The Colours of Provence.

A walking holiday which explores the best of Northern Provence. A mix of moderate walks  and visits ideal for the average walker.

Transfers.  From Marseille or Nimes Airports or Avignon TGV Station.

Explore the best of seasonal Provence from the Spring flowers and blossom via the fruit seasons , the lavender blooming to the delicate shades of the Autumnal leaves .Each period has its own special flavour and this holiday aims to catch the seasonal variations . Our accommodation choice is either in the guesthouse ' Les Ecureuils' in Valreas  or in our gite in Vinsobres. Both have swimming pools and pleasant gardens. Evening meals are truly provencal .From the Guesthouse  it is only a short walk to the Tourist Office , many cafes and bars .Our gite is set in lavender fields and vineyards and we provide transport each evening to the village or Nyons , our local market town, .  .In addition to the walks we arrange various visits to wine caves , lavender distilleries, olive mills, provencal herb centres plus a wine tasting with a local vineyard owner , .The walking is adapted to the seasons so the programme is subject to those seasonal variations

Our famous Cote du Rhone grapes produce excellent red wines..Gigondas,Seguret, Vasqueras  to name a few. Meet the wine producers from the highly professional to the old fashioned, the latter being more fun!!

Accommodation.
Les Ecureuils Guesthouse in Valreas.is well situated so that clients can enjoy the friendly atmosphere of this traditional provencal market town. Watch the boules players in the square or sit under the plain trees on the terrace of the local bar and watch the world go by. The alternative accommodation is in our gite here in Vinsobres. Details are on www.frenchconnections .co.uk/o47. The format of the holiday is the same but the evening meals will be either in the gite or at various local restaurants.
Our gite	Our gite

