Workshop: More Provence ~ May 18-21, 2008
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Day 1: Sunday May 18: Arles & Les Baux de Provence
In addition to its active bullfighting calendar, Arles boasts a magnificently restored Roman amphitheatre, the rhythms of the Gypsy Kings, and one of France’s finest sausages, le saucisson d’Arles. We’ll experience all of these, plus a visit to the St-Trophine cloister, the Muséon Arlaten, and lunch on the Place de la République. On the way back to Aix, we’ll stop for a visit to the unforgettable village of les Baux-de-Provence, the steep barren plateau in the center of the Alpilles mountain range, which was home to wild and unruly Seigneurs for centuries. The lords of Baux waged incessant warfare on those who challenged them with flair, horror, and brutality, until Cardinal Richelieu finally put an end to the plundering in 1632. Today, the ruins of the once-magnificent castle still makes us catch our breath. Lunch
Day 2: Monday May 19: Avignon + St-Rémy
After breakfast, we’ll be off to Avignon, home to the Popes for some seventy years during the Great Schism of the 14th century. A visit to the incontournable Popes’ Palace is in order, the palace enriched and embellished by numerous counts and several of these popes. After lunch, you’ll be at leisure to wander this town before we leave to visit St-Rémy-de-Provence, where Van Gogh recovered from cutting off his ear and did some of his most intense and original paintings, and where the Celtic settlement of Glanum is visible in the ruins called Les Antiques of Glanum. Lunch
Optional evening dinner and show (TBA).
Day 3: Tuesday May 20: St-Tropez and St-Maxime
It’s east to the Riviera today to visit St-Tropez, the once-sleepy fishing port made famous by Brigitte Bardot, where the French love to showcase their glamour and fashion. The town is charming, full of appealing restaurants and artists’ havens, replete with a 16th century citadelle, pine forest, and artsy boutiques. You’ll have lunch on your own today before we take the water ferry over to St-Maxime. You can wander at leisure and visit the charming Musée du Phonographe et de la Musique Mécanique before our coach bus picks us up to return to Aix. Our closing aperitif this evening will be held at the home of an Aixois resident. Aperitif
Day 4: Wednesday May 21
Departure at your leisure after breakfast.