Backroads

Embrace the calming tempo of Provence, where neighbors catch up while buying bread at the boulangerie or during a leisurely round of pétanque. Follow their lead and remember how to fully live life. Enjoy seasonal produce grown right at your doorstep. Connect with locals using the phrases your Trip Leader taught you – though no words are needed to feel part of the Provençal life.

Uncover the secrets of Provençal cuisine during private visits to mills and wineries. Sample sultry côtes du rhônes while Rodolphe de Pins shares winemaking anecdotes at his 11th-century château. Delight in fresh olive oils as Moulin du Calanquet's charming Anne Brun explains olive cultivation (a 2,500-year-old tradition) and oil production.

Step back in time as you stand on the Pont du Gard, built by the Romans 2,000 years ago – without mortar! Discover what lies behind the ancient walls of Avignon as Francesca Anzilotto describes its intriguing papal history. Explore the medieval synagogue at Carpentras. And learn how the history of Roussillon has been shaped by its stunning ocher deposits. Our expert guides skillfully tie tales of the past to the Provence of today.

Provence has drawn painters and writers for centuries. Witness the magical light that inspired Cézanne, Picasso and Gaugin. Stroll the same streets as Chagall. Visit the Saint-Rémy asylum where van Gogh stayed after cutting his ear – then walk with local expert Marie-Charlotte Bouton to see the views that inspired Irises and Starry Night. And everywhere, watch the pages of Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence come to life.

Rhône Valley vineyards and Roman ruins around historic Avignon. The limestone ridges of the Alpilles, dotted with pear, apple and cherry trees, along with olive groves and fields of tomatoes and eggplants. The quiet green hills of the Gard. And the Lubéron's medieval villages on rocky outcrops. See how this surprising variety of landscape makes Provence even more enticing.

Revel in the sun's warmth and the wine cellar's cool earth. Lose yourself in lively open-air marchés, creating picnics of juicy tomatoes, saucisson sec and freshly baked baguette with tapenade and goat cheese. Shop for colorful pottery and fabrics while breathing in aromas of chocolate and honey. And as you sip wine on a château patio, feel very glad that life has brought you here.