On a sunny day in August, five of us set off on an extraordinary journey that lasted from the 8th until the 15th. Together we set out to explore the beautiful region of Provence in France. As we walked the cobbled streets of ancient cities, smelling the scent of lavender and tasting the local wine, we were having fun, learning and connecting. Our experience was intertwined with learning about the rich history, admiring the unique architecture and relaxing in nature.
We visited L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, so called because part of the town is surrounded on both sides by a river. The town itself does not stand out too much, in fact there is no such thing as an "island" as you might imagine it. They have an antiques fair at the weekends, which we managed to see.
Then we drove to the hilly town of Gordes. We had the feeling that this is one of the most beautiful and picturesque towns in Provence. After lunch, we escaped the heat and explored the city's underground tunnels. It is a historic structure where furs and olive oil used to be stored. The tunnels are not big, but it is a nice tour, because at the beginning you watch a short documentary, and then you get a map to walk around freely.
On the way back, we stopped at the famous monastery of Notre-Dame de Senanque. The main activity in this working monastery is the cultivation of lavender, with which the building is picturesquely surrounded. It is worth coming when the lavender is in bloom to get nice pictures. We were too late for that, but there was also a lot of drought and not very favourable conditions for the vegetation. The monastery's shop is large and offers lots of cute souvenirs, locally made soaps and scented cosmetics.
The next day we finally had time to explore Avignon. The main goal was to visit the Palace of the Popes, which was the seat of the Popes before they moved to the Vatican. The medieval palace gives the impression of a mighty fortress. We did not have to wait long to get in, and the tickets themselves are not too expensive, averaging €12 per person, depending on whether you pay extra to see the gardens in the inner courtyard. At the beginning, each visitor picks up a tablet called Histopad, which they can use to scan the different points in each room of the palace and read additional interesting facts about the rooms. The rooms themselves are not decorated as much, so it is an interactive way to make the museum more interesting. We would have enjoyed the experience more if it had not been incredibly hot and steamy inside, which surprised us as old stone buildings are usually well cooled and insulated. Due to this situation, the experience was not very pleasant, and we completed the tour in less than an hour, otherwise the visit can take up to three hours.
In the afternoon, we enjoyed a good Provençal wine. We visited the Mont-Redon vineyard and winery in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. Reservations were not required here, but many wineries do require them. We had a free tasting in the wine cellar, where everyone could taste two white wines, a rosé and two reds. The wine was good, but it seemed to us that our local Slovenian wines were on the same level as the presented French ones. The head of the tasting was a pleasant gentleman who properly and professionally instructed us on each wine and answered all our questions.
On the way back, we stopped in Orange, a town best known for its well-preserved Roman theatre. We arrived too late to see the interior, but we walked to a lookout point above the city, where the entire theatre was very easy to see.
The second-to-last day was dedicated to ancient heritage and art. First, we stopped at the ancient bridge and the former Pont du Gard aqueduct. The bridge is very high, and you can only walk to the top with a guide. There is also a river under the bridge where it is possible to swim and go boating.
The second stop was Nîmes, known as the Rome of France. It has a well-preserved colosseum and a beautiful park in the centre. Then we headed to the neighbouring town of Arles, which also has a colosseum. We were surprised by the fact that bullfighting is still allowed in France and is regularly advertised and carried out. The event takes place in the colosseums, and after the noise of the crowd that we heard in the evening, it can be concluded that the attendance of the event is high.
Before Arles, we stopped at an exhibition in Les Baux-de-Provence. That is an interactive art exhibition titled From Vermeer to Van Gogh. Paintings of great artists from previous centuries are projected on the walls, accompanied by music and visual effects. The experience is spectacular and well worth the money. Arles is also the city where Van Gogh painted one of his most famous works, The Starry Night. This is why there are several museums dedicated to the painter, as well as art souvenir shops.
As our trip draws to a close, we treated ourselves to one last cool-down – swimming in the Massif de Calanques reserve, south of Marseille. We enjoyed De Miguel beach and reminisced about our past trip.
In the cities of the region, cultural heritage and archaeological remains stand out. Unfortunately, there are also problems with littering and cleanliness in France. Bigger cities have a lot of accumulated rubbish, much of which is not recycled and regularly taken away. However, given the developments in all other areas, France is certainly moving slowly in the direction of sustainability. Provence will, nonetheless, captivate everyone with its diversity and rich cultural heritage.
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