Lourmarin & L' Isle-Sur-Sorgue

Description

Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Discover beautiful Provence on this packed excursion that will take you through unforgettable countryside. Starting at Marseille pier, you will meet your guide and board the bus for a drive through Aix-en-Provence, and along the Luberon massif. This craggy landscape's discreet and mysterious charm will captivate you, as will the pretty roads that pass by orchards, vineyards, farmhouses and villages.

Your first stop of the day will be picturesque Lourmarin, which sits at the foot of the Luberon massif and dates back to the Neolithic era. The town itself is dominated by the Renaissance Castle, which is built high on a rock, and is now a classified historical monument.

Listed among the most beautiful villages of France, Lourmarin is also home to the novelist Peter Mayle, who wrote the best-seller, 'A Year in Provence'. After viewing the village you will be able to see how easy it is for anyone to fall in love with this part of the world.

Leaving Lourmarin, the coach will then stop briefly at Bonnieux, where you will enjoy superb panoramic views from this pretty hill-top village.

As you make your way to L'Ile-sur-la-Sorgue, you will make two stops: one at Pont Julien, a three-arched Roman Bridge built between 27 B.C. and 14 A.D, and then a glorious viewpoint from which you can see Gordes, an uneven village built on a dramatic rocky crag.

Arriving at L'Ile-sur-la-Sorgue, which sits next to the River Sorgue, and dates back to the 12th century, you will be charmed by the narrow streets, antique shops and graceful waterways. It has been dubbed the 'Venice of Provence' and is home to many antique and second-hand dealers. Each Thursday and Sunday in the morning, the market heaves with around 300 stalls, and you will have ample time to browse in the shops and galleries, after enjoying delicious Provencal lunch served with wine, in a charming local restaurant.

This is a wonderful location to buy souvenirs, and as you wander the streets you will be tempted by the many boutiques displaying regional costumes, and the shops that sell locally made lavender, essential oils and derived cosmetics or honey.

Return to Marseille via the highway, having made memories you will treasure forever.

Special Notes:

The tour includes walking over uneven paths and climbing stairs. Passengers with limited mobility should take this into consideration.

The market in Isle-sur-Sorgue takes place every Thursday and Sundays from 8:00am to 1:00pm. Shopping is limited in villages outside of the main touristic season.