border and the Rhone River. It also includes the Cote D'Azur in the south.

Many tours of the region start in the historical port city of Marseilles. Other cities often included in the itinerary are Avignon, Nice, Arles and Aix-en-Provence. There are packages that will let you see the area in a day but to really appreciate the beautiful landscape and the little medieval villages, it's best to spend at least three days here.

While general tours are a great way to get to know the region, you may also want to consider a tour with a specific theme. For example, Provence is renowned for its wines, particularly rose and red wines. A tour of the vineyards and wine cellars here is a must for oenophiles. Be sure to try and include a visit to a pastis distillery too to sample the area's traditional liqueur.

Many of the world's top chefs cite Provence as a favorite for its variety of fresh produce and its rich culinary tradition. This is, after all, the birthplace of dishes like bouillabaisse and ratatouille and people here are so serious about food that at Christmas, they traditionally serve no less than thirteen desserts. You may want to get some Provencal herbs from the local market and go on a food tour that will tantalize your taste buds.

Another thing that the region is famous for is its place in the perfume industry. Many of the world's foremost perfumers get their ingredients from flowers like roses, lavender, tuberoses and jasmine grown in the Grasse area. Grasse is a lovely medieval town and it's well worth touring its perfumeries. You may even get the opportunity to create your own fragrance.

If your interests lean towards art and culture, be sure to book a special cultural tour. You may want to explore the ancient Roman ruins or hunt for the locations of movies like 'Jean de Florette'. The Arles area is especially known for one-time resident Vincent Van Gogh and there are tours in which you can follow in the tortured artist's footsteps. A literary tour can take you to the places that inspired writers like Colette, F Scott Fitzgerald and Robert Louis Stevenson while you may also see the places immortalized in paintings by Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse and others.

There are many companies that offer Provence tours. You simply need to check online to find a tour that may interest you or ask your travel agent to draw up a tailor-made itinerary with your particular interests in mind. Just be warned: Once you've fallen in love with the region, you may not want to return home.




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