Avignon Travel Guides and Tours

Food and art are passions in Provence... amazing hands-on experiences from gastronomic discoveries to wine tastings to uncovering the mysteries of Starry Night... these are all things Culturious in Provence. A transfer is included from Marseille Provence Airport to your hotel, Le Pigonnet , in Aix-en-Provence. Seeing luminous Provençal landscapes through the eyes of Cézanne, then picturing them with your own hand… picking up a few phrases en Francais with a language lesson in Aix… discovering the flavors of fougasse, goat cheese, ratatouille, and herbes de Provence… mastering the art of preparing Provençal cuisine with a local chef... pub crawling in St.-Rémy-de-Provence… walking in the footsteps of van Gogh… kayaking on the Sorgue River… discussing French politics with the locals in Joucas… wrapping yourself up in Provençal life dawn to dusk. 2010 pricing starts at US $3,490 per person double.  Maximum group size is 16.

On this vacation, follow in the footsteps of the devoted through France. Start your trip in Paris with a welcome dinner and a guided sightseeing tour featuring all major sights: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, and the Eiffel Tower. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral; the Basilica of Sacré Coeur; Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Shrine, where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830; and St. Vincent de Paul Shrine. During an excursion to Lisieux, visit Les Buissonnets, family home of St. Therese, and the basilica. St. Therese was known as "The Little Flower" and for her charming autobiography The Story of a Soul. Also visit St. Peter's Cathedral, where her family attended Mass, and the Carmelite Convent, where she lived as a nun. From Paris, board the high-speed "TGV" train to Lourdes, one of the world's most famous places of pilgrimage. Visit the Grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858, Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, and St. Bernadette's birthplace and family home. You may wish to bathe in the healing waters and attend the "Blessing of the Sick," or join the evening's rosary and candlelight procession. You also have a full day at leisure in Lourdes. Admire medieval Carcassonne, a medieval town and UNESCO World Heritage Site, on your way to Avignon, where you enjoy a walking tour of this pretty town where the papacy resided in the 14th century. In Paray-le-Monial, visit the Chapel of the Apparitions and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. In Nevers, visit St. Gildard, where St. Bernadette spent her life as a nun. Finally, in Chartres, visit the magnificent cathedral, one of Europe’s most celebrated shrines. Return to Paris and enjoy a farewell dinner—a perfect way to end this vacation to France!

Paris–Lourdes, Lisieux, Nevers, Lourdes, Paris, Avignon, Chartres, Carcassonne

Opportunities abound on this grand vacation to learn about and to taste France’s sumptuous wines and local cuisine. Guided sightseeing acquaints you with vibrant Paris and with Nice, the “Queen of the Riviera,” while a deluxe 7-night cruise along the Saône and Rhône Rivers takes you into the heart of this beautiful country. Enjoy orientation walks in fascinating Beaune and medieval Tournon, and see the sights with Local Guides in Lyon, France’s gastronomic capital, as well as in Avignon and Arles. Wine River Cruise DeparturesDepartures on August 21 and October 30, 2010 are offered as exclusive Wine-Theme River Cruises, including special lectures and tastings, available at no additional cost.Oberammergau 2010Add the Oberammergau Passion Play to Your River CruiseAdd a Monograms Independent VacationCombine Your River Cruise with a Monograms Independent Vacation

Beaune, Chalon-sur-Saone, Paris, Arles, Avignon, Lyon, Nice

Opportunities abound on this grand vacation to learn about and taste the sumptuous wines of France and its local cuisine. Guided sightseeing acquaints you with vibrant Paris and with Nice, the "Queen of the Riviera," while a deluxe 7-night cruise along the Saône and Rhône Rivers takes you into the heart of this beautiful country. Enjoy orientation walks in Tournon and Beaune, and see the sights with Local Guides in Avignon, France's gastronomic capital of Lyon, and Arles. Disembark your river cruise ship in Arles and then travel into the heart of the Provence region for an additional three nights. Visit the medieval walled city of Aigues-Mortes, enjoy a guided tour of Nîmes, and spend time exploring elegant Aix-en-Provence before heading to the beautiful Côte d'Azur for the conclusion of this grand vacation.Wine River Cruise DeparturesDepartures on August 21 and October 30, 2010 are offered as exclusive Wine-Theme River Cruises, including special lectures and tastings, available at no additional cost.Oberammergau 2010Add the Oberammergau Passion Play to Your River CruiseAdd a Monograms Independent VacationCombine Your River Cruise with a Monograms Independent Vacation

Beaune, Chalon-sur-Saone, Provence Region Extension, Paris, Arles, Avignon, Lyon

Opportunities abound on this grand vacation to learn about and taste the sumptuous wines of France and its local cuisine. Guided sightseeing acquaints you with vibrant Paris and with Nice, the "Queen of the Riviera," while a deluxe 7-night cruise along the Saône and Rhône Rivers takes you into the heart of this beautiful country. Enjoy orientation walks in Tournon and Beaune, and see the sights with Local Guides in Avignon, France's gastronomic capital of Lyon, and Arles. Disembark your river cruise ship in Arles and then travel into the heart of the Provence region for an additional three nights. Visit the medieval walled city of Aigues-Mortes, enjoy a guided tour of Nîmes, and spend time exploring elegant Aix-en-Provence before heading to the beautiful Côte d'Azur for the conclusion of this grand vacation.Wine River Cruise DeparturesDepartures on August 21 and October 30, 2010 are offered as exclusive Wine-Theme River Cruises, including special lectures and tastings, available at no additional cost.Oberammergau 2010Add the Oberammergau Passion Play to Your River CruiseAdd a Monograms Independent VacationCombine Your River Cruise with a Monograms Independent Vacation

Beaune, Chalon-sur-Saone, Provence Region Extension, Paris, Arles, Avignon, Lyon

This fantastic vacation combines two exciting river cruises and showcases the variety that France has to offer—from its scenery to its food and drink! Your vacation begins in Nice on the stunning Cote d’Azur. Embark in Arles and sail north along the scenic Rhône and Saône Rivers to discover charming cities along the way. Explore Avignon, charming Viviers, medieval Tournon, Vienne, France’s gastronomic capital of Lyon, as well as fascinating Macon, Tournus, Chalon-sur-Saone, and Beaune. In Paris, begin your journey along the Seine into the picturesque Normandy region. Experience Vincent van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise, Claude Monet’s stunning gardens at Giverny, Joan of Arc’s Rouen, dramatic Château Gaillard at Les Andelys, and take an included excursion to the historic Normandy landing beaches or sample creamy camembert cheese and Calvados apple brandy—delicacies for which northern France is famous!

Beaune, Arles, Avignon, Lyon, Nice, Vernon, Rouen, Paris