Edible Provence

10 days, 9 nights

May 15-24, 2027 (Women Only)
October 4-13, 2027 (Women Only)

These are genuinely small group, all inclusive tours for no more than 6 people.

Provence is a magical triangle of land in southeastern France containing the spirits of civilizations past and present – a splendid, multi-faceted mosaic of sunshine and serenity. Its unhurried daily rhythms will embrace you on our slow travel, epicurean tour. This sun-kissed corner of the map encompasses such seasonal bounty, irresistible scents of lavender, rosemary and thyme, you can almost taste its beauty.

The French passion for food is celebrated in the village markets where seasonal foods are the mainstays of daily living. We’ll visit farmers’ markets, and indulge in two, hands-on cooking classes with local chefs. We’ll dine at Michelin Guide restaurants, tour charming villages, and sample wines at local vineyards.

As an introduction to Provence I’ve selected some of the most popular books about Provence, as well as the most influential food and wine writers from Waverly Root to M.F. K. Fisher, You’ll discover this magical corner through the words they wrote, the recipes they cooked, the meals they savored, and the tales they told.

Sample Itinerary

Day 1

After your arrival at the Gare d’Avignon, we’ll drive to our boutique hotel accommodations at Le Clos du Buis in Bonnieux. Bonnieux is a small, quintessentially charming Provençal village which overlooks the Petit Luberon. Once we’re settled into our rooms, we’ll explore the village which offers antique and craft shops, galleries, apparel stores and many superb restaurants and cafés. The film, A Good Year, by Ridley Scott, based on A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle, was filmed at Château La Canorgue, just below the village, which we’ll visit on one of our days together. After each of our daily adventures we’ll come back to this splendidly unassuming village.

Day 2

After an early breakfast we will leave for the village of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue which combines its antique and farmers’ market making it an incredible feast for the senses. Considered the Venice of Provence, its old canals, historic waterwheels, and wooden bridges cut an intricate path throughout the village. With the crystal clear Sorgue River as our backdrop we’ll begin our day hunting for treasures along streets brimming with antiques, collectibles, old and new furniture, paintings, china, carpets, clothes, and linens, then purchase everything we’ll need for our al fresco dinner at Le Clos du Buis. We’ll leave the hubbub of the market and enjoy lunch in a quiet quay side restaurant.

Day 3

We’ll learn, hands-on, how to prepare dishes from appetizers to desserts sure to whet the palate from the kitchen of Suzanne Kay, one of the best cooking classes in the Vaucluse. In the village of Séguret, the newly designated successor of the culinary legend, Patricia Wells, Suzanne will pass on her knowledge of Provence’s iconic dishes. You’ll discover the subtleties of cooking with mainstays of the Provençal kitchen, from wild Herbes de Provence and fleur de sel to olive oil, tomatoes, and garlic, preserving the taste and texture of the seasons.

Day 4

Eygalières is a lovely village with a ruined castle nestled along the western fringe of the Alpilles Mountains. We’ll wander its wonderfully colorful market that stretches from one end of the main street to the other, then have lunch at the charming restaurant, Chez Paulette. After lunch we’ll wind our way to the village of Les Baux, resting on a spur of rock overlooking the Val d’Enfer, one of the most dramatic and spectacular ruins in Provence After leaving Les Baux we’ll stop at the lovely Mas de la Dame vineyards and olive groves.

Day 5

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Guided tours provence France

Châteauneuf-du-Pape sits towards the bottom of the Rhône Valley. The name means, “Pope’s new castle,” and refers to a time when the seat of the Roman Catholic Church was in Avignon between 1309–1377. Châteauneuf-du-Pape was the very first wine appellation created in 1936, and is one of 19 official crus or “growths” of the Côtes du Rhône wine region. We will visit the Musée du Vin, enjoy tastings, and learn about what makes this wine so special. After lunch at Les Verger des Pape overlooking the valley below, we will take a leisurely drive back to Bonnieux.

Day 6

In Provence there’s edible food growing wild everywhere. Today we will head into the cedar forest above Bonnieux to forage edible plants with Solène and enjoy a gastronomic picnic provided by Daniel of Forager. We’ll have a welcoming aperitif and get to know our guides. During a nature walk through the forest we’ll learn the names of wild herbs that grow naturally in the countryside which we’ll also find in our gourmet lunch provided for us with all the trimmings, overlooking a spectacular view of the valley below. This is a very unique experience, one you won’t be disappointed by. After lunch you’ll be free to explore Bonnieux.

Day 7

Today we’ll have our second cooking class with Gilles Conchy of Provence Gourmet. Our class will begin in the St. Remy de Provence weekly farmers’ market where we’ll choose all of the ingredients for our meal. We’ll then head back to Gilles’s fabulous kitchen where each of us will take part in the preparation of our meal, including a starter, main course, and dessert. After the cooking portion of the class we’ll enjoy our meal together either outside in the garden or in the kitchen, depending upon the weather.

Day 8

Lourmarin, designated one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, is an elegant village once home to the counts of Agoult, nestled among olive groves, vineyards and almond trees. We will tour its beautifully restored renaissance château before the village itself. The village architecture is Mediterranean in style with beautiful houses, café terraces, restaurants, Provençal boutiques, and shady squares where you can soak up the atmosphere. Lourmarin was once the home of the Pulitzer Prize author, Albert Camus, who is buried in the village cemetery nearby.

Day 9

Roussillon is a spectacular hilltop village visible from a distance in different shades of vividly red ochre, deep orange, yellow and pink soil. It’s crumbling rock formations create an other-worldly landscape. Roussillon was once a fortified stronghold in the Middle Ages, but is now home to shops, restaurants and galleries. We’ll walk through the old quarries after lunch at a local restaurant. On our way back to Bonnieux we’ll stop in the village of Goult, a hidden treasure. We’ll stroll through its winding streets to the famous Moulin de Jérusalem, built in 1750. It was named after crusaders from the Holy Land who lived nearby.

Day 10

We will depart for either Blagnac Airport in Toulouse, or the Gare d’Avignon in Avignon, depending upon your scheduled return. You might want to consider spending the night in either Toulouse or Avignon, leaving for your destination the following day.

10 days, 9 nights

May 15-24, 2027 (Women Only)
October 4-13, 2027 (Women Only)

$7,495.00 per person

These are genuinely small group, all inclusive tours for no more than 6 people.

Reserve Your Place

Sample Itinerary Note:

The adventures listed are samples. We feel something wonderful or unexpected can happen if you don’t have a set itinerary. We can do as much or as little as each individual group chooses. In the event of unforeseen circumstances; i.e., a change in a class schedule, or restaurant closure, an alternative will always be offered.

Likewise, if a special exhibit, class or event becomes available I will make a substitution and rearrange the itinerary. Here’s a list of some other villages we can add or substitute to our day’s itinerary.

All are within a 1h drive from Fontvielle: Goult, Gordes, Vénasque, Bédoin, Martigues, Roussillon, Arles, Bonnieux, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Maillane, and Oppede le Vieux.