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Hiking, the best way to discover the Vaucluse and the Luberon/ Part 2

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Posted by anneeuropeantravel in Provencal ways to vacation

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Apt, auberge du Luberon, candied fruits, Christian, hiking, Roman, Saignon, Truffles

Hike from Apt to Saignon

Apt‘s history goes back to Roman times when it was a prosperous ancient city. Remnants of its days as a Christian bishopric are also visible  in its gorgeous 11th-century Saint-Anne Cathedral. Today  the town is loved for its candied fruits, jams, lavender essence and truffles and a very colorful market that teems with Provencal produce on Saturday mornings. When you arrive in Apt park your car in the cours Lauze-de-Perret car park in the east of town,and then you are ready to set out on your hike. On foot your will have to take D48 and walk along until you see the Auriane track on the left, you will then head left and cross the bridge over the Rimayon river. As the road sweeps left you will have to keep walking straight along the path that climbs the hill, then bear left and and follow a tarmac path for ( 164ft) until you eventually get to the Ginestiere crossroads. Once you get there stay to your right and follow the D174 to get to the village entrance, which leads to the pretty place de la Fontaine.

Saignon is not very well known by tourists. If you go there visit the Prieure and Farm built in the middle ages on a Gallo- Roman site and continued to expand until the 19th-century. The church contains Medieval frescoes , and the excavations of a first-century villa are seen through a grill in the floor. Exhibitions are staged in the farm while the gardens are devoted to historic and scented plants. To get to Saignon, make a turn left on Rue du Bourget and walk about ( 330 ft) until you reach a cobbled path, on your left that leads to kind of a square in the parking lot. At the bottom of the car park, you will find a path winding around the village’s ramparts. After the last house take a deep breath and climb the steps to the main castle ruins and marvel at the vistas from the lookout point. Then go back down the ramparts before going left and joining the D174. From place de la Fontaine backtrack to the Ginistere crossroads, and turn right. After the bend, keeping Tourel (a settlement) on your left, take the short cut at the next bend and continue straight for (650 ft). At the next bend turn left along a dirt track and head straight through an oak forest and then a residential area. Continue straight , and then cross the old N100, using the steps to join the cycle path. You will have to keep going over the Cavalon River and then head up a ramp on the right to follow the D22 back to Apt. Finish your hike with a hearty French meal at Auberge du Luberon http://francemarket.com/auberge-luberon, located in a century- old  building in the city’s historic center.

Luberon, Provence.

Luberon, Provence.

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Hiking is a great way to discover the Vaucluse and the Luberon/ Part one

28 Monday Jul 2014

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Gordes, hiking, hotel les Bories, Provence

Hiking is a great way to discover the Vaucluse and the Luberon/ Part one.

Posted by anneeuropeantravel | Filed under Provencal ways to vacation

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Getting Around Provence

16 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by anneeuropeantravel in Uncategorized

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Arles, buses, Camargue, Cannes, car rentals, cars, eco-friendly, hiking, horseback, Marseille, Provence, taxis, trails

Traveling to Provence , a few tips and recommendations.

Car rental. renting a car on arrival can be much cheaper than driving your own car. If the one you rent breaks down you can get a replacement car. Packages combining flights, car rental and accommodation can be very good value, or you can rent a vehicle for part of your stay from major rental companies at airports or in main towns and resorts.Most car companies require that you are over 21 and that you have a clean driving record.

By  car. Using your own car can have its own advantages : you can bring more luggage and see more of France and take home more souvenirs and gifts. Emergency breakdown insurance is also advisable: consult your insurer or motoring organization.

Taxis.

Taxis are reliable and use meters but are not flagged down on the street – you have to find one at a taxi rank, book by phone, or ask your hotel or restaurant to call one for you.

City Transport.

France has the best public transport in Europe and getting around the region’s major cities by bus, tram or (in Marseille) metro presents few problems. Fares are integrated , so a single ticket can be used on any combination of transport for one hour. Day passes and books of tickets are also available.

Train.

From Marseille, rail lines run west to Arles and Nimes, north to Aix and Avignon and east to Monaco and Nice. TER ( regional express trains) , they operate an inland route from Nice to Dignes-les-Bains.

Inter- city Bus.

Inter-city buses supplement trains between major cities. Quite a few companies operate from long-distance bus stations ( gares routieres) in cities or larger towns.Smaller villages and rural towns are not well served by buses, many villages have no service at all.

Cycling.

The best way to explore Provence. Mountainous regions may be only for the super- fit but there are easier rides in the lowlands, along the coast and in the Camargue. Mountain bikes ( velos tous terrains or VTT) can be hired in all major towns and resorts ( tourist offices have lists) and marked cycle trail ranging from demanding to totally relaxed. Eco- friendly free cycle schemes, like velo in Marseille are springing up in towns across the all region.

Walking trails.

Provence is a beautiful walking country, offering guided or marked walks through historic cities and coastal paths, sentiers balises (local trails) and sentiers de grande randonnee ( long -distance hiking tracks),part of a network that crosses France. Maps and guides are available from tourist offices.

On Horseback.

Horses can be hired by the day or for longer, with or without a guide, on gentle or more demanding trails. The Camargue is ideal if you want to visit it on a horse.

Yachts and cruisers.

The Riviera is prime sailing country and every kind of vessels, from small yachts and catamarans to fully crewed motor cruisers, can be chartered out of marinas including Nice, Cannes, St-Tropez, Antibes and St-Jean.

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