Voyage to Provence

Journey to the sound of crickets and the pleasures found in Avignon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gordes and the Mont Ventoux

5 Days
Departure from your Parisian residence with our private chauffeur

Period: May to October

You will be collected by our chauffeur from your residence in Paris and taken to the Gare de Lyon. Departure from Paris at around 2.30pm for an arrival at Avignon at around 5.30pm. You are now on an escapade to paradise: Provence, at the crossroads of the Vaucluse and the Var regions.
Your Ambassadress will guide you, with passion and generosity, around the countryside of her multi-facetted region, that blends its history with gastronomy. She will show you the local lifestyle and take you to taste the world-renowned Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas wines. Everything is gathered here, for you to have a blissful journey, meeting fascinating people, and living unforgettable experiences in an awe-inspiring setting. Your stay begins in Avignon, one of the oldest and most beautiful towns in France, which boasts an astonishing heritage, including the Palais des Papes (the Papal Palace).

For further information:
+33 (0) 9 51 01 33 56

Ask for a quotation:
info@passagessecrets.com

Schedule
Itinerary

Schedule

Arrival in Avignon – Day 1

Arrival at Avignon in the early evening. You will be met by your Ambassadress and taken to the 5-star Mirande Hotel. You will be transported back to Les années Lumières, the period of Enlightenment, in an eighteenth-century nobleman’s town house, where modern comfort blends with the original charm and authenticity of the site.
The hotel is ideally located, opposite the East façade of the Palais des Papes. Your escapade in Provence begins, with a gastronomic fairy tale: a dinner under the auspices of the chef, a true orchestrator of French cuisine.

Day 2

Departure at 10.00am from the hotel with your Ambassadress. Avignon is a town that legends are made of, with its bridge, ramparts, its seventeenth and eighteenth-century town houses and squares. The charm of this Provence town will take hold, as you wander through the meandering medieval streets, brimming with life and overflowing with history.
Avignon invites you to stroll around. After a bistronomic lunch in the town centre, you will spend the afternoon in the company of our Conference Guide visiting the town and the Cité des Papes, built from 1335. The Papal Palace, the biggest gothic construction of the Middle-Ages and the Bridge of Saint-Bénézet, better know as the Pont d’Avignon are the emblems of the city. As an exceptional group of monuments that testify to the leading role played by Avignon in 14th-century Christian Europe, the historic center is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

At the end of the day, the sun goes down, and after a quick stop at the hotel to pick up your bags, take the road to an authentic Provence village, 30 minutes outside Avignon. You find yourself in the middle of nature, at the foot of the Mont Ventoux. The road is lined with sumptuous landscapes, from the massifs of the pre-Alpes to the hills and plateaux of Haute-Provence, all ravishing and astounding sights! We have made a selection of charming 4-star hotels, depending on your dates, desires and availability. The evening begins to the sound of crickets, and a dinner starring regional chefs and their lively and delicious cuisine.

Day 3
Departure at 10.00am

The department of the Vaucluse is the home of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, one of France’s leading wine appellations. In the fourteenth century, on the initiative of Pope Jean XII, the popes chose Châteauneuf-du-Pape to build their summer residence. They decided to plant vines in the rocky soils. The wine remained a secret for centuries until it finally received the appellation d’origine title in 1929. Departure from the hotel at 10.00am, towards Châteauneuf-du-Pape for wine tasting and the discovery of the appellation. Your Ambassadress will take you to meet the members of a family steeped in the region. For 4 generations they have conserved their heritage and transmitted the knowledge of their ancestral craft. Their perfectionism combines the love of workmanship with a profound respect for the geological elements. Each and every action, of this essentially manual work, is carefully crafted to protect their vines and is carried out, season by season, with almost religious devotion. With rare passion, they will help you discover their history and the different varieties of grape they produce: Clairette, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Roussane, Syrah, and of course, taste their wines!

Gastronomic lunch: You are invited to a gourmet lunch in a house where the art of receiving is innate. A rich moment for your taste-buds, with the single intention of bringing you serenity and pleasure at the heart of a gastronomic garden.

Afternoon: Departure for the village of Gigondas, between Carpentras, Orange and Vaison-la-Romaine. Gigondas is a marvel, with the view of the Dentelles de Montmirail, a 200 million year-old and 630 metre-high massif, which is the western limit of the Monts de Vaucluse mountain range. The geology and climate have created a limestone-rich soil and unique terroir. The aroma of this lively and fruity red wine produced here has distinct notes of oak and roses. How about a wine-tasting? We could not imagine having you miss out on this experience, despite the satisfaction that the magnificent landscape of the Côte du Rhône region offers. Your Ambassadress will reveal other confidential addresses to suit your wishes and desires.

Return to the hotel around 5.00pm: To take full advantage of the swimming pool and garden.

