Avignon Holidays, France Historic and stylish, Avignon’s highlights are the beautifully preserved ramparts, a huge medieval fortress, and the monumental Palais des Papes, recalling Avignon’s 14th-century papal seat prestige. Made famous in a children’s nursery rhyme, its medieval bridge is also a top attraction, although only four arches remain of the original 22. It’s also famous as a city of performing arts and hosts a spectacular Summer Festival.
Luberon Regional Park Holidays, France Lying between Manosque and Cavaillon, this protected park covers over 1,650 square kilometres – perfect for scenic walks. Picturesque hilltop villages are framed by fields of aromatic lavender, red ochre cliffs, cedar green forests and white limestone hills. This is pure Provençal territory – and the birthplace of the legendary aniseed tipple pastis, said to be the secret of the locals’ reputation for good health. Santé!
Orange Holidays, France Situated 24 kilometres north of Avignon, Orange is one of France’s most important Roman towns. The spectacular amphitheatre was built during Augustus Caesar’s rule (27BC-AD14), although today’s spectacles are non-gladiatorial in the form of opera, concerts, films and rock concerts in the summer. Another Roman treasure is the magnificent first-century triumphal arch – like Paris’ Arc de Triomphe – depicting scenes of conquests over the Gauls.
St.-Remy-de-Provence Holidays, France An ideal base for trips into the inspirational Alpilles countryside, St Rémy is also a renowned centre for herbalism. It’s famous too as the birthplace of astrologer Nostradamus and the artist Van Gogh painted over a hundred canvasses here. The Vincent Van Gogh Art Centre is a reminder of the great artist; visitors can also see the cloisters of the Clinique de St-Paul, where he committed himself after slicing off his ear.
