From the Landscapes of the Languedoc to the Edge of Provence – 2023

There is much more to the south of France than the ritzy Côte d’Azur. This tour is designed to discover some of the hidden corners of the true southernmost part of France – the Languedoc – and journey to the edge of Provence where the mighty River Rhône empties into the Mediterranean. Along the way, we include various World-class cultural, historical and architectural visits – after all, it would be a shame to travel past and not briefly divert to enjoy them! The atmosphere of the region is certainly timeless and will undoubtedly have you hooked – there is so much to discover, we can only ‘cherry pick’. This immersive tour will however leave you with a very good ‘grounding’ in so much of what makes life in the south of France so inimitable.

Day 1 – SUNDAY 09.10.23 – ARRIVAL IN CARCASSONNE – HOTEL MERCURE CARCASSONNE; DINNER INCLUDED

• Arrival at Toulouse or Carcassonne airport and make your own way to our welcoming hotel. According to your arrival time, you may wish to discover some of the sights in this, one of the most spectacular ‘Grand Sites’ of France, also listed by UNESCO. This evening, we dine together within the ramparts of the citadel.

Day 2 – MONDAY 10.10.23 – CARCASSONNE / FONTFROIDE / BÉZIERS / PÉZENAS / MONTPELLIER – BREAKFAST & LUNCH INCLUDED

• Following breakfast this morning, we check out and depart the hotel, for a visit to the Cistercian Abbey of Fontfroide. Here we have a guided tour of the Abbey and gardens, followed by a lunch prepared with local ingredients, accompanied by the celebrated wines of the Abbey vineyards.
• Following our lunch, we continue to a specialist private garden.
• After this visit, we make a short stop in Pézenas to enjoy this charming village, birthplace of Molière. Finally this afternoon, we continue to gracious Montpellier, one of the great cities of France, to our central hotel, for an evening and dinner at leisure.

Day 3 – TUESDAY 11.10.23 – MONTPELLIER / VAILHAUQUÈS / ST. GUILHEM-LE-DÉSERT / NAVACELLES / VIADUC DE MILLAU / MONTPELLIER – BREAKFAST INCLUDED

• This morning, we make another visit to a specialist private garden.
• From here, we continue to the fascinating mediæval village of St. Guilhem-le-Désert. Here we take time to visit the Abbey, to enjoy the authentic architecture and to take lunch at leisure.
• Following our visit here, we continue to the area of the Causse de Larzac, at Blandas for a grandiose view of another of ‘Grand Sites de France’, the ‘Cirque de Navacelles’, a spectacular geological formation within Europe’s largest canyon.
• We finish the day, with a visit to one of Europe’s most spectacular feats of civic engineering – the ‘Viaduc de Millau’ for a short guided tour.
• Finally, we return to Montpellier, for another evening and dinner at leisure.

Day 4 – WEDNESDAY 12.10.23 – MONTPELLIER / ANDUZE / ST. ANDRÉ DE MAJENCULES / MONTPELLIER – BREAKFAST & DRINKS/PATISSERIES INCLUDED

• This morning we depart for the Cévennes National Park, an area of spectacular, rugged beauty.
• Our first visit this morning is to the fascinating Bambouseraie at Anduze. We allow time for a light early lunch in the café on site (not included).
• Following our visit to the botanic gardens and the bamboo forests, we continue by historic steam train to St. Jean du Gard where our coach awaits.
• Our final visit this afternoon is to another private garden deep in the national park. We are served drinks and patisseries in the garden at the end of our visit.
• Following this charming visit, we return once again for a final evening in Montpellier with dinner at leisure.