Dinner and night at the Château. The house saying, quotes the British historian and philosopher Theodore Zeldin: “Gastronomy is the Art of Using Food to Create Happiness”.

Day 4
Departure at 10.00am

To the heart of the Monts de Vaucluse and the Lubéron, with its breathtaking panoramas, its rich architectural heritage and the Lubéron Regional Nature Park. We will take you to the Little Venice of Provence, the village of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

The morning will be organised according to your desires. You can wander through this village whose meandering side-streets feature many antique shops and second-hand boutiques. Take the time to live A la Provençale!

Lunch: Your table is reserved. You will fall for the charm of the exceptional atmosphere in the heart of Provence. A place of warmth, authenticity, chance encounters and exchanges with the local Islois.

Afternoon: Gordes, a little Provençal jewel, protected by the majestuous castle and Citadelle that are testimonies to its past. The massive fortress-like church, the high walls surrounding the village and the narrow winding side-streets are buttresses against the Mistral wind. The village is listed as one of the most beautiful villages of France. You will visit the Sénanque Abbey, completed in 1220, which was the fourth Cistercian Abbey founded in France.

5.00pm: There are many paradises on Earth and the village of Gordes is certainly one of them! The 5-star hotel is a haven of peace. The terrace, deck chairs and swimming pool, are all ideal for living in style.

Begin your evening, facing the grandiose panorama of the Lubéron, with a glass of Provençal rosé. And then the chef, a genuine epicurean, will take you on a rapturous journey of savours, for a bistronomic dinner opposite the garden.

Day 5
Departure at the end of the morning to Avignon train station

Before leaving Provence, enjoy your breakfast to the sound of crickets. Departure for Paris from Avignon train station (on first-class TGV) or from the airport, towards the end of the morning. The voyage can be prolonged if you so wish, and as an alternative, we can take you to Avignon station or airport at the end of the day.
Pick-up by private chauffeur at Paris Gare de Lyon train station or Paris airport, and transfer to your residence in Paris.

Itinerary

We hereby present a base for your trip. However depending on your response to our contact form and on your involvment, we will be able to design a travel book, just for you.

Our prices include:

Departure from and return to your residence in Paris. For all other cities in France or abroad, please contact us.
The first-class return journey by high-speed train from Paris to Avignon.
The service of our private chauffeur throughout your entire stay.
Our concierge service. Passages Secrets is at your disposal during your entire journey.

Arrival Day-1

Transport with our private chauffeur from your residence in Paris to Gare de Lyon (Paris) – Mercedes E-Class (2 pers.).
Arrival at the Avignon train station in the afternoon.
You will be met by your Ambassadress and private chauffeur – 4 wheel-drive Mercedes (3 pers.).
Transfer to the 4-star hotel.
1 night at La Mirande Hotel – Deluxe room (22 to 35 m2) with breakfast included.

Day 1

The service of our Ambassadress through the visit of Avignon.
The service of our Conference Guide for the visit of the Palais des Papes (the Popes’ Palace) and for the discovery of the town of Avignon.
The admission fees to all sites visited.
Transfer to the Château de Mazan – 4-star hotel.
2 nights in a 4-star hotel – spacious room (with private terrace) including breakfast.

Day 2

Departure from the hotel at 10.00am to Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Private visits of 2 domains including wine tasting of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas.
The admission fees to all sites visited.
Transfer to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.
Night at the Château.

Day 3

Departure from the hotel at 10.00am to discover the Monts de Vaucluse and the Lubéron Regional Nature Park.
Visit of the village of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Visit of the village of Gordes and the Senanque Abbey.
Return to the hotel.
1 night in a 5-star hotel in Gordes – spacious room (around 35 m2 with private terrace) including breakfast.

Day 4

Free morning at the hotel.
Departure from the hotel at around 11.00am – Transfer to Avignon train station or airport.
Arrival in Paris – Transfer from Gare de Lyon station or Paris airport to your residence in Paris.

Our prices do not include:

Day-1: Dinner in Avignon with Menu à la Carte.
Day 1: Lunch and dinner with Menu à la Carte.
Day 2: Lunch and dinner with Menu à la Carte.
Day 3: Gastronomic lunch at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue with Menu à la Carte and dinner.
Wine and alcoholic drinks consumed during your meals.
The drinks consumed in your hotel rooms.
Your personal expenses.

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Please note:

Possibility of booking your transport by plane or train, departing from your residence in France or abroad, through our partner travel agent. Please contact us.
Possibility of booking your hotel room in Paris for the previous night (Day-1) and the last night (Day 4) through our services. Please contact us.
250 km round-trip spread over 2 days.
The tour is conducted in either English or French.

Prices in euros.
Payment: 100% upon reservation. For cancellation fees, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions.

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Voyage to Provence