The Programme
Saturday . Collection either from Marseille Marignan Airport or Avignon TGV Station. 2pm at the Airport and 3 pm from Avignon . Transfer to Vinsobres and Nyons  takes 2 hrs from Marseille and 1 hr from Avignon . Settle into accommodation . Meeting at 6pm with aperitif included to discuss the week . Dinner in the hotel at 7.30pm .wine included. The Cherry Trees in blossom in April.
Sunday .A lovely easy walk leads from Vinsobres up onto the lavender plateau, through vineyards, olive orchards and rolling lavender fields .Excellent views towards Mont Ventoux and the Dentelles.Picnic en route with excellent salads and wine included. The return is via a very attractive view point over the village, often photographed .Vinsobres itself dates from the Roman era and is a delightful little village,lived in and loved by all its inhabitants..A wine tasting in the local cave rounds off this day . 3 to 4 hrs easy walking..6 kms….
We rarely meet other walkers on our walks so we have the peace and harmony mainly for ourselves.
Monday .A 20 minute transfer takes us to the dramatic hill area , The Dentelles de Montmirail .Dentelles as in lace and not teeth.It gets its name from the weird holes found in the dramatic rockfaces so famous to rock climbers and wa;lkers alike.In the spring the area is covered in yellow flowering broom with its distinctive perfume .
Our walk starts from a high point below the Dentelles ridge and leads around to the second of theses ridges and a scenic picnic spot. From here there are views of Mont Ventoux and the Luberon hills in the distance .After lunch a narrow path leads down over some stony ground to a little wine cave famous for its Gigondas wines.Return is by an easy track to the starting point . 4 hrs moderate walking covering 6 to 7 kms. We end the day by visiting Gigondas village and some of its famous wine caves..again !
			Tuesday..A 15 minute transfer to Vaison la Romaine and its famous Provencal market starts the day This is a large market full of the colour and aromas of Provence ..fruit. vegetables , cheese, row after row of local seasonal produce and all sorts of materiels and artisanal products . Vaison itself is 3 towns in one and dates from pre Roman times .There are interesting Roman ruins to visit , the Cathedral built on Roman foundations and the amphitheatre . High above the modern/Roman town lies the fascinating medieval village and is well worth a visit. Clients buy their own picnic lunch from the market. After the market a 15 minute drive leads to the start of our afternoon walk which is all downhill! . It follows a delightful ridge through soft pine forest , cherry and apricot orchards down to the Monastery of St Madelaine and then onto Le Barroux with its impressive chateau . Walk time 2 to 3 hrs, 6 kilometres...
Wednesday..We are off to explore another different part of Provence ..the hill country in the Baronnies around the town of Buis les Baronnies famous for its herb production , olives and fruit .Our walk follows part of the famous GR ..Grande Randonnee ..which passes through the town .After a short climb up through the orchards and forest a superb ridge is followed up to an impressive viewpoint which is also our lunch stop. From here there are tremendous views of the Ventoux massif ..often with traces of snow left well after Easter .
			Wild thyme and Rosemary are all around us as we sit back and enjoy lunch and the view . The descent is down another ridge, a little steep in places but quite easy. Signs of wild boar abound and you may well hear them crashing away in the undergrowth. The path emerges from the forest at a lovely little chapel . From there we pass the famous St Julian Mountain ..You may well see climbers on its steep rock faces . Walk time is 4 hrs with stops ..7 kms .We return to Buis les Baronnies for a welcome drink and then visit the old town and an interesting herb shop . Its owner is a mine of information on both herbs for cooking but also medicine and cosmetics !!
Thursday..A 25 minute transfer takes us deep into the mountainous part of Provence and the Gorge of St May .A very narrow road leads up to a lavender covered plateau with delightful views over the whole region . Our walk leads to a rocky point which is a favoured viewpoint for seeing the 100 or so massive European vultures that live along the cliffs below . Sit in this natural ampitheatre and watch these amazing birds soar and glide often only 10 or 15 metres away . With their 2 to 3 metre wingspan they are truly fascinating . After reluctantly moving on we then walk up an easy but dramatic ridge to a viewpoint from where the distant Alps can be seen . The sun glints on the snow slopes and glaciers of the Ecrins range..The descent is through sheep grazing country back to our vehicle . Walk time 4 to 5 hrs and 300m of ascent ..5kms . On  returning to Nyons there is plenty of time to explore its olive mills, lavander distilleries and wineries.
	Friday .Our final day..We drive up Mont Ventoux to the upper slopes where suddenly we are in alpine forest and pasture.Our walk starts in this alpine landscape and leads down through impressive forests with views plunging down into the valley below until we emerge back into provence again .The valley of Beaumont du Ventoux is full of cherry and apricot trees and a fitting ending to the walking week . Walk time 4 to 5 hrs with a descent of 600 metres, spread out throughout the descent .This programme depends both on the weather and the abilities of the group . There are numerous alternatives including an ascent of Ventoux ,600m ,  from the alpine meadows..The views from Ventoux cover the whole panorama of provence from the distant alps via the hills of provence to the valleys of the Luberon and the Ardeche .
Views of Mont Ventoux taken in the Spring and the Autumn with a layer of snow around its 1900m summit.It is now an UNESCO International heritage site.
Saturday …Depart after breakfast for a 10.15 arrival in Avignon and 11.45 arrival at Marseille Marignan

Accommodation is either in The Ecureuils Guesthouse in Valreas  or,our gite accommodation in Vinsobres , on a half board basis.  lunches are salad picnics.

EXTRA..This holiday can also be based on our gite just outside the village of Vinsobres which is set in vineyards and lavender fields with a pool and lovely garden Full details on www.frenchconnections.co.uk/047.

Dates for 2009....11 to 18 April.  2 to 9 May.   30 May to 6 June... 27 June to 4 July. 13 to 19 Sept
.
Price .E900..in the Guest House  E700 in our gite...

Including:
- ½ board *accommodation in twin or double rooms in the Guesthouse..or our gite which sleeps 4 in twin or double bedded rooms  plus an appartment in the village.
- 5 picnic lunches
- All transport, guiding, and transfers.

Excludes drinks with evening meals.and one evening meal.*

Francetrek Holidays, Barnier, 26110, Vinsobres, France.

Tel/Fax + 33 (0)4 75 27 68 29

email: francetrek@aol.com