Provence

Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix-en-Provence Centre - MGallery, Aix-en-Provence. A transfer is included from Marseille Provence Airport to Grand Hôtel Roi René Aix-en-Provence Centre - MGallery in Aix-en-Provence. As it has done for millions of wayfarers before you, the old "port" of Marseille welcomes you to the south of France. Your travels through Provence begin; to the locals, Aix-en-Provence is simply "Aix." Strolling its boulevards with a local guide, you're taking in the same views that inspired Cézanne… Gauguin… van Gogh… Zola… no doubt ready to create your own impressions of this charming old university town with the world. Aix's grandest boulevard, the Cours Mirabeau, dates back to the 17th century; lined with plane trees, elaborate fountains and opulent mansions, it invites a leisurely bike ride, a brisk walk, or perhaps a visit to one of the cafés. Join us tonight for cocktails and dinner at the hotel.

Follow the footsteps of post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne through his hometown, Aix-en-Provence, today. See the landscapes he painted, the fields where local residents became his subjects, the views of Mont Sainte-Victoire that so inspired him. On a visit to Caumont – Centre D'art, you'll feel like you stepped back to the 18th century, complete with formal gardens. View a film on Cézanne that pays tribute to the artist and his love of his birthplace and the region where he grew up. It offers a glimpse into Cézanne's private life, his relationship with his father, and his secret life in l'Estaque with Hortense Fiquet, with whom he had a son. Garner a few handy phrases en francais from your Tauck Director as you explore. Head just north of "Aix" to Château La Coste, a classic Provençal château, vineyard and estate whose heart – a 17th-century Venetian-style villa – is surrounded by olive groves, hilltops covered by oaks and almond trees, and hundreds of acres of lovingly tended vines. Discover works by some of Europe's greatest living artists on a walk through the château's expanding sculpture gardens. The remainder of the day is free to explore Aix as you wish.

This morning, discover Luberon, part of France's "Golden Triangle" and indulge in a visual feast of fairy tale villages, meadows and moorlands that surround this magnificent region. Head off to Gordes late this morning for a stroll through the town's arcaded medieval lanes before stopping by a market to pick up the makings of a traditional picnic lunch – perhaps a baguette, fruits and meats, cheese, olives and, naturellement, wine… whatever tempts your palate! Rich with color, chalk and red ochre cliffs, cedar forests and river-hewn gorges surround. Enjoy your picnic lunch in a Provençal meadow, then continue to your hotel in Gordes, overlooking the lovely village and the valley beyond. Dine this evening at the hotel, which sports a restaurant by a Michelin Star chef.

Enjoy an optional morning hike to the medieval Abbaye de Sénanque; founded in the 12th century, it is still tended by a small community of Cistercian monks. Next, visit the historical province of Roussilon, where lunch precedes an easy hike through the quarries; the deep ochre used in the town's architecture harmoniously blends into the warmth of the natural surroundings. Return to your hotel in Gordes, where the evening is yours to spend as you wish.

Deep beneath the hills of Provence, the most powerful spring in France bursts forth at nearly 20,000 gallons per second to feed the Sorgue River, emerging in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, once the home of the Italian poet, Petrarch. Visit St-Rémy-de-Provence, home to the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, where legendary Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh went to heal and hide out... and where he created over 150 works, including Starry Night. After time to explore and enjoy lunch on your own in St-Rémy, you'll glimpse inside the artist's troubled mind as van Gogh scholar Mathilde Duvilliers shares insights on his complicated life, and reads from his letters, while you walk in his footsteps at the asylum and its grounds. The ancients roamed here too; explore the ruins of the Roman city of Glanum, one of the largest and oldest archaeological sites in France. Arrive late afternoon at Auberge de Cassagne & Spa in Le Pontet-Avignon for a three-night stay. Set inside its lovely gardens, the hotel includes a wonderful restaurant where you'll enjoy dinner tonight.

On market day in Avignon, partake in the process of bringing great Provençal food from the market to the plate. Join a chef on a buying trip to an Avignon market – smelling, tasting, and feeling your way through the fresh produce, breads, meats and cheeses. Learn the chef's kitchen secrets firsthand as you help prepare a traditional meal in a hands-on cooking lesson. And after a professional sommelier guides you through a tasting of fine Rhône wines, it's time to eat… drink… and be very merry. You'll have free time this afternoon to spend as you wish. A bicycle ride? A walk? A long afternoon drink in a café? Tonight is yours to explore and dine on your own in Avignon; our shuttle can take you back from town to the hotel.

A three-level, 2,000-year-old aqueduct spanning the River Gardon, the Pont du Gard stands as testimony to the Romans' amazing engineering skills and love of baths. Learn more about it as you walk the "pont" – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and visit its new museum. Enjoy lunch on your own in Avignon and then take some free time to explore this history-rich town as you wish. For those interested in history, perhaps a visit to the Palace of the Popes? A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Avignon was the Papal seat for 68 years during the 14th century. This evening, travel to nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape – one of the country's premier wine-growing regions – for a Tauck Exclusive at a private, family-owned winery. Celebrate the flavors of Provence with cocktails, canapés and local wine, followed by a spectacular dinner of Provençal specialties... a perfect finis to a marvelous Provençal journey!

Tour ends: Avignon. The warm, inviting colors… sun-kissed meadows… those amazing Provençal flavors… intangible sensory imagery that linger not only on the return to Marseille and on your flight home… but far beyond… A transfer is included from Auberge de Cassagne & Spa to Marseille Provence Airport; allow three hours for check-in... au revoir!