Explore The South Of France With Provence Tours

By Maryanne Goff


With its sunny Mediterranean climate, the south of France is the ultimate destination for a summer vacation. Beautiful people from all over the world flock to the French Riviera to enjoy the gorgeous beaches while those who want to experience country life head to the towns and villages a little more inland and rent a chateau. If you're pressed for time, however, you may want to consider one of the Provence tours on offer to explore this magical region.

Provence lies in France's south-east. The region is located between the Italian border and the Rhone River. It also includes the Cote D'Azur in the south.

Marseilles is the major port in the region and the starting point for many tours. Many tours also include cities like Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Arles and Nice. You can go on a day trip of the region but it's better to spend a little more time here to see the charming little villages dotting the breath-taking landscape.

A general tour is a great introduction to the region but you may also want to consider a themed tour to focus on only one aspect of Provencal life. Since it's one of France's important wine regions, especially for the production of rose wines, a wine tour here is a must if you're an oenophile. Include a trip to a pastis distillery as well if you can, so that you can try the local anise-flavored liqueur.

Food lovers have long known that the region is culinary heaven and that people here take their food seriously. After all, a Provencal tradition at Christmas is to serve a whopping thirteen desserts after the main meal. The variety of fresh produce has given rise to dishes like bouillabaisse from Marseilles and ratatouille from Nice. On a food tour, you can try the many regional specialties and may even visit a local market, where a great gift to buy for loved ones back home is Provencal herbs.

Another thing that the region is famous for is its place in the perfume industry. Many of the world's foremost perfumers get their ingredients from flowers like roses, lavender, tuberoses and jasmine grown in the Grasse area. Grasse is a lovely medieval town and it's well worth touring its perfumeries. You may even get the opportunity to create your own fragrance.

The area is steeped in history and if culture or art is your passion, you may want to go on a cultural tour. For example, a tour of ancient Roman sites can be fascinating. You can also follow in the footsteps of artists or writers who spent time here, from Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cezanne, Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse to F Scott Fitzgerald, Edith Wharton and Robert Louis Stevenson.

When it comes to finding Provence tours, you're spoilt for choice. Simply do a quick online search for a package that suits you. Alternatively, have a travel agent create a personalized tour for you. Just remember that it's very easy to lose your heart here and never want to go back home.




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