Itinerary: 6 Days in Provence
There are a million reasons why you should visit Provence and most of them include food and wine.
We had a magical time exploring these regions of Provence over 6 days in the Spring season. Here are our itinerary and our recommendations. Our agenda when visiting Provence was to visit a special winery (our favourite wine ever) and it did not disappoint. It was so special to be there, see how it’s all made, and meet the staff.
Let’s Provence!
Day 1
After landing in Marseille, drive to our favourite winery – Domaine des Diables. It’s important to make a reservation to see the winery as they’ll show you around and tell you the story before letting you try all 12 of their wines! Make sure you check in a suitcase so you have space to take the wine back on the plane. Just pack them very well...it’s a skill that you’re born with.
After your wine tasting, make your travel buddy (who couldn’t drink all the wines) drive to your first hotel – Chateau des Alpilles. Read our review of this amazing hotel HERE
This fabulous hotel is located in the heart of the Alpilles region in Provence and it’s a 5-minute drive from the picturesque village of Saint-Remy-de-Provence. You’ll likely never forget staying in this hotel. The chateau is a 19th-century renovated manor house and it’s owned and run by a family of fabulous women. Spend the afternoon exploring the hotel and walking around the grounds, playing tennis, or just drinking wine out the front of the chateau enjoying the view of the 100-year-old plane trees perfectly placed down the driveway. A few hours by the pool wouldn’t be such a bad idea either.
Make a reservation to have dinner on your first night in the hotel restaurant. If souffle is on the menu, you would be wise to listen to me and order it.
Sleep well after your souffle!
Chateau des Alpilles, Provence, France
Chateau des Alpilles, Provence, France
Day 2
Breakfast at the hotel isn’t included but you can pay either €26 for the full experience or order a la carte from the menu in the morning. When the sun is shining breakfast is served out the front of the chateau at the beautiful round tables. The sound of the birds chirping is overwhelmingly peaceful and sipping our morning coffee here was enjoyed with great appreciation for our surroundings.
Today, explore Saint-Remy-de-Provence. Walk through all the cobblestone streets, visiting all the cute shops and appreciating the incredible fashion on display in all of the windows.
Have lunch at le caveaux au fromage. This gorgeous and tiny cheese shop is nestled in one of the beautiful back streets of this lovely town. Lunch is a cheese degustation board with a glass of wine is the best way to have a casual lunch in Provence. I’d recommend the rose. We had a fabulous light rose from Chateau Romanin here and the cheese was so good.
Before you head back to the Chateau to readjust before eating yet another meal, stop by Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole. Vincent Van Gogh arrived at the monastery in 1889 as a patient dealing with his mental health. Van Gogh was incredibly inspired by his surroundings and by the view of Saint Remy. In the year that he was hospitalised, he produced 143 oil paintings and over 100 drawings. This is said to be one of the most significant periods in the artist's life. Only two months after he left the monastery, he took his own life. As an art lover, I had to see the monastery. Some of my favourite Van Gogh pieces were painted there and around Saint-Remy and to me, that history is magic to me.
Have dinner tonight at Edu Restaurant. A short drive out of the town, it has a beautiful garden and a very fun pond filled with frogs who are quite entertaining when they get noisy! All the dishes are shared plates and it was easily one of our favourite meals in Provence.
Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France
Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France
Le Caveaux au Fromage, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France
Edu Restaurant, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France
Day 3
Get ready to explore the Alpilles! Book in advance your vintage car with Yes Provence for a big day of driving and feeling like you’ve driven right into a classic film in the French countryside!
Drive the mountainous region of the Alpilles, stopping to take in the view anywhere you can! Plan to end up at carriers des lumieres – the most amazing immersive art experience built into the mountain! If you just only kind of like art, I know even you will love this. Wall to wall and ceiling to floor the cave is covered in projections and it’s all synced to music! It’s essential.
Continue driving and enjoying the views whilst directing yourself toward Eygalieres – a very very small town with a fabulous restaurant – Paulettes! We sat outside in the sunshine drinking rose (obviously) and enjoying a great, affordable (for Provence) French meal. A highlight here was a local man and his donkey casually stopping by and sitting down for an espresso.
After dropping the car back to Yes Provence, you may not be that hungry! We’d recommend relaxing at the hotel again or picking up some cheese and wine from a local supermarket and eating it in your room (our secret to travel!)
DAY 4
Today you’ll be changing locations and driving to the small hilltop town of Crillon-le-brave. There’s an amazing hotel here which takes up a lot of the town. The rooms are scattered across the side of the hilltop and most of the people walking around are guests of the hotel.
Check-in for a night and day of complete relaxation. With only 16 rooms and 18 suites, the hotel's main piece of eye candy is most certainly the pool which overlooks the beauty of Provence below.
There are many corners of this hotel where you can relax and read, play board games or even check yourself into the spa for a massage. Enjoy the full Provence experience in complete elegance at Hotel Crillon-le-brave.
For dinner, you want to take a short walk down the hill to Restaurant du Vieux Four. This quaint little french restaurant also has a fabulous view and was one of the best meals we had on our trip. It’s a lot cheaper than eating at the hotel and was fabulous. Top tip!
Sleep off your food, if you can.
DAY 5
Enjoy your breakfast cause you will be hungry again and say farewell to Crillon-le-brave before driving through the Luberon mountains to your next destination. Gordes.
Before stopping to explore Gordes, drive a little bit further to Menerbes and check in to La Bastide de Marie where you’ll potentially just stay for the rest of the day. Enjoy the grounds or spend some time by the pool or inside reading. Our stay at La Bastide de Marie included dinner which was an experience. Course after course of fabulous local food mostly grown on-site. It’s a special experience for any foodie.
In the afternoon enjoy a visit to their winery and a glass of wine with some homemade cake. The afternoon we were there it was a fresh strawberry tart and a glass of rose. Such a beautiful space and wonderful people.
DAY 6
Explore Gordes, a beautiful hilltop town in Luberon. Wander the streets enjoying the local markets and everything that Gordes has to offer.
For a great view and a great glass of (you guessed it) wine, stop at Airelles Gordes, a very beautiful hotel – for a drink on their balcony.
If you have a later flight time, drive via Aix en Provence before arriving back at Marseille airport. We recommend parking at Parking Rotonde which is very central and close to all the old town streets. For a good coffee and food head to MANA.
