FRANCE
UPDATED TOUR
6 DAYS
6 DAYS
NEW
Nîmes
Camargue Horses
A Feast of Medieval & Roman France
Pont du Gard & the Camargue As rich in Roman monuments as it is in medieval villages and scenic beauty, the French region of Provence and its surrounds is a treasure trove for sightseers and nature-lovers. On this packaged tour based in historic Uzès, we discover cities such as Roman-era Nîmes, Avignon and Arles, marvel at the magnificent Pont du Gard aqueduct, enjoy olive oil tastings and cruise the stunning Camargue nature park. We enjoy a scenic drive this morning to visit the Pont du Gard, a UNESCO-listed, three-level aqueduct built by the Romans in the 1st century. We walk around the lower remains of this masterpiece and visit the museum to learn how it was built and used. Next, we continue to nearby Nîmes, a charming city famous for its Roman relics. We have time free for lunch here and to view highlights like the astonishingly well-preserved Maison Carrée temple and Roman amphitheatre, dating from around 100 AD. Day 3 Uzès Driver’s Day Off Today we can relax by the hotel swimming pool or take a stroll into the medieval town of Uzès, where the market traditionally takes place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, on the picturesque Place aux Herbes. Day 4 Arles & the Camargue Today we head to the beautiful city of Arles. We have the morning at leisure to perhaps view its Roman amphitheatre and trace the steps of its one-time resident, Vincent Van Gogh, to see some of the scenes he painted. After free time for lunch here, we travel to the Camargue Natural Park, a wildlife-rich delta of plains and salt marshes. We take a narrated 90-minute Camargue paddleboat cruise to spot its horses, bulls, flamingos and egrets, during which we visit a horse and bull farm. Day 5 Avignon & Les-Baux-de-Provence We spend the morning in medieval Avignon, with free time to explore, stroll and have lunch. Highlights include the city’s 12th century Pont d’Avignon – celebrated in the famous French song - and the vast Place du Palais fronting the Palais des Papes, the seat of medieval popes. After leaving to visit the gorgeous rocktop village of Les-Baux- de-Provence, we make an afternoon visit to Moulin Castelas, a boutique olive oil estate where we enjoy a mill tour, tastings and gift of a bottle of olive oil. Day 6 Departure After breakfast, we begin our journey home. SUGGESTED ITINERARY Day 1 Arrival We arrive at our hotel in time for dinner. Day 2 Pont du Gard & Nîmes
This tour showcases some of France’s best medieval villages and ancient Roman remains, along with the majestic cities of Avignon, Orange and Nîmes, wonderful local markets and fantastic food and drink, plus a stunning train journey or two – a true feast for all the senses. SUGGESTED ITINERARY Day 1 Arrival We make our way to our hotel in the beautiful medieval market town of Uzès. Day 2 Avignon, Orange & Châteauneuf-du-Pape This morning we head to the city of Avignon, set on the banks of the Rhône with dramatic views of its 800 year old medieval ramparts surrounding the magnificent Palais des Papes. The famous Pont d’Avignon, of nursery rhyme fame, sits majestically halfway across the Rhône, and the city teems with cobbled streets, quaint boutiques and leafy squares. We could take a self-guided tour of the Palais des Papes, or take things at a slower pace with a cruise on the Rhône, admiring the majestic city as we sail. In the afternoon we travel to the roman city of Orange before continuing to a winery in Châteauneuf-du-Pape for a tour and tasting. Day 3 Uzès Driver’s Day Off Today we can relax by the hotel swimming pool or take a stroll into the medieval town of Uzès, where the market traditionally takes place on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, on the picturesque Place aux Herbes. Day 4 Cévennes Steam Train Today we make the short journey to Anduze (Thursday is market day) to board the Cévennes Steam Train for a wonderful journey to Saint-Jean-du-Gard. The train journey takes about 40 minutes, but there is plenty to do and see en-route. We may wish to get off along the way to admire the ‘Bambouseraie’, a woodland renowned for its rare exotic trees and notable for its 100 different species of bamboo, some of which grow to 60 feet tall. We can then board the next train and set off for Saint- Jean-du-Gard, enjoying impressive views from the railway viaducts along the way – we may even see fish sparkling in the clear water below! Our coach will meet us in Saint-Jean to take us back to our hotel. Day 5 Pont du Gard & Nîmes Today we visit the ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont du Gard, an amazing feat of engineering built more than 2,000 years ago to take water to the city of Nîmes. We might choose to visit the museum and visitor centre, which provides an interactive insight into how the aqueduct was made, before continuing to the city of Nîmes. Founded around a spring fed by the Pont du Gard, here we can visit the beautiful Jardins de la Fontaine, the Roman amphitheatre (the best preserved arena in France) and the Maison Carrée – a Roman temple built around 19BC and still standing today, where we can enjoy a film on the history of the city. We can also browse the many shops, cafés and boutiques that line the ancient streets. Day 6 Departure After breakfast, we begin our journey home.
Pont du Gard
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